Independent restaurants can master Summer 2025 trends! Explore strategies for off-premises dining, smart promotions, essential tech, and new growth opportunities with Dine Local.
In today’s fast-paced food scene, convenience is king. But for restaurant owners, the path to offering convenient takeout and delivery can feel like a minefield, especially when relying on third-party platforms or the trusty (but often trying) telephone. While these methods might seem like easy entry points, they come with hidden costs and operational headaches that can erode your profits and frustrate your staff. It’s time to take back control. Investing in your own online ordering and delivery platform, like the seamless system offered by Dine Local, isn’t just a trend – it’s a smart business decision.
The soundtrack to a busy restaurant often includes the rhythmic clang of pans, the cheerful buzz of diners, and… the incessant ringing of the phone. While phone orders have long been a staple for takeout and delivery, relying solely on them in today’s fast-paced environment can create significant operational bottlenecks. Consider how online ordering boosts restaurant efficiency.
With Dine Local, customers are automatically asked for quick feedback after every order, making it effortless for them to share their experience. Their responses go directly to restaurant owners and managers in real time, giving them valuable insights into their food, service, and operations.
In today’s competitive restaurant industry, every customer counts—but not all customers are equal when it comes to long-term value. Digital customers, those who place orders through an online platform like Dine Local, offer restaurants a powerful advantage over traditional dine-in or phone-order customers. By leveraging data, automation, and direct engagement, restaurants can drive more sales, enhance efficiency, and build stronger customer relationships. Digital customers are a game changer.
In today’s restaurant industry, delivery services are a crucial part of revenue generation. However, the way these services charge restaurants and customers can have a significant impact on profitability and customer choices. In this post, we will break down the cost structure of third-party delivery apps that offer low or free delivery to customers and compare it to Dine Local’s model, which allows restaurants to pass the true cost of delivery to customers.
Discounting is a powerful tool in a restaurant’s pricing strategy, but it’s also a double-edged sword. While discounts can drive sales, attract new customers, and increase order sizes, they can also erode margins, devalue your brand, and train customers to expect lower prices. The key is knowing when and how to use discounts strategically to maximize benefits while minimizing risks. It’s almost Shakespearean: To Discount or Not To Discount… THAT is the question!
As we move into 2025, the restaurant industry is facing a rapidly changing landscape. Independent restaurants must adapt to meet the growing demand for takeout and delivery while standing out in a crowded marketplace. To thrive, focusing on technology that streamlines operations, enhances customer experiences, and keeps costs low is essential.
Gift cards are a staple for restaurants, but not all gift card programs are created equal. If your restaurant still relies on paper gift cards or cards tied exclusively to your in-store POS system, you’re leaving revenue on the table. In today’s digital world, customers expect more flexibility: gift cards that can be stored digitally, redeemed across any sales channel, and given as gifts that work seamlessly for both dine-in and online orders.
Today the Canadian Federal Government announced a proposed tax change entitled the “More Money In Your Pocket” tax break. If approved in the House of Commons, this legislation will have an impact on our restaurant partners in the industry summarized here.