They say all good things must come to an end, and yesterday saw the end of the government funded 'Eat Out to Help Out' scheme.
Launched by Chancellor Rishi Sunak in July, and designed to help the hospitality industry which has been one of the hardest hit by the lockdown – for three days a week the deal offered half-price discounts on eat-in food up to the value of £10 per person.
The scheme reminded us why we as a nation love dining out, but now that it is over, it’s important that we maintain the momentum if local and high-street restaurants are to survive.
But what next for restaurant owners ?
The scheme has been an overwhelming success, with queues being seen outside participating restaurants up and down the country. 84,000 restaurants and cafes took part in the scheme, serving more than 64 million meals in just three weeks.
In a sector where 80% halted trading and 1.4 million employees were furloughed, the scheme was a welcome boost. We've seen the behaviour change, we've seen people going in and enjoying their local small businesses safely, and we've seen our high streets beginning to reinvigorate.
Its been so successful, chains like Pizza Hut, Bill's and Pizza Pilgrims are among restaurants to say they will continue with the 50% discount next month.
So what can restaurants and their owners do to keep customers coming back?
It important that if businesses are to survive, they focus on what they do well and what works. We work daily with restaurants to target new and existing customers using advanced methods. Essentially it is about reaching the right people, at the right time, with the right message and offering.
What we've learned over the past few weeks is that there is a general trend towards deals and offers. People are worried about their finances, and the uncertainty of the future. But they are also desperate to return to normalility and interact with friends and loved ones after months of restrictions.
As consumers move towards value, restaurants must seek to find a way to set themselves apart in the noise if they are to continue to see the footfall many have enjoyed over the past few weeks.
If you would like us to send you a case study specific to the restaurant and hospitality industry, showing how one local restaurant and client of ours was able to garner new business and re-engage old customers even during this difficult season – please use the form below to get in touch and find out what you could be doing to move forward in these uncertain times.