Planning a Seasonal Menu to Reimagine Your Restaurant or Café

Benefits of Creating a Seasonal Menu

There are plenty of reasons why you might want to a adopt a seasonal approach to your menu, but some of the biggest benefits include:

• MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES: In such a hyper-competitive industry, being able to stand out from the pack is vital. With a seasonal menu, you can roll out engaging marketing campaigns to attract new customers. A new menu is also a way to earn regular, repeat business.
• GO LOCAL: There's an opportunity to use more local foods in a seasonal menu, which will not only elevate your food but be a unique selling point for customers who want to know where your ingredients come from – creating a farm-to-table aesthetic.
• STAY ON TREND: It's important to ride the waves of the latest food trends and crazes, and a seasonal menu can keep customers interested while bringing in new guests who are passionate about supporting local, on-trend businesses.

Article: Looking for ideas and inspiration when it comes to marketing? Check out this comprehensive guide on How to Market Your Business for tips and advice from the experts.

Seasonal Ingredient Ideas

Not sure where to begin with your seasonal transformation? Apple and pear supplies start to increase as the weather cools. When autumn is on the horizon, plums, nectarines, figs and lemons are great choices – especially for tarts and salads. Other ingredients to draw inspiration from include asparagus, beans, broccoli, cauliflower, sweetcorn and zucchini.

TIP: Choosing fruit and vegetables as your seasonal ingredients can also open up new opportunities with your vegetarian or vegan customer base. This guide on How to Introduce a Vegan Menu features all the information you need to get started.

Things to Consider When Creating a Seasonal Menu

While seasonal menus can be hugely popular, changing your menu all at once can actually do the opposite to what you want – driving regulars away because you no longer serve what they love.

Unless it's part of a big marketing campaign or you're celebrating a grand reopening, gradually phase in new items. You can measure their success against existing menu items, and then replace them with the low-performing meals.

Here are four critical considerations for revamping your menu to be more seasonal:

• COST OF SEASONAL INGREDIENTS: The price of new ingredients will generally depend on the season's produce. Make sure any changes to your menu factor in the higher cost of off-season fruits and veggies. And if the change in menu means a higher price for the customer, give them plenty of warning!
• STAFF TRAINING: Because there will be a shift in demand, running a seasonal restaurant may require you to start looking for qualified staff three to four months in advance of the 'high season'. Starting early gives you a chance to hire new employees, train up existing staff and ensure everyone is prepared for the new menu. Also factor in potential attrition in the first few weeks.
• MARKETING SEASONALITY: As a new season approaches, make sure you're building marketing cadence for your business by leveraging the power of social media. It's a great way to showcase new menu items and drum up excitement about the changes. Increase the frequency of your posts in the lead-up to the new menu to retain customer attention.
• PRINTING NEW MENUS: Don't forget about all the other costs besides new ingredients and staff. You'll also need to consider the price of designing and printing off the menus, and making any necessary changes inside your café or restaurant (for example, adding seasonal decorations or knickknacks around the dining area).

Make Your Kitchen More Season-Friendly

To truly make your seasonal menu stick, you need a kitchen that understands the menu inside-out and is designed to be as efficient as possible.

Multi-use appliances such as food processors and veg prep machines can be incredibly helpful when coming up with menu choices throughout the different seasons. Combined with your gas ovens, fridges, mixers and a variety of commercial cooking equipment, adapting to those changing seasons is now easier than ever.

The most important part of reimagining your menu with seasonal ingredients? Knowing exactly what produce you want to use and selecting your equipment and appliances accordingly.