Should You Change Your Menu Each Season?

Seasonal menu changes have become a common trend in the restaurant and bar industry. However, seasonal eating was a historically natural occurrence long before restaurants, vendors, and year-round menus were established.Empty heading

Humans have eaten seasonally for centuries. Why? Because they gathered the natural ingredients that were accessible to them. Although methods for gathering, obtaining, and storing foods have advanced, seasonal foods are deeply woven into our DNA. That's why we crave light fruits and salads in the summer and heartier root vegetables in the winter.

For restaurant and bar owners, seasonal menus are a fantastic way to connect with our roots, keep up with the trends, and draw new customers.

Here are four reasons to consider switching up your menu every season:  

1. Save Money & Boost Profits

If you're searching for a cost-effective strategy, aligning your menu with the seasons is a practical way to save money. Since you can source ingredients locally, you’ll minimize the expenses you typically spend on transportation and storage for out-of-season foods. 

Sourcing meals from within your community also helps control food costs. Compared to year-round ingredients, you may find seasonal foods are more affordable because they’re readily available. Connect with local suppliers at farmer's markets or farms to find the best fit for your business.

In addition to reducing food costs, seasonal menus have the potential to boost profit margins. It's no secret that customers get seasonal cravings, so why not cater to them while saving money and delivering quality flavors? For instance, winter is the perfect time to greet your guests with delicious aromas and ingredients like leeks, winter squash, and parsnips, to satisfy those hearty cold-weather appetites.

2. Use Fresh, High-Quality Ingredients

When it comes to satisfying your customers, high-quality food is a must — and seasonal menus are an excellent way to offer quality. Sourcing locally ensures your restaurant's produce and ingredients are fresh and full of nutrients.

According to US Foods, the farm-to-table trend has gained significant popularity over the past few years. They state that, "seasons started to drive menu trends and chefs began sourcing locally, which gave rise to the farm-to-table movement." They also note how seasonal and locally-grown produce allows restaurants to deliver healthier meals to their customers.

Seasonal menus are not only good for your diners. They’re also beneficial for the environment. Since you're going local, you get your ingredients quickly without leaving a large carbon footprint from out-of-season food transportation. You also gain the opportunity to build strong relationships in the community and connect with other small businesses on your quest to provide innovative flavors to your patrons.   

3. Intrigue & Attract Customers

Opening the door to seasonal menus gives your restaurant a chance to attract new customers. So, get creative and offer a variety of flavors throughout the year to keep guests on their toes and excited to see what you have to offer.

For example, summertime is an excellent opportunity to expand your drink menu with the taste of the season. Add delicious beverages infused with honeydew melons, peaches, strawberries, and raspberries to give your customers the ultimate seasonal experience. 

While expanding your menu to include seasonal dishes, don't forget to keep your restaurant or bar's signature meals for loyal diners. With detailed reports of meal rates and transactions from a POS system, you will know which signature dishes to keep available throughout the year.

If you're looking to draw in new guests, take advantage of restaurant social media marketing where seasonal themes are trendy. You may boost your marketing strategy by promoting specials and discounts on Instagram or Facebook, as well as through email marketing. So whether you're switching up your menu for the holidays or featuring some pumpkin spice dishes for the fall, you can bet customers will be eager to sample your limited menu.

4. Allow Your Restaurant Staff to Get Creative

While your staff may master your restaurant's staple dishes, cooking the same meals can leave them feeling unmotivated, bored, and burned out. Unfortunately, these negative emotions can cause your food quality to suffer!

Avoid low morale by challenging your workers to have fun with seasonal menus and allowing their cooking skills to shine. Take this opportunity to refresh your staff's energy and build excitement within your kitchen.

If you're unsure how to create a seasonal menu, conduct a brainstorming session with your staff and give them the floor to express their ideas. Being open to their feedback and menu concepts provides a healthy working environment and shows that you respect your workers. Set up meetings, share your ideas, and have fun!

Seasonal menus have made a splash in the restaurant and bar industry, with customers anticipating flavors that highlight the time of year. As you prepare your expanded menu, consider the following:

• The overall cost of your dishes
• The quality of in-season and out-of-season ingredients
• How well your added specials are received

Keep in mind that your business caters to a specific demographic, so you want to make sure you hit the mark. One way to produce successful results with your seasonal menu is by taking advantage of your POS system. This automated system provides you with the restaurant business analytics and reporting needed to determine the ideal ingredients to add to your limited menu.