New Year’s Eve is always a big night for restaurants. It’s when people want great food, a fun atmosphere, and a smooth experience to kick off the new year. For restaurant owners, it’s the perfect chance to pull in more customers, make some extra profit, and wow diners so they come back again.
So, how do you nail your special menu? The answer is simple: use your EPoS (Electronic Point of Sale) system. Your EPoS system is a treasure trove of valuable data that can help you plan the perfect menu, avoid running out of stock, and make sure your night runs smoothly.
Let’s see how you can use it to get prepared for the big night.
1. Find Out What Sells Best
Your restaurant EPoS system keeps track of every dish you’ve sold, so it’s easy to see what customers love the most. By looking at past sales, especially during busy periods like last year’s New Year’s Eve or weekends, you can determine what dishes are your winners.
Here’s what to look at:
- Best-selling dishes: Which starters, mains, or desserts are customer favourites?
- High-profit items: Which dishes make you the most money?
- Low-waste items: Which ones sell well without leaving you with wasted ingredients?
For example, if your creamy Prawn Cocktail and Lamb Shank were big hits last year, why not bring them back? These dishes are proven crowd-pleasers and can help you maximise sales on the night.
2. Predict Demand So You Don’t Run Out
There’s nothing worse than running out of key ingredients when you’ve got a packed house. Your EPoS system can help you avoid this by showing you trends from previous busy nights. Use your data to predict how much food you’ll need so you can stock up without going overboard.
Look at past data to see:
- Which dishes were ordered the most on New Year last year?
- What were your best sellers during other big nights, like weekends or holidays?
For instance, if sticky Toffee Pudding and Cheesecake flew off the shelves last year, you’ll know to prep plenty for this New Year’s Eve. Forecasting like this means you’re prepared, you won’t waste food, and no one will be disappointed.
3. Build a Menu That Makes You Money
A great menu should make your customers happy and your business profitable. Your EPoS system can show you which dishes bring in the most profit. Focus on these high-margin items to make the night as profitable as possible.
Some tips to make your menu work:
- Swap out complicated, labour-heavy dishes for simpler, high-profit options.
- Pair popular dishes with sides or drinks to boost overall sales.
- Offer set menus or bundles to encourage diners to order more courses.
For example, if your signature Lamb Shank has a high-profit margin, you could pair it with a set starter and dessert for a complete three-course offer. It’s great value for customers and maximises what they spend.
4. Spot the Latest Food Trends
Your EPoS data can reveal some interesting trends you might not expect. For example, have customers been ordering more vegan or vegetarian options lately? Are healthier dishes or low-alcohol drinks on the rise? Spotting these patterns helps you tweak your New Year’s menu to give people what they want.
You can add a few trendy options, like a plant-based main or a stylish sharing platter. Little updates like these can make your menu feel fresh and appeal to a broader audience.
Here’s how your EPoS helps:
- It shows what dishes are trending.
- It helps you test out new ideas based on real customer data.
- It makes it easy to stand out with unique menu choices.
5. Make Your Regulars Happy
If your EPoS system includes customer profiles or works with a loyalty programme, you’ve got even more insight into what people love. Use this to personalise your menu and keep your regulars coming back.
For example, if your regular diners usually order seafood starters or a particular dessert, make sure those are available on the night. You could even send out an email with tailored offers, like a special set menu just for your loyal customers.
Giving people what they want will make your regulars feel valued and encourage them to celebrate with you year after year.
6. Make Service Smoother
The right New Year’s Eve menu doesn’t just please customers; it also makes your team’s job easier. Your EPoS data can show you which dishes are tricky to prepare or take too long to serve. Simplifying your menu with popular, easy-to-execute dishes will make a significant difference on such a busy night.
Here are a few quick tips:
- Keep the menu short and sweet to avoid delays in the kitchen.
- Prep ingredients in advance to save time during service.
- Offer set menus to streamline the ordering process.
By designing an efficient menu, you’ll reduce stress for your staff, keep things running smoothly, and ensure customers get their food quickly.
Final Thoughts
Your EPoS system is a powerful tool that can help you plan a menu that works for both your customers and your bottom line. From predicting demand to spotting trends and boosting profits, your EPoS data takes the guesswork out of menu planning.
At ChefOnline, our Cloud EPoS System is designed to help restaurants like yours make smarter decisions and run more efficiently. Whether you’re planning for New Year’s Eve or just want to improve your menu all year round, we’ve got you covered.
So, let your EPoS system do the hard work for you. Plan a menu that’s easy to execute, full of crowd-pleasers, and guaranteed to bring in profits.
