6 Ways to Upsell Your Menu and Captivate Customers!

In the culinary business, one common issue is "slow-selling menu items." This may occur due to a lack of promotion or servers needing to remember to suggest certain dishes. That's where upselling techniques come into play.

Business owners often use these techniques to enhance consumer interest, whether through attractive offers or inviting customers to try specific menu items. Here are some effective upselling tips for your culinary business.

What is Menu Upselling?

Upselling is a strategy or technique that encourages customers to make larger purchases. Imagine customers opting for something of higher quality with added benefits, even if it comes at a slightly higher price.

However, upselling isn’t just about profits for the business owner! It’s also a fun way to connect with customers, making them feel pampered by your enticing offers, which fosters their loyalty.

6 Upselling Techniques for Culinary Businesses

Source: Freepik

1. Introduce Your Menu to Customers

As the saying goes, “You can’t love what you don’t know.” The same applies to food—how can your menu win over customers if they don’t even know what it offers?

So, present the dishes that might appeal to them. Ask if they prefer a hearty meal or a light snack, or whether they’d like a cold or hot drink.

2. Offer Add-Ons

Once you’ve piqued a customer’s interest in a dish, ask if they’d like to add something extra, like a special sauce, or suggest complementary items to boost sales.

For example, you might say, “How about adding our homemade sauce to the steak you’ve chosen? You won’t find this flavor anywhere else!”

Read Also: Want Your Culinary Business to Grow? Apply These 4 F&B Services!

3. Share the Story Behind the Dish

Tell an intriguing story about a menu item you’re offering. Customers often connect emotionally with food stories, making them more likely to buy.

For instance, you could explain, “Did you know our burger is inspired by the cartoon Spongebob? We’ve designed it to look just like it to delight your inner child!”

4. Provide Attractive Discounts

If you notice a “slow-selling menu item,” don’t hesitate to offer a discount to attract customers. For example, if fries aren’t selling well, you could promote, “With every purchase over 200k, get free fries!” or “Buy any main course and get 20% off your favorite fries!”

5. Elaborate on Ingredients or Components

Start with the first point—introducing the menu. Then explain what the dish includes. For example, you might say, “With this steak purchase, you’ll also get a salad, fries, and your choice of sauce. You can even choose how you’d like the steak cooked!”

Additionally, you can say, “Dish A is spicy, so if you don’t like heat, I’d recommend Dish B,” providing options that customers might prefer.

6. Use ESB Order

Source: Documentation ESB

Finally, consider using ESB Order, an online food ordering system for your culinary business. With ESB Order, customers can place orders by scanning their phones, minimizing order mistakes, and ensuring a happy return visit.

ESB Order has been proven to increase customer spending (ticket size) by up to 60% due to its AI system recommending dishes based on customer behavior. Plus, it speeds up the ordering process by 40% compared to manual orders through waitstaff. This means your customers won’t experience long wait times (ESB Data, 2024).

These are 6 upselling techniques for culinary businesses. While they may seem simple, effective communication is crucial for increasing consumer interest. Additionally, consider a solid marketing strategy to help your culinary business gain recognition!