10 Christmas Promotion Ideas for Restaurants and Culinary Businesses

The holiday season is the perfect opportunity for restaurant and culinary business owners to boost sales, maximize profits, and attract both existing and potential customers.
In this article, ESB will share 10 Christmas promotion ideas you can apply to your restaurant and culinary business.

1. Implement a Christmas Loyalty Program

As a business owner, you can make your customers feel special with a Christmas-themed loyalty program.

Here are a few ways to boost sales in your restaurant or culinary business:

• Registration Bonus: Offer incentives such as special Christmas discounts, free Christmas-themed menu items, or bonus points for the next visit. This will attract new customers and encourage repeat visits from existing ones.
• Repeat Visit Rewards: Provide attractive rewards, such as a free dessert on the third visit or double points for transactions throughout December.
• Exclusive Christmas Gifts: Offer limited-edition menu items or special meal packages available only during Christmas.
• Tiered Reward System: Customers with the highest loyalty tier can receive premium gifts, such as Christmas hampers or significant discounts.
• Personalized Communication: Send messages via email or WhatsApp, such as point balance reminders, exclusive promotions, or upcoming rewards.

2. Offer Christmas Meal Packages for Takeout and Delivery

Many customers prefer enjoying Christmas dishes without the hassle of cooking. As a business owner, you can try these takeout and delivery promotions:

• Special Christmas Packages: Prepare complete Christmas meals, such as roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, or your restaurant's signature dishes
• Christmas-Themed Packaging: Use boxes with attractive designs or add greeting cards for an exclusive touch
• Discounts & Bonuses: Provide discounts for early orders or bonus desserts for certain orders
• Online Promotions: Use appetizing food photos to promote these packages on social media and your website.

3. Utilize Quiet Hours with Early Bird Specials

Optimize slow hours with attractive promotions. Offer Christmas-themed dishes, such as cranberry pies or gingerbread, at special prices before dinner time.

You can promote these Early Bird specials through social media, newsletters, or signage at your restaurant.

4. Host Social Media Contests or Giveaways

Social media activities can boost your restaurant's visibility during Christmas. Here are some ideas for contests or giveaways:

• Photo Contest: Ask customers to share photos at your restaurant with a specific hashtag. Reward the best photo with a prize
• Caption Challenge: Post a Christmas-themed photo and invite followers to create creative captions
• Christmas Trivia: Host interactive quizzes on Instagram Stories with attractive prizes.

5. Family Packages or Group Discounts

Create appealing offers for large families or groups. Add a Christmas touch to your menu, such as roasted chicken or Christmas-themed desserts.

Read more: COGS in Business: Definition, Calculation Methods, and Management Strategies

6. Buy 1 Get 1 Free Promotion

Offer “Buy 1 Get 1 Free” promotions on Christmas menu items like red velvet cakes, caramel puddings, or special hot chocolates.

This promotion can be applied during slow hours on weekdays to attract more customers.

7. Weekday Specials

Adopt weekly themes such as “Two-for-One Tuesdays,” where customers get two items for the price of one, or “Wine Down Wednesdays” with discounts on wine bottles.

You can also introduce weekday happy hours by offering discounts on drinks and snacks in the afternoon, such as 2:00 PM–5:00 PM during December.

8. Introduce Christmas-Themed Merchandise

Christmas-themed merchandise can be a great opportunity to diversify your income streams while promoting your restaurant.

Here’s how to integrate merchandise into your Christmas marketing strategy:

• Themed Items: Offer items like ceramic mugs, t-shirts, beanies, or Christmas ornaments with your restaurant's logo. Choose designs that align with your brand—rustic, modern, or fun
• Gift Packages: Combine merchandise with gift cards or meal vouchers to create exclusive Christmas packages
• In-Restaurant Promotions: Display merchandise prominently, such as near the cashier.

9. Launch a Countdown Promotion

Make the days leading up to Christmas more exciting with countdown promotions, such as a “12 Days of Christmas” campaign.

You can offer a different promotion each day, such as special discounts, free dishes, or exclusive menu items. Ensure each promo lasts only one day to encourage frequent visits.

Announce daily promotions on social media platforms. Engage customers with comments or polls to build excitement. On the final countdown day, offer discount coupons or bonus loyalty points for use in January.

10. Host Flash Sales

Flash sales are a powerful strategy to attract customers with short, unexpected offers. Announce flash sales through social media or email marketing to reach customers quickly.

Schedule them during slow hours, such as 50% off desserts in the afternoon or special dinner menus at discounted prices.

Make flash sales exclusive to loyal customers or social media followers to strengthen connections. Ensure the terms are easy to understand and not confusing.

Read more: 9 Ways to Create Inventory Reports for Restaurants and Culinary Businesses

Conclusion

The Christmas season is the perfect time to boost sales and attract customers with promotions such as loyalty programs, takeout/delivery meal packages, flash sales, and countdown promos.

These strategies can create unforgettable experiences for your customers while maximizing profits for your culinary business.

Increase customer retention with ESB Loop, a loyalty program system offering smart campaigns, tiered membership systems, and birthday treats to drive ROI, including Christmas promotions.