March 29, 2025
Restaurant Wingman – Issue #1 🚀
Your weekly dose of restaurant news, tips, and tech
Industry News You Can’t Miss 🍔
Fast-Casual Dominates the Market
The fast-casual sector is continuing to outperform other segments of the restaurant industry. According to a recent report, fast-casual restaurant sales grew by 10% in 2024—twice the rate of quick service and full-service combined.
Pro tip: Focus on convenience, quality ingredients, and great customer experiences to capture your piece of the pie. And if you’re not offering mobile ordering or delivery, now might be the time to add those options to your operation.
Restaurant Safety Protocols Are Tightening
Local governments are introducing stricter health and safety guidelines, especially around food handling and employee wellness. Be sure your team is up-to-date on the latest requirements to avoid penalties.
Pro tip: Regularly schedule health and safety training for your staff, and keep a checklist visible for all employees.
Restaurant Tips of the Week 🛠️
Increase Your Table Turnover with These 3 Tricks
1. Streamline the Menu: A smaller, more focused menu can speed up decision-making and ordering.
2. Train Your Staff for Efficiency: Create workflows to ensure that your team is in sync and customers aren’t left waiting.
3. Leverage Technology: Consider using tableside ordering systems to reduce wait times and improve the customer experience.
Pro tip: Keeping your dining area clean and well-organized can also cut down on unnecessary delays. Customers are more likely to linger if they’re uncomfortable or surrounded by clutter!
Tech Tip: Restaurant Software You Should Consider 💻
Positively Productive: The Best POS for Multi-Unit Restaurants
If you’re managing more than one location, having the right Point of Sale (POS) system is crucial. Look for a system that integrates inventory, sales, and employee management across locations. Toast POS and Square for Restaurants are great options for multi-unit operators.
Pro tip: Choose a POS system that integrates with your accounting software and online ordering platforms for easy tracking of all sales and operational data.
Wingman Cheese 🧀
Why did the restaurant manager go to therapy?
Because they had too many issues on the table.
That’s a wrap for this week!
Stay tuned next week for more tips, tricks, and tech to help you run a smoother, more successful operation. Got a burning question or a topic you want covered? Let us know!
