Christmas in July: Start Planning Your Holiday Catering Now
While summer might still be sizzling, smart restaurants are already thinking a season ahead. That’s right, it’s time to channel a little “Christmas in July” energy and get a jumpstart on planning for peak holiday catering.
Why now? Because by the time November rolls around, you’ll want to be taking orders, not scrambling to prep your menu, marketing, or delivery logistics. Early preparation not only saves you stress, but it can also help boost your revenue when it matters most.
Here’s how to get your catering operations holiday-ready now and make this season your most profitable yet.
1. Create (or Refresh) Your Online Catering Menu
If you’re not already offering online catering, this is your sign to start. And if you are, now’s the time to revisit your setup and make sure it’s optimized for success.
Key features to include:
Pricing per person for corporate or group orders
Prep-time requirements with automatic deadlines
Stunning visuals that showcase your menu offerings
Family or Office Packs that simplify the ordering decision
Pro tip: Make sure your menu is mobile-friendly and easy to navigate, especially for busy office managers and party planners on the go.
2. Add Fresh, High-Quality Photos
Gen-Z isn’t the only group that shops with their eyes. Everyone loves a great food pic, and for catering, showing your dishes in a group or event-ready setting can help close the sale.
Hire a local photographer or use good lighting and presentation to create updated, mouthwatering images for your catering items.
3. Use Your Data to Drive Decisions
Want to know what will sell best this season? Look at last year’s data.
Which items were your top sellers?
Which ones didn’t move the needle?
Can you reuse ingredients across multiple dishes to simplify prep?
Data doesn’t lie, and using it helps you craft a menu that’s both profitable and popular.
4. Start Spreading the Word
Don’t wait until December to tell customers you cater. Use these summer months to start planting the seed.
Promote early ordering discounts
Launch seasonal preview menus
Add “We Cater!” messaging to your social, website, and receipts
Want help planning out your promotions? Tap into our Campaign Calendar for ideas you can roll out each month.
5. Upgrade Your Catering Operations
A great menu and solid marketing are only part of the story. Smooth operations make the magic happen.
Questions to consider:
Is your POS built for catering, or do you need a more robust solution?
Are you connected with a last-mile delivery partner to handle large orders?
Do you have tools to manage large, timed orders and notify the kitchen?
Zuppler’s tools are built to simplify this for you, from online ordering to kitchen flow.
Wrap-Up: Your Future Profits Start Now
The holidays will be here before you know it. Taking time this summer to prep your catering game means:
Less stress during peak season
More revenue opportunities
A smoother experience for your team and your guests
Let’s make this your biggest catering season yet.