Commentary
Should you expand into food delivery?
This is the first of a two-part series on how food truck operators can put a delivery service in place. For many right now it's helping keep the food truck operation up and running.
April 13, 2020 by Richard Traylor — Writer, WebstaurantStore
Editor's note: An earlier version of the article ran on Food Truck Operator, a Vending Times sister publication.
Delivery and take-out services are two of the fastest growing segments of the foodservice industry and proving to be a viable solution in light of the COVID-19 outbreak which has shuttered many foodservice businesses. Is delivery a good fit for you?
Why consider food delivery?
When a pandemic like COVID-19 hits and individuals living in states and countries are recommended to stay home, delivery is one of the few options that people have to get food.
As a convenience services operator, your company already has the capability to prepare and deliver food to customers.
In providing delivery to consumers where they are — at home or at work — convenience services operators have an opportunity to keep revenue flowing and keep their brand out in front of customers.
Your convenience services business can still make money during lock down periods as long as it is equipped with the right supplies and gets staff up to speed on delivery protocol. In addition to having the right supplies and equipment, you also have to allocate marketing to this additional service through social media and your website.
If you're looking to boost your sales, adding delivery service will help you distinguish yourself from the competition — or at least keep up with them. Keep in mind that delivery will only grow your brand if you already have market presence and a loyal customer base. Potential customers can't order from you if they've never heard your name.
Once you're on the delivery circuit, though, you'll be available to customers who may not have tried your food before, which can lead to increased profits.
Delivery service attracts millennials
Offering delivery services is also an excellent way to attract more millennial (or Generation Y) customers.
According to the 2015 census, there are currently over 75 million millennials in the U.S. (people now aged between 18 and 34), making them an extremely important demographic. Members of Generation Y value convenience and instant accessibility over cost, so they're a goldmine for foodservice operations with delivery services.
But before jumping onto the delivery bandwagon, you should ask yourself whether it will work for your business model. Delivery doesn't work for every type of food, and you should avoid it if your cuisine won't hold up well during delivery. The last thing you want to do is turn your customers off by providing them with sub-par delivery food.
So where to start? In deploying a delivery service one of the first decisions you'll need to make is whether you should build your own team or use a third-party delivery company. Part two in this series will address this critical decision, as well as some other important considerations.
About Richard Traylor
Richard Traylor graduated from Temple University in the winter of 2014 with a degree in Strategic Communications. After graduating, he taught English in South Korea for two years, during which he was fortunate enough to travel and see the world. In October 2016, he returned home and started to work in SEO Content at Webstaurant Store. This blog previously ran on Webstaurant Store.
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