When designing your game day menu, make sure you’re ready to cover the entire experience, from pre-game warmups and a half-time showcase to overtime extras. Create a well-rounded menu. The most popular appetizers are traditionally indulgent, with fries, wings and nachos leading at Bar & Grills.2 But as diners get deeper into the game, you’ll want to make sure they have satisfying fillers that are easy to grab and hold while cheering. Handhelds, like burgers, sliders and pizza always win. Then, remember to expand the experience beyond the menu. Play a custom soundtrack as background music, add in dramatic sound effects when great plays are made, or host a celebrity trivia game during the half-time show.
Your Game Plan for a Great Game Day Menu
Published: October 29, 2024
Tyson Foodservice can help equip you with a solid menu strategy and proven products for quick-hitting sports season profits.
By the beginning of next year, it will be game on for sports fans, but the real game begins for operators now! In 2024 alone, 16.2 million people planned to watch the Big Game at a bar or restaurant1, and that doesn’t include the takeout-ordering crowd. This number is likely to rise in 2025, opening up a massive opportunity to drive traffic to your restaurant and reach G.O.A.T. level profits. It’s not too early to start gearing up with a smart menu strategy. Tyson Foodservice is here to help.
Tackle Every Quarter
Go Deep into the Playbook with Memorable LTOs
Limited time menus or offers (LTOs) are well-known to create urgency and excitement, leading to higher traffic. Operators report an increase of up to 25% in revenue and traffic during months with successful LTOs.3 And football season is the ideal time to offer menu items that kick up the energy-level and entice diners. The Big Game commands an entire experience and diners are here for it—ready to get fired up with good food and great friends. In 2024, 80% of the $17.3 billion that was expected to be spent on the Big Game was credited to food and beverage purchases.1
From the promise of new tastes or nostalgic favorites to free-item promotions—a tailored LTO can lure in customers with the chance to try something different in a familiar setting, leading to higher sales and repeat business.
- Choose an LTO-theme that resonates with your diners and feature one-of-a-kind items, or spotlight one menu-MVP
- Create new dishes that represent the flavors of the cities or teams playing in the big game
- Shout about it leading up to the big day, from promoting your upcoming menus on social channels to creating table tents and signage to announce your menu in the front of house
Get Goal-Oriented
Offer discounts or specials, like a BOGO on apps or desserts, as incentive for diners who pre-order or get in the door by a specific time. You can also upsell by training servers to promote and suggest add-ons. For example, with hungry crowds coming in, some diners may be swayed to upgrade their burger to line-backer-size. Offer them the chance to pile on enhancements like bacon or a fried egg. Use our Wright® Brand Steak Cut Bacon to heighten your stack!
Consider combo offers. Great pairings allow customers to taste several of your best sellers in one sitting. In fact, sampler platters are the fastest growing appetizer with 81% growth in the last 12 months.4 Put together variety-based options with your most profitable items and let diners customize their combos. Our Tyson® Mini Chicken Bites and our Black Oak™ Smoked Sausage can provide flavorful fillings for a creative taco flight. Or pair Tyson Red Label® Wings with a mini pizza topped with Hillshire Farm® fully cooked premium proteins, like pepperoni, sausage and bacon.
Use agility. With the anticipation of bigger dining crowds, you’ll need versatile items that can help you change up the menu with speed and ease. Tyson Foodservice offers items flexible enough to be used across multiple applications or as a base for unique spins. For example, our Tyson® Mini Chicken Bites or our Steak-EZE® Redi-Steak® Seasoned Sliced Beef can be used as fillings in a wrap or taco, toppings on a pizza, or for sliders. This will help you reduce unneeded inventory and simplify prep time.
Whatever you choose, we can help you create fan-favorites while increasing your speed to table and decreasing labor.
Recipes That Score Big
We’ve got the menu inspiration to help make you the go-to destination for sports fans this season. With our Game Day Menu Inspiration Guide, you get key industry insights and 22 exclusive, fan-tested recipes to help your menu stay fresh and attract crowds all season long.
Sources
¹ NFR's 2024 Super Bowl Spending Survey
2 Datassential Menu Trends, YE September 2023
3 Datassential, Chain Competitor How To: From Category Intelligence to Informed Pricing Strategies, 2024
4 Datassential Menu Trends, YE Q2 2024
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