Key Considerations To Set Up A Delivery Business

There are several key issues that need to be addressed when you set up a delivery model from scratch, this includes pricing and cost management, new menus, website requirements, communicating with customers, staff management plus extra food safety and hygiene measures. Before you sign up to a delivery platform, make sure you have done your sums and know it is a viable option, or even if it covers costs.  

Menu Tweaks and Tips

   

• Create a new condensed delivery menu. A reduced, viable, and still-profitable mini menu makes better sense.
• Consider your prices. Some delivery/pick-up platforms allow you to list your menu at higher prices to accommodate for the commission fee charged. So, where possible, ensure you have factored the commission fee into the listed price.
• Take advantage of shelf-stable products where appropriate, which have minimal handling and last longer.
• Ensure your menu is optimized for delivery and each item offered is profitable for your business.
  • Do your COGS (Cost of Goods Sold). You may still be paying the same rent (if you haven’t asked for abatement already), so make sure the cost of delivering your new takeaway menu is not outweighed by your outgoings.
  • Prioritize menu items that carry high profit. Profitable dishes usually include items such as rice, pasta, and pizza or flatbreads, plus sides such as vegetable dishes, salads, and bowls. And don’t forget children’s meals and desserts.
  • There may also be an opportunity to create a weekend brunch menu such as pancakes, or breakfast bowls.
• Remove items that do not travel well (such as a la carte main courses).
  • Steam, condensation, varying temperatures, motion all take their toll on delivery items.
  • Stacked foods, such as burgers, need to be carefully boxed and transported.
  • Also maintaining the quality of fried foods (except chicken) such as French fries or chips can be tricky.
• Ask if your delivery platform supplies any packaging. Otherwise, buy yourself the right packaging which must include:
  • Choosing the right material: Decide what type of disposable food packaging will ensure your food is delivered in the same condition as you would serve it to someone who is dining at your restaurant. Put liquids, such as sauces, in separate containers to add later.
  • Size matters: Select the right size packaging for your style of food. To make sure your presentation is on point, you may need to compartmentalize or deliver in separate containers.
  • Reinforce: A little bit of extra (recyclable) packaging to support your food goes a long way
• Introduce sales of coffee, tea, merchandise, gift cards and vouchers if possible.

Maintaining the Supply Chain

  Your ordering will need to adapt as produce supplies may become affected, so adjust what you need to have delivered first, then check what they are delivering and when.

• Stock up on delivery packaging.
• Order convenience and shelf-stable products which are readily available and are a minimal hygiene risk.
• Ensure produce deliveries are no-contact with clear instructions on where deliveries need to be placed.
• Use safe handling procedures when orders arrive. This should include reducing person-to-person contact and more rigorous hand washing and produce washing after delivery.

What you need to do for drivers, riders and customer pick-up

    Some adjustments may need to be made to efficiently and safely handle home delivery systems. Try these suggestions:

• Properly seal all packaging and bags using tape or stickers.
• Create a waiting area for riders/drivers inside the restaurant where they can wait a safe distance away from each other.
• Create a waiting area for other riders/drivers outside the restaurant – riders/drivers should stay a safe distance away from other riders and staff while waiting outside even if there is no dedicated waiting area.
• Create pick-up areas, as far from food preparation as possible, which means no direct contact between riders and restaurant staff will be required to pick up an order. Make sure that only 1 order at a time is collected from a pick-up area.
• Dedicate someone from your team to manage pick-ups during busy times.
• Have soap and water or hand sanitizing gel available to riders/drivers and customers whenever possible.

Self Delivery

  For areas that are not well covered by existing delivery platforms, venues have the option of using their own underutilized staff as delivery drivers, using their own vehicles, if available.

• Ensure the safety of your delivery staff and the recipients by using Zero Contact Delivery. This involves placing the order at the front door before moving back to a safe distance for both your delivery person and the recipient. Then contact the recipient by phone/message to let them know their order has arrived and wait to ensure they have collected it before departing.
• Restrict your own deliveries to surrounding suburbs as every minute on the road will mean a less appealing final meal and longer delivery delays.

Communication

  Now is the time to build your own database and utilize the free promotions that are being offered by delivery platforms.

• Your loyalty programme through your POS, website functions enquiries and bookings enquiries, guest WiFi which captures customer details.
• Utilise the larger delivery platforms that offer access to your database.
• Promote your changes on social media so customers can see you are still open for business and let them know you are offering delivery.
• Post your menus on Facebook, promote specials or post shots of orders being delivered.
• Make a video to promote your delivery business and showcase your restaurant’s people, their skills and your dishes.
• Video a handy cooking demo or something that creates brand knowledge for your customers.
• Encourage your followers to post their own shots of them enjoying your meals, with a discount on next orders as a reward.
• Join industry and local social media pages to see what people are doing elsewhere.

   

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Disclaimer: The content on this page is merely suggestive and based on chef experiences. Nothing on this page is providing any assurance regarding an increase in sales, demands, profits or any other aspect whatsoever. Results arising from implementing the suggestions may vary and the website owner shall not be held liable.