[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I learned a long time ago that you always have to put your best foot forward in everything you do. I stress this to my very own children because I want them to give 100% in school, chores and in athletics.
I still can’t get them to remember to take the trash to the curb on trash pick up days …but I digress. I think I need a consultant for this.
A while back, I visited a school and observed that when the school bell rang for lunch about a half dozen students rushed into the café and looked at the serving lines. They immediately pulled out their smart phones and started texting and also having conversations with other students as they arrived.
As I inched a little closer to hear what was going on, I overheard some chatter. The initial students were “scouts” informing their peers of what was on the menu for the day. They were giving their opinions on whether the options were worth their time, effort and energy. This is a critical area where foodservice operators struggle. I get it. You have to use up your leftovers-first or in conjunction with your items for the day. But, what if you ordered a pizza (at the start of the company’s day) and had it delivered to your home. Wait, here’s the kicker. What if it was yesterday’s leftover pizza? I don’t think you would want to pay for it; I know wouldn’t.
The key? Take your same level of expectations and use it in your café.
Want a tip? If you cannot avoid using leftovers, serve them about 10 minutes into service-so your customers (and any potential scouts) see the freshest items initially.
Avoid losing potential sales by ensuring your best product (and your best foot, in this case) is out/served first. And remember to be on the look-out for those scouts!
Kern Halls, School Foodservice Consultant and Chief Innovator of Ingenious Culinary Concepts, turns empty dining halls into gold mines of student activity! By seeking out and combining just the right “ingredients” to accomplish what many call impossible: Halls gets students to “want” to dine in your cafeterias!
Do you want to get students to eat in your cafeteria? Do you want them to eat fruits and vegetables? Download FREE proven marketing tips TODAY, a $197 value, visit http://www.ingeniouscc.com! What do you have to lose? Nothing but participation. The clock is ticking… Yes its FREE!!![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
