Engineering Seasonal Menus: Maximizing Margins for Thanksgiving

Seasonal menu changes are always a popular move, and give diners the chance to try something new or rediscover a forgotten favorite. Thanksgiving also offers an opportunity to showcase innovative ideas and seasonal ingredients.  

For seasonal menu changes, it is important to remember that brand consistency should be a major consideration. It’s also especially important to offer just the right amount of seasonal menu options – neither too many or too little – and to organize the menu to highlight the seasonal items.

When re-engineering any menu, take the time to understand what will work as a promotional angle each season. Quick-service restaurants and casual dining concepts benefit significantly from prominent holidays such as Thanksgiving, as they provide a chance to look at individual product categories: think hot drinks, warming main dishes and comforting desserts. Not only are these items at the top of customers’ lists when it comes to dining out of home in colder…