The Rise of At-Home Celebrations

There's been a notable shift  in how families celebrate holidays as recent data from Sauce saw a 38-percent jump in delivery orders on Mother's Day.  No longer solely defined by crowded dining rooms, special occasions are increasingly being marked by the ease and comfort of takeout and delivery, presenting both opportunities and challenges for restaurants.

"We’ve seen delivery evolve from a luxury or backup plan to an essential part of how people eat," noted Elliot Hool, VP of Marketing at Sauce. "That shift has only accelerated in recent years. For many, ordering in isn’t just about convenience, it’s a lifestyle choice. Especially during special occasions, delivery allows people to spend less time in the kitchen and more time with the people they care about."

Hool observes that families are consciously "ditching the crowded restaurant scene," opting for a more relaxed and personal celebration at home. This trend is driven by the desire to enjoy favorite local meals without the stress of preparation or cleanup, making "staying in" an intentional choice.

Meeting Elevated Special Occasion Expectations

For restaurants to succeed in this new landscape, understanding and meeting the heightened expectations of holiday diners is paramount.

"On special occasions, expectations are high and patience is low—customers want their food to arrive on time, hot, and exactly how they ordered it," Hool emphasizes. "Restaurants need to have solid systems in place to manage order flow, prep timing, and delivery coordination. This isn’t the night to be figuring things out on the fly."

This means meticulous attention to detail: clear packaging protocols, thorough order verification, and a streamlined process from kitchen to customer. Hool cautions that a single misstep on a holiday order can have a lasting negative impact, potentially leading to the loss of a valuable customer.

Summer Holidays: A Prime Opportunity

Looking ahead, summer holidays like the Fourth of July and Labor Day are poised to become significant revenue drivers for takeout and catering.

"Summer holidays are prime time for delivery and catering, especially with people hosting gatherings at home or heading to parks, beaches, or rooftops," Hool notes. Restaurants should proactively market high-margin family packs, special menus, and pre-order catering options to capitalize on these peak periods. He adds that data also suggests a strong demand for items like BBQ and burgers during Father's Day, providing valuable insights for menu planning.

Navigating Operational Hurdles

The surge in special occasion delivery demand, while potentially lucrative, comes with its own set of operational complexities. "Holidays and special occasions amplify every operational challenge restaurants already face; orders spike, timing gets tighter, and the margin for error disappears," Hool explains.

He stresses that preparation is key to overcoming these hurdles, suggesting:

• Adjusting staffing schedules in advance to match anticipated demand.

• Streamlining kitchen workflows to ensure efficient order fulfillment.

• Setting clear expectations around delivery windows to manage customer anticipation.

• Implementing small tweaks like batching popular items or having a dedicated team for final order checks.

• Ensuring seamless communication between ordering and delivery systems to prevent misfires during peak hours.

The Future of Restaurant Delivery and Celebrations

The role of delivery in the restaurant industry is evolving beyond mere convenience. "Delivery isn’t just a convenience anymore, it’s a core part of how restaurants connect with their customers," Hool asserts. "That shift has been happening for a while, but it’s becoming more permanent, especially as diners increasingly expect the same quality and consistency whether they’re eating in or ordering out."

Hool predicts that in the next one to three years, delivery and online catering will play an even more significant role in building customer loyalty and driving revenue, particularly around special occasions and holidays. He sees the trend as a "normalization" of delivery, moving it from a novelty to an essential operational pillar. According to Hool, operators that proactively invest in robust systems, comprehensive staff training, and efficient workflows for delivery are the ones best positioned for long-term success.