Restaurant Delivery Strategies: How to Increase Online Orders and Grow Your Business
Learn how to build a successful restaurant delivery strategy with online ordering, third-party delivery apps, better packaging, digital marketing, and customer retention techniques that increase sales.
Today’s customers expect to order food with just a few taps on their phone, whether they’re relaxing at home, working late, or ordering lunch for the office. For restaurants, offering delivery is no longer simply about keeping up with competitors; it’s about meeting customer expectations while creating new opportunities for growth.
Why Restaurant Delivery Still Matters
Off-premise dining continues to be a major part of the restaurant industry.
Offering delivery allows restaurants to:
- Reach new customers
- Increase daily sales
- Generate revenue during slower periods
- Build customer loyalty
- Expand beyond their physical seating capacity
- Stay competitive in a convenience-driven market
Understand What Your Customers Want
Before expanding your delivery program, gather customer feedback.
Ask questions like:
- When do you usually order delivery?
- Which delivery apps do you use most?
- Would you order directly from our website?
- Are you interested in catering?
- What menu items travel best?
Survey your customers before launching or expanding delivery services to better understand their preferences and buying habits. Customer feedback helps you build a delivery program that matches real demand.
Optimize Your Packaging
Great food deserves great packaging.
A meal that arrives cold, soggy, or leaking creates a poor first impression.
Choose packaging that:
- Maintains food temperature
- Prevents spills
- Separates hot and cold items
- Preserves food quality
- Displays your branding
Assign the proper packaging to every menu item and factor packaging costs into menu pricing to maintain quality and profitability.
Offer Direct Online Ordering
While third-party apps provide exposure, direct online ordering offers several long-term advantages.
Benefits include:
- Lower commission costs
- Stronger customer relationships
- Better access to customer data
- Easier loyalty program integration
- Greater control over promotions
Whenever possible, encourage repeat customers to order directly.
Choose the Right Delivery Partners
Many restaurants use a combination of direct delivery and third-party platforms.
Popular options include:
- Uber Eats
- DoorDash
- Grubhub
- Local delivery services
Each platform offers different fees, delivery coverage, and customer reach.
Design a Delivery-Friendly Menu
Not every menu item travels well.
Focus on dishes that maintain their quality during transportation.
Consider offering:
- Family meal bundles
- Combo meals
- Meal kits
- Signature entrees
- Desserts
- Beverages
Limiting delivery to your strongest-performing items often improves customer satisfaction.
Expand Into Catering
Delivery isn’t limited to individual meals.
Corporate catering, office lunches, school events, and community gatherings can become valuable revenue streams.
Offer:
- Boxed lunches
- Buffet packages
- Breakfast catering
- Meeting platters
- Holiday catering
- Party packages
Large orders typically produce higher average revenue while introducing your restaurant to new customers.
Promote Your Delivery Service Everywhere
Customers won’t order delivery if they don’t know it’s available.
Promote your service through:
- TikTok
- Google Business Profile
- Email newsletters
- SMS campaigns
- Digital signage
- Table tents
Consistency is key to building awareness.
Reward Repeat Delivery Customers
Loyal customers deserve incentives.
Consider offering:
- Free delivery after several orders
- Loyalty points
- Exclusive online discounts
- Birthday rewards
- Referral bonuses
- Seasonal promotions
Building repeat business is often more profitable than constantly acquiring new customers.
Create a Consistent Brand Experience
Your brand shouldn’t disappear once the food leaves your restaurant.
Include thoughtful touches such as:
- Branded packaging
- Personalized thank-you notes
- QR codes to your loyalty program
- Coupons for future orders
- Social media information
A memorable delivery experience encourages repeat orders and positive online reviews.
Balance Delivery With Dine-In Experiences
Delivery is an important part of your business, but it shouldn’t replace your in-person experience.
Continue creating reasons for customers to visit your restaurant by offering:
- Live entertainment
- Trivia nights
- Happy hour
- Seasonal events
- Family game nights
- Community gatherings
The strongest restaurants succeed both on and off-premises.
Grow Both Your Delivery Business and Your Dine-In Experience
Delivery brings customers to your food, but unforgettable experiences bring them back to your restaurant.
Request a free Buzztime demo today and discover how Network Trivia, Live Trivia, Bingo, Poker, and Predict the Pulse can help increase guest engagement, build customer loyalty, and turn your restaurant into the place people choose to visit again and again.