5 Myths About Add-On Menus: What Every Singaporean Restaurateur Should Know

Want to boost restaurant sales without overhauling your menu? Add-on menus, when powered by a smart POS like Eats365, can significantly increase revenue. Let's debunk the myths surrounding add-ons and unlock their profit potential for your Singapore restaurant.

Myth 3 | Only Fast Food Benefits from Add-ons

The notion that add-on menus are exclusive to fast-food establishments is a misconception. In Singapore's dynamic dining scene, restaurants across various tiers have embraced add-ons to enhance the dining experience and boost revenue.

Take, for instance, Odette, a three-Michelin-starred restaurant renowned for its French-Japanese tasting menu. Odette offers patrons the option to elevate their meals with premium wine pairings, curated cheese selections, or exclusive dishes, providing a personalized touch to the fine dining experience. Similarly, Saint Pierre, another Michelin-starred establishment, curates an extensive wine list of over 2,300 bottles, allowing diners to customize their meals with exquisite wine pairings. This approach not only enhances the dining experience but also increases the average ticket size per customer. In the realm of casual dining, Jumbo Seafood exemplifies the effective use of add-ons. Famous for its chili crab, Jumbo Seafood offers patrons the option to add side dishes like fried mantou (buns) to complement the main course, enriching the meal and increasing the overall order value.

This trend towards customization is facilitated by advanced POS systems like Eats365, which enable restaurants to seamlessly integrate add-on options into their menus. By leveraging such technology, establishments can offer personalized dining experiences that cater to individual preferences, thereby enhancing customer satisfaction and driving revenue growth.

With Eats365, crafting and managing add-on menus becomes a seamless endeavor. Our intuitive interface empowers restaurant owners to effortlessly tailor options, adjust pricing, set availability, and incorporate enticing visuals. This user-friendly approach significantly reduces the time and effort required to implement and maintain add-on menus, allowing owners to focus on other critical aspects of their business. To illustrate, consider the process of setting up a Custom Menu using the Eats365 POS:

• Accessing Menu Setup: Log in to the Eats365 POS. At the top left, tap 'Settings'. Under 'General', tap 'Menu Setup', then select 'Custom Menu'.

• Adding a New Menu: At the top right, tap 'Add Menu'.

• Configuring Menu Details: Enter the Custom Menu name and select the language. To make the Custom Menu appear on the POS, turn on 'Show on Menu'.

• Setting Availability: Add the date and time when the Custom Menu should appear on the POS. You can configure the Custom Menu to appear during specific time slots, depending on the day.

• Selecting Categories: Choose the categories you would like to include in the Custom Menu.

• Assigning Permissions: Set up staff roles and application permissions to control access to the Custom Menu.

• Saving the Menu: At the top right, tap 'Save' to confirm. To view the Custom Menu, go to the order-taking screen. Next to your menu categories, tap 'All'.

This streamlined process ensures that restaurant owners can quickly adapt their offerings to meet customer preferences and operational needs. For a more detailed guide, refer to the Eats365 support article on setting up and managing a Custom Menu.

By leveraging Eats365's customizable menu features, Singaporean restaurateurs can enhance their service efficiency and provide a more personalized dining experience, ultimately driving customer satisfaction and business growth.

 

Myth 5 | Add-on Menus Don't Impact Revenue

In reality, add-on menus can significantly boost revenue, with industry research consistently demonstrating their substantial impact on restaurant profitability. According to recent data from 7shifts, simple add-ons like extra dipping sauces, additional sides, or upgraded ingredients can make a significant impact on the restaurant's bottom line. Research from MenuViel shows that each upsell or cross-sell opportunity can add a few dollars to the total bill, which when multiplied by the number of customers served, can lead to substantial revenue growth. By strategically suggesting relevant items, restaurants can effectively upsell and cross-sell, increasing average order value and overall sales. Digital menu implementations have proven particularly effective in this regard. According to Digital Signage Today, drive-thru locations that use digital menu boards experience a 15% to 20% increase in upselling success. Furthermore, internal research from DotSignage found that restaurants using digital menu board displays saw a 12% increase in impulsive and upsell purchases.

Let's examine a real-world application: imagine a customer orders a main course. With a well-placed add-on suggestion for a side dish or beverage, the restaurant can easily increase the total order value. Industry data from WAND Corporation reveals that digital menus, when used properly to promote limited-time offers and add-ons, can influence 1 in 5 customers (20% or more) to positively change their purchase decisions. A case study from Milagro Corp demonstrated that the volume of add-on items including drinks, sides, and desserts surged dramatically, with online orders showing the most significant gains. Over time, these small additions accumulate, translating to substantial revenue growth that can mean the difference between a profitable quarter and a struggling one.

 

Successful Upselling and Cross-selling Techniques

• Targeted Suggestions: Offer add-ons tailored to the customer's current order. For example, if a customer orders a steak, suggest a premium wine pairing or a side of truffle fries. Some restaurants even suggest premium versions of current ingredients, like Wagyu beef or foie gras as add-on toppings. Research from MenuViel shows that an upscale steakhouse that trained staff extensively on pairing premium wines with steak offerings saw a 20% increase in wine sales, with customers reporting higher satisfaction due to the enhanced dining experience.

• Combo Deals: Create attractive bundles that combine popular items with add-ons at a slightly discounted price. This creates a value perception, encouraging customers to purchase more. Add-ons might also be packaged with coupons, discounts or loyalty points. A family-owned cafe case study revealed that combo deals combining coffee, pastry, and a small fruit cup led to a 25% increase in morning sales.

• Limited-Time Offers: Introduce special add-ons only during specific times to generate excitement and drive traffic. Data from WAND Corporation shows that digital menus can quickly move sales from value menu items to premium limited-time offers, thereby increasing both sales and margins while decreasing food costs.

• Visual Appeal: Incorporate high-quality images of add-on items on digital menus and ordering kiosks to entice customers. According to the National Institutes of Health, digital menus increase customers' appetite and sales by 3.5% through visually appealing menu content. Research from MenuTiger indicates that businesses using advanced menu analytics with visual positioning saw a 12% increase in profit margins simply by highlighting their highest-earning items with photos and tags.

Eats365's reporting and analytics features enable restaurateurs to accurately track the performance of their add-on menus, aligning with industry best practices for data-driven revenue optimization. This approach mirrors successful implementations across the restaurant industry, where operators using comprehensive restaurant analytics have seen profit increases averaging 8% to 10%. The data-driven approach offers valuable insights into customer preferences and purchase behaviors, allowing for adjustments to offerings and pricing for optimization. With data gathered by Eats365 in real-time, restaurant owners can refine their upselling strategy to maximize the revenue potential of add-on menus, following proven methodologies that have helped restaurants recover significant revenue through improved variance control and strategic menu positioning. These tools provide business owners with the insights they need to make informed decisions and continuously improve their bottom line, transforming what was once considered a minor revenue stream into a substantial profit driver.

 

Elevate Your F&B Business with Eats365

As we've busted these myths, it's clear that optimizing your add-on menu strategy offers untapped potential. Eats365's POS system empowers Singaporean F&B businesses to seamlessly integrate and manage add-ons, driving customer satisfaction and boosting revenue. Contact Eats365 today to learn how our solutions, from QR code ordering to online ordering systems, can transform your restaurant.

 

FAQs about add on menu

How can an add on menu improve my restaurant's customer experience?

A well-designed add on menu with clear descriptions and appealing visuals helps customers easily find complementary items, enhancing their dining experience and increasing satisfaction.

 

Does adding an add on menu slow down service in busy restaurants?

No, when integrated with an efficient POS system like Eats365, add on menus streamline order taking and communication with the kitchen, improving order accuracy and speeding up service.

 

Can add on menus work beyond fast food restaurants?

Yes, add on menus benefit various dining formats, from casual eateries to fine dining, by allowing customization such as premium wine pairings or side dishes that personalize and elevate the meal.

 

How does Eats365 help manage add on menus effectively?

Eats365 offers customizable menu features that let restaurant owners create user-friendly add on menus with flexible pricing, availability settings, and appealing visuals, simplifying management and enhancing customer engagement.

 

What impact do add on menus have on restaurant revenue?

Add on menus significantly boost revenue by encouraging upselling and cross-selling; well-placed add on suggestions increase average order value and drive profitability through targeted offers and combo deals.

 

How can Eats365's reporting features optimize add on menu performance?

Eats365 provides real-time analytics that track add on menu sales and customer preferences, enabling restaurant owners to make data-driven adjustments to maximize revenue and customer satisfaction.