How Restaurants Can Prepare for Black Friday And Soccer’s World Cup

During the holiday season, the most popular day to go out for lunch is Black Friday. Forty-five percent of Black Friday shoppers reported hitting up a lunch spot the day after Thanksgiving, and it makes sense. Many people are tired of cooking from the process that is Thanksgiving Dinner. Plus, all that shopping can work up a big appetite. And this year, operators are getting a special bonus on Black Friday that will likely pack bars and restaurants even more.

Black Friday History

The somewhat foreboding name comes from two sources, and neither is the reason that companies become profitable on that last Friday of November. The most recent source comes from Philadelphia police in the 1960s, who came to expect heavy motor and foot traffic from people going to see the Army-Navy football game while others headed out Christmas shopping. Department stores in Philadelphia tried to rebrand the booming business day “Big Friday,” but that moniker didn’t take. At any rate, retailers saw they could profit big by offering hefty discounts, and the tradition has been growing ever since.

In more recent history, in-person shopping was curtailed for a few years by the pandemic, but the trend is reversing dramatically as 66.5 million Americans shopped in person on Black Friday in 2021. That’s an increase of 19 percent from the year before. An even larger number of in-person shoppers will likely show up at stores and restaurants across America on Black Friday this year as well.

Get Ready For The World Cup!

If Black Friday was a big day in previous years, get ready for 2022! The United States will take on England in the 2022 FIFA World Cup on the same day that customers will flood shops and malls, making November 25th a massive day for bargain hunters and sports fans alike. The bars and restaurants will certainly be packed, and the competition between restaurants for holiday diners and soccer fans will be at least as stiff as the competition on the field.

Foodservice businesses need to plan ahead to make the most of the unique opportunity that Black Friday this year presents, especially since the game begins at 11 am PT, 2 pm ET, which is lunchtime in some time zones. FOX and Telemundo are both airing the match, so make sure TVs are tuned accordingly.

Devise a special menu as well. Offer great deals, as well as holiday food and drink options. Almost half of diners plan to order a holiday-themed dish at a restaurant one to two times during the season, while 40 percent anticipate ordering holiday-themed meals three or more times. Include items with traditional holiday ingredients like chocolate, pumpkin, nutmeg, and cinnamon. And serve them up with a sense of celebration. It’s okay to trim portion sizes for Black Friday menus. Customers are still stuffed from the day before, and smaller portions help with operating costs. And finally, don’t rely on foot traffic alone. Get the word out to would-be diners ahead of time on social media and via word of mouth, so they know exactly where to go for the best food and drink specials on Black Friday.

Win Big This Black Friday with Pitco

Quick-service restaurants have long reigned over Black Friday, but full-service restaurants and bars are becoming more popular post-Thanksgiving dining hot spots. And as beloved as it already is, fried food is still gaining in popularity. Fried chicken sandwiches, in particular, are in higher demand than ever. Full-service restaurants will do well to offer their own delicious fried fare to Black Friday shoppers and soccer fans.

Fortunately, restaurants can rely on Pitco’s Solstice Fryer solutions. Make sure to offer a game day menu guests will flock to. Consider classics like fries, tater tots, buffalo wings, and other menu items that customers desire but can’t replicate easily at home.

Make sure your business is ready for the rush by having the Pitco Fryer that’s right to help you increase sales this holiday season.