Incorporating Local Farmers Into Your Food Supply Chain
According to the National Restaurant Association, one of the top three culinary trends of 2020 was predicted to be scratch made items. This means that consumers are looking for fresh, high quality meals with few pre-made items on their plates. Let’s look at some ways that you can begin to work with local farmers and incorporate them and their products into your supply chain.
Create Seasonal Dishes
Creating seasonal dishes using local food that is fresh is a great farm-to-table approach. By offering limited-time specials, you can market your dishes and drive foot traffic into your restaurant during the times that your item is being served. Think of your marketing for this as similar to Starbucks’ annual campaign to mark the return of the pumpkin spice latte each year. You create excitement around your dish at it’s seasonal return.
COVID-19 Supply Chain & Responses
In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, a growing number of restaurants are incorporating locally sourced ingredients in new and creative ways. With disrupted supply chains and disappearing profits, many restaurateurs partnered with local farms to provide cost-effective ‘grocery’ options. This business pivot is one born in the era of coronavirus, but is nurtured by the slow food movement and increased community engagement. For the foreseeable future while coronavirus is with us, this ‘grocery’ model is a great way to both lift up the farmers in your community, and boost your sales.
Do Special Events
If you’re looking to fill customer’s scratch made needs, consider creating and hosting a special event at your restaurant. Events such as tastings or cook-offs can be a fun way to engage your community, and build local ingredients into your dishes. For example, you can create new dishes using local produce and do a taste testing event where guests can vote on which item should be featured on your menu. Similarly, you could also invite farmers in to do a cook-off, where they all use their ingredients to create a unique dish for your guests. Be creative!
Are you ready to incorporate locally-sourced food into your business? Sherane Chen LLC is here to assist you on your journey! Contact us today or call (386) 627-3628 for a consultation!