TLDR

As spring arrives, big names like Starbucks, McDonald's, Chipotle, and Burger King are spicing up their menus to attract customers. They aim to take advantage of customers' seasonal cravings by introducing creative new drinks, limited-time offerings, and customizable sandwich choices. As a local restaurant owner, observe these nationwide trends, and craft a spring menu that showcases your strengths. Offer lighter, brighter dishes with seasonal produce and herbs, and don't forget the spring vibes. Update your online presence, incorporating spring colors and messaging about new menu items. With smart planning and marketing, your business can thrive this spring, competing with the big players.

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Learn From Major Fast Food Chains' Spring Menu Launches

Take Inspiration from New Items

Study the new menu items launched by major fast-food brands this spring for inspiration. For example, McDonald’s Spicy McNuggets and Szechuan Sauce offer customers bold new flavors. Chipotle’s Pollo Asado provides a protein-packed option. Consider adding a signature spring menu item showcasing fresh, seasonal ingredients.

Refresh Your Menu’s Look and Feel

Fast food chains optimize their menus for speed and efficiency. You can follow their lead by streamlining your menu, focusing on your most popular items. Consider a spring menu makeover with pastel colors and flower or leaf accents to excite customers.

Enhance Your Mobile App

Many fast-food chains have successful mobile apps for convenient ordering and payment. Per Diem allows local restaurants to have their branded app and update it with a seasonal theme, new menu photos, and promotions. Send push notifications to advertise your spring menu. An enhanced app experience will make your restaurant more convenient and keep customers engaged.

Run Seasonal Promotions

Fast food chains frequently run limited-time promotions to drive traffic and sales. For spring, you might offer weekly specials on seasonal items, meals, or beverages. You can also bundle popular menu items at a discount or run contests and giveaways. Creative promotions will bring in new and returning customers to try your spring menu.

Focus on Freshness and Flavor

Big chains are constantly improving the quality and flavor of their food to meet customers’ demands for fresh, healthy options. Ensure your spring menu highlights the freshest seasonal produce, proteins, and ingredients. Introduce new sandwiches, salads, or sides bursting with spring flavors like strawberry, lemon or mint. A focus on freshness and flavor will make your spring menu a success.

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Refresh Your Menu for With Seasonal Ingredients

As the weather warms up, customers will be craving lighter, fresher fare. Capitalize on spring produce like arugula, spinach, asparagus and strawberries to craft refreshing specials. Offering dishes featuring in-season ingredients is an easy way to attract health-conscious diners and set your menu apart.

Highlight Fresh, Nutrient-Dense Greens

Tender spring greens like arugula, spinach, chard, and collard greens are abundant in spring and packed with nutrients. Create an arugula salad with beets, goat cheese and walnuts or a spinach frittata with asparagus and feta cheese. These dishes are perfect for the warmer weather and highlight the fresh flavors of the season.

Bring Back Classics with a Spring Twist

Take advantage of spring produce to put a fresh spin on classic dishes. Asparagus and lemon risotto, strawberry spinach salad, and rhubarb crisp are all familiar favorites given new life with spring ingredients. Put your own twist on a springtime classic to offer customers a taste of nostalgia along with the vibrant flavors of the season.

Refresh Your Drinks Menu Too

In addition to your food menu, freshen up your drinks with spring-inspired flavors. Mint lemonade, hibiscus iced tea, and fruit-infused water are refreshing options for warmer days. You can also create special spring cocktails featuring gin, vodka or tequila along with fresh berries, citrus and garden herbs. Updating your drinks provides another opportunity to highlight seasonal produce and give customers a reason to visit.

By focusing your spring menu on fresh, seasonal ingredients, you'll attract health-conscious customers looking to enjoy the flavors of spring. Freshening up your food and drinks with produce like asparagus, strawberries, and fresh herbs is an easy way to revitalize your menu for the new season and bring diners back to your restaurant again and again.

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Promote Your Spring Menu Launch on Your Mobile Ordering App

To capitalize on the seasonal changes, promote your new Spring menu on your restaurant’s mobile ordering app. With many customers preferring contactless ordering due to health concerns, your app provides an ideal channel to highlight fresh menu additions.

Offer an Early Preview

Provide loyal customers an exclusive first look at your Spring menu by offering a 10% discount for orders placed through the app within the first week of the launch. This generates excitement for the new options and incentivizes customers to download and use your mobile ordering app.

Customize Your App’s Appearance

With the change in seasons, update your app’s appearance to reflect the theme. Change background colors to pastels, add flower icons or fresh produce images, and update your app’s name to include “Spring Menu.” These customizations alert customers that new seasonal selections are available and create an engaging user experience.

Offer App-Only Specials

To further motivate customers to order through your mobile app, make one or two new Spring menu items only available for purchase through the app. For example, create a special spring chicken sandwich or mango smoothie that can only be ordered on the app. App-only specials give customers an added incentive to download your restaurant’s mobile app and place orders through that channel.

By fully leveraging your mobile ordering app, you can successfully promote your Spring menu launch to existing guests in an engaging, convenient way.

Visit our help center to discover how to get your app ready for spring..

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Offer Spring Promotions and Deals

Local restaurants should take advantage of seasonal changes by offering promotions and deals on their online and in-store platforms. With spring now in full swing, restaurants can tap into customers’ desire to get out and enjoy the nice weather by providing incentives for dining at their establishments.

Run a Spring Discount Promotion

To generate interest in your menu this spring, offer a limited-time discount for customers who place orders through your website or mobile app. For example, you might offer 5% off all orders over $50 or 20% off “green” menu items featuring seasonal produce. Discounts attract customers and encourage larger orders, while also promoting environmentally-friendly options using local, sustainable ingredients.

Free Delivery During Spring

As the weather warms up, many customers will opt to dine al fresco or enjoy meals at home with friends and family. To capture those customers, offer free delivery for all orders placed through your mobile app for a limited time this spring. Free delivery provides convenience and value, allowing customers to enjoy your food without the hassle of pickup or parking. Be sure to market this special offer through social media and email to raise awareness.

Push Spring Notifications

Use push notifications to alert customers to your spring promotions and deals. Send messages highlighting the details of your offers, including any discount amounts, free delivery dates, or menu items featuring seasonal produce. Timely notifications keep your restaurant at the top of customers’ minds and prompt them to place orders.

By providing special incentives through their mobile apps this spring, local restaurants can gain a competitive advantage, attract new customers, and boost sales. Discounts, free delivery, push notifications, and seasonal menu items give people a reason to choose your restaurant over major chains. Capitalize on the season by serving up spring promotions and deals through an easy-to-use mobile app.

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Engage Customers With Themed Push Notifications

Use Seasonal Messaging

Local restaurants should leverage targeted push notifications to connect with customers through timely, personalized notifications. Around seasonal changes like spring, push messages with lighthearted themes can resonate well. For example, “Spring is in the air - come try our new lemonade flavors!” or “The sun is shining - grab an iced coffee and sit outside!” Seasonal notifications help put customers in the right mindset to appreciate limited-time or seasonal menu items.

Run Contests and Giveaways

Contests and giveaways are another strategy to boost engagement and sales during spring. For instance, “Be one of the first 25 customers today to get a free slice of key lime pie with any sandwich order!” or “Enter to win a $25 gift card - just download our app and enable push notifications!” By incentivizing customers to opt-in for notifications in exchange for a reward, restaurants can build their messaging lists and reach a wider audience.

By emulating these proven strategies, your local restaurant can also successfully capitalize on spring and strengthen its digital presence. Staying on trend with big industry players helps ensure your brand seems equally modern and attentive.

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Final Thoughts

Now is the time for small, local restaurants to review the seasonal offerings of larger chains and determine how to capitalize on this time of renewal. Consider limited-time menu items, mobile app updates with spring themes and colors, and fresh marketing campaigns to attract new and loyal customers. The vitality of spring can breathe new life into your business, if you take inspiration from leaders like McDonald's, Starbucks, Chipotle, and Burger King. With smart preparation and creativity, your restaurant can flourish this season.

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