Takeaways are an excellent business venture, as everyone enjoys ordering food on a Friday evening or a Sunday morning after a night on the town. As easy as it is to sell delicious food to hungry customers, though, there are still several things you need to get right to succeed. To make sure you do, here’s what to consider before opening your first takeaway.
The Menu
Firstly, you must figure out what kind of food you will sell and what will be on the menu. Is your speciality Indian food, or are you thinking about opening an American diner-style takeaway? Whatever you decide, make sure the menu isn’t too overwhelming and that it contains the best dishes you have to offer.
Your Location
The next thing you need to consider is where your takeout will be located. Most takeaways tend to take place inside a building; however, you can also sell fast food from a food van. When choosing a location, take into account how many people will walk past each day – takeaways near lots of houses or bars tend to do very well.
What Equipment to Use
When purchasing equipment for a takeaway business, you need to think about how easy it is to use, how much time it will save you, and how long it will last. This is relevant for items such as knives, hobs, and pans.
Takeaway packaging is another item to consider, as it’s something you’ll need to keep ordering. Use recyclable, quality packaging to ensure your customers can enjoy their food without leaks.
Hygiene Standards
To open as a takeaway, you will need to register your food business, which means reaching certain hygiene standards. It’s an important part of any food business, as anything below regular standards could harm customers, so make high hygiene standards your absolute top priority.
Vegan, Gluten-Free, and Vegetarian Options
These days, more and more people are changing their diets, not to mention the number of customers with food allergies. For this reason, you should consider how to cater to all types of dietary requirements before setting a menu. If you do cater to those with allergies, you must be strict with your food regulations. For example, keeping all nut-free foods far away from any foods containing nuts.
How You’ll Market
While a takeaway already markets itself to nearby customers through the delicious smell of food and a bright shop sign, you should also think about marketing to the people sitting at home. Placing yourself on delivery websites such as Just Eat and Deliveroo will help bump up your sales, and there are many benefits to building a website, too.
Another way to advertise your takeaway is to use social media, which is becoming almost essential for businesses these days. So, set up social media accounts for your takeaway to reach as many potential customers as possible.
Opening your first takeaway isn’t a walk in the park. By considering these points, though, you’ll have a much easier time getting the business off the ground.