HOUSTON, TX - This has been a year unlike any other. As the industry has weathered through obstacles and overcome challenges, restaurant operators have had a welcome partner in Sysco. Continuously rolling out innovations to support foodservice members, Sysco and its Foodie Solutions platform have launched a collection of Toolkits this year that provide innovative ideas to generate new revenue streams and operate safely during the pandemic.

To learn more about how these kits are delivering solutions, I chatted with Maureen Quirk, Vice President of Marketing.

“Sysco is the only company in our industry to offer this comprehensive suite of innovative resources for operators,” Maureen explained to me. “The toolkits are designed to meet each operator where they are, providing an end-to-end resource of the products, services, and expertise operators can pull off the shelf and start using now.”

Additionally, Sysco recently announced the elimination of minimum delivery size requirements for customers’ regularly scheduled delivery days as part of the company’s Restaurants Rising campaign. This change went into effect in November for all Sysco U.S. Broadline, FreshPoint, Buckhead Meat, and Newport Meat customers.

Sysco’s Foodie Solutions currently features 13 free curated toolkits focused on helping all restaurant operators safely implement vital strategies to support their business. The latest additions, the Holiday Toolkit and Cold Weather Solutions Toolkit, add several new elements to the platform’s repertoire.

The Holiday Toolkit provides innovative tools to help restaurant operators generate revenue this holiday season. Ideas for operators in this toolkit include offering their customers cocktail kits, pies to go, unique takeout offerings, and different packaging options for takeout orders. The Cold Weather Solutions Toolkit provides ideas on how customers can position their outdoor space as a new winter wonderland experience. For example, Maureen tells me, geodesic domes are an easy opportunity to provide a unique sheltered experience for guests choosing to dine on a patio.

“Sysco’s online toolkits helps operators understand the services and resources that Sysco has to offer and helps them decide what applies to their business and what it takes for them to thrive in today’s new world. Restaurant operators need to examine their business model and decide what is working for them and what is not,” Maureen continued. “If they have not done so already, Sysco can help develop takeout options and a robust digital experience for their customers. These toolkits deliver solutions that operators can start implementing today.”

The importance of these toolkits cannot be overstated, as Maureen remarked that Sysco customers utilizing these resources are generally outperforming the broader food-away-from-home industry.

“Restaurant operators are an incredibly resilient bunch, and we’ve seen so many inspiring stories of their innovation and grit,” Maureen stated. “In fact, our toolkits are curated to represent the best ideas we’ve seen some of our customers implement. We want to share these solutions to help other restaurateurs succeed.”

The elimination of order minimums and value-added services through the Restaurants Rising campaign also are available to help customers succeed. Through free restaurant marketing tools, Maureen said that Sysco’s team can produce marketing solutions such as banners and posters that can be printed locally. Additionally, Sysco’s strategic partners offer exclusive discounts for Sysco customers for important services restaurant operators need, such as delivery, mobile ordering and menu services.

“We believe our foodservice expertise combined with value-added resources have helped support restaurant operators through the pandemic. This has undoubtedly been a tough year for restaurants, but there is a path to survive and even thrive into the future,” she stated.

As we continue to follow the foodservice sector and the partners making it possible to succeed, keep reading us here at AndNowUKnow.

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