Baton Rouge restaurants are seeing a surge in takeout business, thanks in large part to third-party delivery apps like Waitr and UberEats. But as Business Report details in a feature from the latest issue, the trend results from other factors as well, including an increase in weekday corporate catering and more to-go orders placed directly to restaurants.
The demand has owners and managers rethinking operations, including where to process takeout orders, how to better train staff and how to change design in future brick-and-mortar locations. The hospitality sector is even mulling issues like how much tips servers or bartenders should expect on to-go orders.
“The takeout business growth has been off the charts,” says City Pork Hospitality Managing Partner Stephen Hightower. “In three years of operations, it’s up about 300 percent. I love it and hate it. It’s something that local operators are talking a lot about these days.”
The upside, of course, is additional sales. At City Pork, to-go orders account for 5% to 8% of overall sales, allowing the two current locations to increase business without giving up seats. Fast-growing Waitr is a large part of that, says Hightower, but City Pork has also seen continued growth in weekday corporate catering and in take home prepared dinners for busy families. National Restaurant Association research shows one-third of consumers say that purchasing takeout is an essential part of their lifestyle. Moreover, 46% of adults and 61% of millennials say an important factor in choosing a table service restaurant is its ability to provide takeout or delivery options.
To-go orders have also increased at Bistro Byronz.
“It’s ramped up dramatically,” says Emelie Kantrow Alton, who co-owns and operates the two Bistro Byronz locations in Baton Rouge and a new concept, Flambee Café. “Everyone’s lives have gotten so busy, that for some people, it’s easier not to sit in a restaurant.”
Bistro Byronz sees 15% of sales through takeout at its Mid City restaurant and almost 14% at its Willow Grove location.
Read the full story. Send your comments to editor@businessreport.com.
