In a crowded restaurant market, desserts can be powerful differentiators and profit drivers. By creating craveable menu offerings, restaurants can increase traffic and sales. Additionally, desserts offer restaurants opportunities for strong mark ups that can improve the bottom line. But guests are not content with the same old dessert offerings. That is why it’s critical to design signature dishes and to change dessert menus often.
Try updating menus frequently by exploring seasonal fare, dishes inspired by other industry trends, such as global cuisine, and nostalgic favorites with new twists. Bold flavors, sweet and savory combinations, and healthier options, including fruit, nuts, and dark chocolate, are also strong choices with consumers.
Though creating new desserts can be a challenge, vendor partners can help give restaurant leaders the inspiration and tools they need to design unique, budget-friendly dishes that will excite and entice customers. Here are a few partners that can offer restaurants dessert expertise to help them seamlessly update their menus.
1. Haliburton International Foods
Keep your guests interested by creating desserts that focus on seasonality. “Highlighting seasonal items in the dessert category is both simple and cost effective,” says Robert LeSage, corporate chef at Haliburton. If your restaurant normally serves cheesecake with chocolate sauce, consider serving it with a seasonal mixed berry compote or fruit curd throughout the summer months instead. Haliburton utilizes seasonal produce at the peak of freshness to deliver innovative and flavorful products at a competitive price. We offer custom solutions for your dessert menu, including kettle cooked sauces, cold process sauces, compotes, curds, and fire-roasted and caramelized fruits to help you stay seasonal. haliburton.net
2. Boyer’s Coffee
Whether a mid-afternoon indulgence, or during an evening out on the town, Boyer’s Coffee is a decadent treat that can be enjoyed in and of itself, but our smooth tasting cup is even more enjoyable with a variety of desserts. Our light to medium roasts, such as our DenverBlend or Kona Blend, pair perfectly with sweet desserts, such as cinnamon and sugar donut bites, assorted pies, and ice cream. For all the chocolate lovers, our Rocky Mountain Thunder is a perfect companion to the amazing flavors of dark chocolate or fresh fruit.
“The introduction of Boyer’s Coffee created a great opportunity for us to create a simple sweet and coffee combo for guests looking for a sweet and coffee at breakfast,” says Bob Karisny, vice president for menu strategy and innovation at Taco John’s Restaurants. “We added the combination of Mexican Donut Bites with a cup of Boyer’s Coffee which was well received by our guests.” boyerscoffee.com.
Offering a variety of dessert options can satisfy guests and drive sales, especially when restaurants create signature dishes. These resources will help restaurants create craveable, unique desserts that will keep guests coming back for more.
