Catapult’s Guide to Unlocking the Power of Virtual Brands: A Roadmap for Restaurants to Thrive in the Digital Age
The Rise of Virtual Brands and the Digital Dining Revolution
The restaurant industry is undergoing a transformative shift, with virtual brands emerging as a game-changing phenomenon. Virtual brands, or delivery-only restaurant concepts, leverage online ordering and delivery platforms to cater to a wide range of customer preferences and capitalize on emerging food trends while minimizing the overhead associated with traditional brick-and-mortar establishments.
Virtual brands are the only solution for restaurants garnering new orders from new customers with no upfront costs. Low startup costs with the benefit of high margins from incremental orders make adding virtual brands an easy business decision for restaurant operators large and small.
The Benefits of Virtual Brands
Low-Cost Expansion: Virtual brands can be quickly conceptualized and launched online, allowing restaurants to rapidly capitalize on emerging food trends or take their existing brand to new markets with less of a capital investment.
Streamlined Operations: Virtual brands can seamlessly integrate with any restaurant’s existing tech stack. Tickets can be automatically printed to line cooks, reducing operational burdens.
Data-Driven Decision Making: Virtual brands utilize data and insights provided by DoorDash, UberEats, and Grubhub to enable restaurateurs to make informed decisions on menu offerings and marketing strategies.
Acquire New Customers: Virtual brands can extend a restaurant's customer reach beyond its four walls. By adding delivery and new menu offerings through virtual brands, you are able to attract a wider pool of potential customers.
Reduced Operational Risks: Without a brick-and-mortar location, restaurants are less subject to operational complexities contributed by dine-in customers and wait staff.
Key Considerations for Navigating the Virtual Brand Landscape
Identifying Viable Concepts: Restaurateurs should design virtual brands to complement their existing offerings and utilize the ingredients that are already stored in-house.
A Compelling Brand and Marketing Strategies: Appealing branding, great pictures, and digital marketing campaigns are crucial for virtual brands to stand out. Having a purposeful marketing strategy is critical to make up for the lack of a brick and mortar.
Optimizing Menu and Pricing Strategies: Virtual brands must carefully curate their menu offerings to meet the guidelines that have been drawn out by each delivery marketplace and price competitively to similar products and offerings.
Partnering with Reliable Delivery Providers: Partnering with leading delivery platforms to your local area is essential for the success of any virtual brands.
In conclusion, the rise of virtual brands presents a new and unique opportunity for restaurateurs to diversify their offerings, increase revenue, and stay ahead of the competition. By taking on action on the strategies outlined in this post, restaurant owners can unlock the full potential of their digital sales opportunity.
By working with Catapult, a proven and reputable virtual brand provider, you will have a trusted expert on your team managing this on your behalf. Catapult takes on the responsibility of integrating with leading delivery platforms, curating a delivery-only menu, while leveraging best-in-class software to make data-driven decisions.
Reach out to Catapult today to start growing your online food sales.