What’s Your Off-Premises Strategy for Kids?

Off-Premises or Bust

NRA’s “Restaurant Industry 2030” report¹, which looked at the future of the restaurant industry, pointed to this key growth area for restaurants in the next 10 years: “Off-premises opportunities will drive industry growth. The increasing demand for off-premises meals is transforming the restaurant industry and operators will need to find ways to tap into this new revenue channel.”

Even prior to COVID-19, to-go dining had grown to an eye-popping 60% of restaurant occasions², driven by QSRs. For casual dining restaurants, about 17% of sales were take-out or delivery by 2018³ and were continuing to grow. In the wake of COVID-19, off-premises dining has become the default. Even once things get closer to “normal,” take-out and delivery growth will have been accelerated by these recent changes in habits⁴.

Including Kids in Your Off-Premises Strategy

Now is the time for brands to innovate in the off-premises space, and kids should be part of that strategy in order to sustain and grow business with families.

In late June 2020, we surveyed over 500 parents of kids age 4–10 about their thoughts on off-premises solutions for kids⁵.  We asked parents whether they wanted casual dining restaurants to include “kid-friendly items or family-friendly activities with their delivery or to-go kids’ meals or family meals.” 67% of parents said they loved the idea, and another 24% liked it. All told, a whopping 9 out of every 10 parents we surveyed want to-go activities for kids from casual dining and fast casual restaurants.

The reasons why they loved the idea illuminate exactly why a kids off-premises strategy would be good for business:

1. It will get casual dining into the consideration set more often for families getting off-premises dining.

As one parent shared, to-go activities for kids are a good idea “because my son is a really picky eater and more kid-friendly foods with activities included might make him more interested in eating whenever we order out.” Another added, “It would make my kids more excited to possibly try new things/places.” QSRs, equipped with drive-thru windows and built-in off-premises kids solutions, have always been in the consideration set for families dining off premises. Fast casual and casual dining restaurants have to shift their mindset—and the mindset of their customers—to also win in this space, and providing a special surprise for kids is a way to do that.

“The increasing demand for off-premises meals is transforming the restaurant industry and operators will need to find ways to tap into this new revenue channel.”

2. Parents tell us their kids would love getting a little special something in take-out orders.

“My kids would be so excited to get something special with our take-out meal,” shared one parent. “And it would make not being able to go out to eat a little bit better,” she added. Another parent said, “My child loves getting a goody and giving more opportunities to get them sounds great.” In fact, a majority of parents (60%) told us that if restaurants provided these kinds of kid-friendly to-go solutions, their kids would be more excited about getting food from there.

3. It would be an impactful gesture that sets restaurants apart.

Many parents told us how off-premises fun for kids is a way for restaurant brands to make a positive impact in the midst of the pandemic. As one Arizona parent said, “I think kids always have fun with activities from restaurants. Since dining at home is the new norm because of health risks, I think it would be great to make the experience fun and unique for them still.” Another told us, “It’s a nice gesture in such a strange time. I think it would set them apart from other restaurants.”

Most importantly, off-premises kids solutions are a way for casual dining restaurants to increase sales with families. 77% of the parents we surveyed plan to order more takeout and delivery in the next three months than they did during this time last year—and over 50% said they would be more likely to order from restaurants that offered a special item or activity for the kids.

Get Creative

Take-out and delivery solutions for kids are an investment that can pay off by growing sales and by building perception of your brand among families—a majority of parents agreed that it would make them think a restaurant really understands kids and families. Parents miss giving their kids that fun and exciting “going out to eat” experience and the special family time that goes along with it. How can your brand help fill that gap?

“Parents miss giving their kids that fun and exciting “going out to eat” experience and the special family time that goes along with it.”

Now is the time to get creative and innovative, and to deliver a kids off-premises solution that not only surprises and delights kids and their parents, but also reflects your brand promise. A branded to-go solution for kids would extend your brand into families’ homes like never before and strengthen your brand’s relationship with kids and parents alike.

With so many ways to engage with kids—from activities that promote family bonding, to those that teach kids something, make them giggle or inspire their imaginations—C3 can help you find a custom solution that’s right for your brand and for your littlest customers.

¹ National Restaurant Association, “Restaurant Industry 2030: Actionable Insights for the Future,” 2019 – LINK

² National Restaurant Association via Ron Ruggless, Nation’s Restaurant News, “Off-Premise Orders Reach about 60% of Foodservice Occasions,” Oct 2019 – LINK

³ Datassential & IFMA, via Statista, “Share of on and off premises sales of full-service restaurants in the United States in 2018”, August 2018 – LINK

⁴ Datassential, “One Table: Consumer Insights and the Path Forward,” May 2020 – LINK

⁵ C3 Custom Survey of Parents of kids 4–10, n=513, June 18-21, 2020

ABOUT C3
C3 is a Kansas City-based marketing and design agency that brings brands to life for families with children through experiences and entertainment. C3 uses insights, strategy and expertise to produce award-winning programs and custom products to help major restaurant, hospitality and service industry partners connect with families wherever they are—in person, at home or in the community at large.