Themed LTO’s can provide a powerful temporary sales boost, especially for a slower season or an untapped daypart. LTO’s can also help restaurants increase overall traffic and profits!
A great way to develop the schedule and theme of a successful LTO program is aligning it with hashtag holidays. Another way is by incorporating popular and profitable menu items — like hot, crispy, delicious fries.
Heat Up Growth
LTO’s are an approachable and creative way to help drive traffic, boost sales, and maximize margins. In fact, the average LTO can help increase sales up to 20%1. To help drive revenue growth, consider a focus on one of the three levers of LTO success:
- Building Purchase Frequency – Motivate additional visits by appealing to the loyal guests who already frequent the restaurant.
- Lifting Check Size – Raise the average check size with a premium (but profitable) LTO menu item.
- Attracting New Customers – Offer an incentive for new guests by creating a competitive promotion that stands out among other restaurants.
In determining the right ingredients for an LTO, consider using ingredients already on hand, including delicious Lamb Weston® fries. Sales and profitability tools from Lamb Weston can help determine which fries are right for a promotion. Estimate the differences in cost by cut type based on operator sales volume by downloading the Do the Math tool. And price an LTO accurately to control food costs and maximize profits with the Recipe-to-Revenue Calculator.
Hashtag Holidays
For years now, the popularity of national hashtag holidays has been growing. Many of these fun-filled, consumer-centric occasions have been created to celebrate food. A quarter of consumers have previously participated in a nationally recognized food holiday2. By designing LTO’s based on food-themed hashtag holidays with large and active social conversations, a restaurant can take advantage of tremendous built-in exposure for free.
Here are a few food-centric hashtag holidays to participate in:
- National French Fry Day - second Friday of July
- National Potato Day - August 19
- National Bacon Day - September 4
- National Cheeseburger Day - September 18
TGIF!
National French Fry Day falls on the second Friday of July every year, and it’s one of the more popular food hashtag holidays that occur. Of the consumers who have heard of National French Fry Day, 56% would consider visiting a restaurant on that day2. Take advantage and consider running an LTO that makes the hot and crispy fries guests love the star!
“Free Fries” is overwhelmingly the most appealing offer among consumers surveyed, followed by “Free Fries with a Burger or Sandwich Purchase” or “Buy One, Get One Free Fries”2. Consumers would also be willing to join a loyalty program and post on social media for free fries2, so in addition to motivating guests to order fries, ensure the LTO also includes an incentive for them to take further action.
1. Datassential LTO Report, U.S. 2017
2. NFFD Custom Survey, Suzy, March 2021
*Content provided in partnership with Lamb Weston.