The majority of people see BBQ’s as a traditionally summer activity to be enjoyed whilst the sun is blazing, the skies are pure blue and the paddling pool is full of cool, fresh water. A social gathering during the warm weather is never the same without the distinctive smell and the presence of a BBQ accompanied by salads and pasta’s etc. Although the summer is mainly the time that BBQ’s are largely employed, you can ensure that your commercial BBQ equipment can still make profits for your business even throughout the cold winter months. Take events such as Bonfire night, Halloween and Christmas. People don’t mind getting wrapped up in their woolly layers and venturing into the freezing weather as long as there is entertainment planned, warm tasty food and drinks supplied.
Instead of packing up your BBQ equipment once the summer is over and the leaves begin to change colour, try implementing some new approaches and introducing novel events to maximise this equipment during the supposed off season and make the most out of your potential profits.
Potential Event Ideas
- Haunting Halloween.
Create a ghostly setting and have staff dressed accordingly. Offer ‘Bat Burgers’, ‘Creepy Chicken Chunks’ with ‘Blood’ tomato sauce or ‘Hot Goblin Chilli’. Providing BBQ classics with creative and inventive titles will add atmosphere to the themed evening and also provide a hearty warming selection of food for your guests to enjoy.
- Booming Bonfire Night.
Obviously a bonfire and a firework display are great attractions for the public. If you don’t have enough space to stage your own display and cater the event on your own restaurant premises consider approaching other local firework displays hosted by civic authorities or sports clubs and enquire if they would like to utilise your business to cater and serve at the event. The latter option ensures that although your stock and equipment will need to be transported to the venue, you will receive the maximum profits with the minimum of overhead expense. Make sure that whether your event is at your restaurant site or elsewhere you are still able to provide the high standard and quality that is associated with your restaurant menu and services.
- Christmas Parties.
Couple festive meats with a snowy winter wonderland scene to create a magical atmosphere for this magical season. Appropriate decorations, a Christmas soundtrack and festive entertainment will all make the evening of tasty BBQ meats, mince pies and enjoyable surroundings an event that the whole family will want to attend. To keep your guests warm why not offer some mulled wine and traditional eggnog as a seasonal treat.
- New Year Extravaganzas.
See the New Year in with style and invite guests to celebrate with a hog roast and other smoked meats available to accompany the alcoholic tipples on offer throughout the night.
Invitations for these events can be sent personally to your regular customers via their email addresses should you have them from previous promotions and feedback methods. You could also add the enticement of, for example one free BBQ item on presentation of the promotional card which would be attached to the email. The remainder of the tickets to fill your venue can be sold either through the restaurant itself or could be bought on the door on the night of the event itself. Advertising effectively will ensure that the public are aware of the event and are tempted to come and join in the occasion.
What Equipment Can You Utilise?
Outdoor grills
Perfect for grilling fish, steaks, burgers and kebabs etc. as well as cooking fresh corn cobs as a perfect accompaniment. Outdoor grills are usually powered with either single or multiple gas tanks. Single gas tanked grills are perfect for small restaurants and bistros while the multiple tanked grills are better suited to larger restaurants, catering companies and large events.
Outdoor charbroilers
An ideal alternative to a more traditional grill which will still produce tasty results. Available in a range of sizes, outdoor charbroilers can provide delicious poultry, meats, fish and vegetables guaranteed to satisfy and impress your guests. Larger functions and businesses will be more than happy with the larger sized mobile charbroilers whilst smaller sized units provide ample space to accommodate a lower volume of goods.
Food smokers
The unique taste created with a food smoker is sure to attract a crowd who appreciate exquisite flavouring to any event. Using different woods will provide differing end results, for example, cherry wood or applewood will infuse different tastes into the meats or fish than cedar wood or hickory. Smokers are mainly manufactured using stainless steel materials ensuring that durability is a vital component of each unit. Food smokers are available in a range of sizes to suit any volume of business that you need to cater for. You may want to offer slices of pizza with smoked toppings as an alternative or alongside a traditional BBQ menu.
Pig roaster
These units allow a whole hog to be kept within a safe contained cooking environment. The pig can be slow roasted to produce juicy and succulent end results which your guests will love. Pig roasters will usually integrate a flue which provides optimum roasting conditions, quality and efficiency and a method of safe ventilation.
You will already know that quality commercial BBQ equipment can be a major profit maker during the summer months but with a little thought and planning and some creative atmospheric touches and ideas, you can ensure that your restaurant reaps the rewards and profits that these pieces can offer throughout the entire year. Simply choose a concept and a theme that captures the time of year and couple it with the perfectly compatible piece of BBQ equipment to maximise your annual profits.