No Sweat! Your Summer Takeout & Delivery Playbook
As off-premise dining continues to be a major revenue stream for Canadian restaurants, summer brings its own set of takeout and delivery challenges. Heat, staffing shortages, and peak dine-in crowds can push operations to the limit, leading to soggy fries, incorrect orders, or late deliveries.
The good news? With a few checklist-driven tweaks, operators can tighten systems, protect food quality, and keep customer satisfaction high, without adding significant cost or complexity!
Why Summer Adds Complexity
While takeout and delivery have become year-round staples, summer conditions can magnify operational issues:
- Heat affects food temperature and freshness – Fries lose crispness, ice melts in drinks, and hot entrées cool too quickly.
- High dine-in traffic strains kitchen timing – Orders for tables can slow prep for off-premise customers.
- Staff shortages increase order errors – Rushed packing often leads to missed items or incorrect modifications.
- Longer delivery distances in cottage-country or tourist zones raise the risk of spills, waste, and cold food.
Your Takeout & Delivery Quality Checklist
- Use ventilated containers for fried or hot items to prevent steam buildup.
- Separate hot & cold foods in packaging for better temperature control.
- Include reheat instructions or QR code videos for at-home enjoyment.
- Seal all bags to prevent tampering and reassure customers.
- Label every item clearly, especially when substitutions or modifications are made.
This checklist can be printed, laminated, and posted at the packing station so it becomes part of every order’s final inspection.
Packaging Isn’t the Place to Cut Corners
Cheap packaging can ruin a customer’s meal experience, leading to negative reviews or lost repeat business. Soggy containers, poor heat retention, and leaks make a lasting bad impression.
Instead, invest in compostable, durable, brand-forward packaging that reinforces your restaurant’s quality standards. Bulk-buying or securing supplier discounts through your foodservice distributor—or loyalty programs like Brand Points PLUS—can keep premium packaging affordable.
Kitchen Tips for Order Accuracy & Speed
A few operational changes can drastically improve takeout execution:
- Dedicated Takeout Station – Assign a section of the kitchen or a small table for bagging and quality checks.
- Double-Check Protocol – One staff member packs the order, another verifies against the ticket before sealing.
- Order Confirmation During Prep – Train staff to verbally confirm modifications to avoid missed instructions.
Insights Tip: Promote Add-Ons & Combos
Upselling in off-premise orders is easy when built into the ordering process:
- Offer pre-set dessert, drink, or side bundles on mobile ordering apps.
- Run “add this for $X” prompts at checkout.
- Prep grab-and-go add-ons (cookies, bottled drinks) ahead of time for speed.
Bundling increases average order value while providing a more complete customer experience.
Summer’s heat and high traffic don’t have to derail your takeout and delivery game. With the right systems, smart packaging, and a focus on accuracy, you can keep orders fresh, fast, and frustration-free. Looking for more tips and tricks for your takeout process? Click here to read more about the best takeout foods!
