It’s official—the Philadelphia Eagles will be facing off against former head coach, Andy Reid and his Kansas City Chiefs on February 12, 2023, on football’s biggest stage. While the two teams will be heating up in the Arizona Sun, not all of Super Bowl Sunday’s action will be taking place on the field. Competition among restaurants is always fierce on game day, so now is the time for restaurants across the nation to plan ahead and get ready to score points at the register.
No matter which side of the gridiron you’re sitting, restaurant take-out and delivery is as much a part of the big day as the Lombardi trophy itself. In fact, while Thanksgiving takes first place as America’s top food holiday, Super Bowl Sunday is the biggest day for restaurant take-out and delivery.
Make sure the odds are in your favor by knowing what your customers will be craving. Score extra points by offering these fans favorites.
Top Ten Super Bowl Eats:
Cheese Pizza: 624% more popular on Super Bowl Sunday
Boneless Chicken Wings: 615% more popular on Super Bowl Sunday
Garlic Knots: 603% more popular on Super Bowl Sunday
Jalapeno Poppers: 597% more popular on Super Bowl Sunday
Hawaiian Pizza: 554% more popular on Super Bowl Sunday
Mozzarella Sticks: 506% more popular on Super Bowl Sunday
Pepperoni Pizza: 501% more popular on Super Bowl Sunday
Nachos: 410% more popular on Super Bowl Sunday
Onion Rings: 316% more popular on Super Bowl Sunday
Gluten-Free pizza: 275% more popular on Super Bowl Sunday
Americans are anticipated to consume:
1.42 billion chicken wings
11.2 million pounds of potato chips
139.4 million pounds of avocados
3.8 Million Pounds of popcorn
3 million pounds of nuts
325.5 million gallons of beer
To capitalize on your customer’s appetites for Super Bowl action, and stand out in the crowded restaurant arena, promote your restaurant’s special offerings early. Just be careful to follow best practices when advertising for the Super Bowl. One little-known rule of thumb is that it’s best to avoid using the exact phrase “Super Bowl” in your restaurant marketing. Because the NFL has the trademark on the phrase, it’s safer to use terms like, “The Big Game” or “Game Day” to avoid any trademark disputes.
Put on Your Game Face
One way to get ahead of the game is to offer Super Bowl catering packages on your delivery menu. Encouraging customers to order in advance will reduce pre-game pile-ups in the kitchen backlogs on your phone system. To help ensure a smooth experience for both your customers and your staff, offer discounts for pre-ordering.
Get creative with your catering menu by incorporating traditional game day favorites like wings, pizza, and burgers with your restaurant’s signature dishes. If you’re a health-conscious eaterie, don’t be afraid to tackle a few game-day menu specials. Even the most diehard fans will appreciate finding a restaurant that offers menu specials that let them remain true to their dietary preferences on game day.
While every restaurant in town will be running promos for pepperoni pizza and chicken wings, offering items like low-carb pizza, protein “super” bowls, and keto cauliflower “wings” will win over waist-watching fans.
DIY Meal Kits
Add to your customer’s pre-game fun by offering Super Bowl DIY pizza-making kits that are perfect for half-time celebrations, especially for kids. Young fans will love decorating their own pizza crusts and adults will appreciate the distraction.
Team-Themed Dishes
For many folks, Super Bowl Sunday is more about getting together and hanging with friends, but there are plenty of fans who genuinely care about the game itself. Appeal to this audience by creating Super Bowl-themed dishes like Philly-Philly Cheesesteaks, Birds Burritos, Rocky Ribs, and Chief Cheeseburgers.
Let customers without sideline seats feel like they’re in the valley of the sun with end zone edibles like Hot Wings, Dessert Dogs, and Phoenix Falafel. This idea will be even more popular if your restaurant’s home team is in the Super Bowl. Philly fans love their food with many cheesesteak spots and pizza joints expected to bring back some of their top-selling faves from the team’s 2017 Super Bowl win.
Game-day Menu Inspo
Lombardi Lasagna
Field Goal Fries
Super Poke Bowls
Touchdown Tacos
Super Bowl Sushi
Birds Burritos
Chiefs Chips
Football Flatbread
Half-time Hoagies
Baby Back Rocky Ribs
Gridiron Grilled Cheese
Defense Dogs
First Down Fajitas
Flea Ticker Falafel
Philly Philly Cheesesteak
Birds Burgers
Kansas City Cocktails
Use Creative Pricing
It's the 57th Super Bowl this year, so let your menu’s pricing strategy get into the game.
Offer 57-cent wings, a 57% discount on half-time delivery, or add spark to your price points. Think $5.57 Fries, $10.57 Pizza, and $57 party trays.
Giveaways and Contests
Get customers excited about the game – and your restaurant –by running contests and offering giveaways in the days leading up to the game. Try offering your social media followers the chance to win a free Super Bowl Party Kit, complete with a party package from your special catering delivery menu. Ask customers to enter by sharing a post featuring your restaurant’s offerings on their social media pages.
Hold a best picture contest, offering a free meal to the customer who shares the best picture of themselves enjoying your fare. And give extra points if they share the photo on their own social media.
Create a mascot competition, offering a free year of pizza for the customer who comes up with the best mascot for your restaurant.
With just two weeks to go, start promoting your giveaways across your social channels now. Then feature the winner’s “team photo” in a post-game post.
Giveaways and contests not only attract attention to your restaurant’s offerings, but they work overtime by hyping your establishment even after the game clock winds down.
Offer Alcohol For Delivery & Pickup
Did you know that Americans consume 51.7 million cases of beer on Super Bowl weekend? That’s enough beer to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool 2000 times! Boost your Super Bowl revenue by selling beer, wine, and cocktails to-go.
If your restaurant is already in the spirit of alcohol delivery, up your game by using game-inspired packaging. Or create beverage specials featuring team colors. Add a little whimsy to your beverage offerings with Birds Beer, and Kansas City Coolers.
Your customers are getting ready for some football, so it’s time for your restaurant to get ready for the biggest game of the year. Stock up, staff up, and gear up for game day now and you’ll be in good shape to tackle the competition by kick-off time.
By Eileen Strauss
