The Perfect Display for Your CAFÉ

Display, decoration and presentation is one of the most important aspects when it comes to attracting business to your restaurant or café. Many establishments utilise creativity signage and graphics, interesting décor and furniture, booths and plenty of space, but most, if not all cafes and restaurants are bound to have a display unit seated near their store front.

A display unit helps in showcasing your range of meals, sides and ingredients, depending on what type of food you’re selling. Whether it’s a chilled or cake display in a café or bakery to highlight your pastries and desserts, a heated food display for hot meals and ingredients such as pastries and meat or a sandwich bar in a small health food store or cafe for wraps and sandwiches.

Displaying your tasty meals and sides is a big selling point, but the big question you need to ask yourself is: Would I purchase these items myself?

Here is a guide for improving overall appearance and presentation within your business.

WHAT’S THE ESTABLISHMENT? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SELL?

One of the first factors when it comes to presentation is identifying what type of establishment you operate, and what specific foods you serve, this will help determine style, but also what kind of commercial catering equipment to use.

Interior presentation can encompass the graphics and visuals inside your business, the placement of display equipment and furniture, the structural design and the furniture itself (tableware, booths, chairs etc), while the types of food you serve will help determine the right equipment that’s needed. If it’s sandwiches and desserts, you’ll need a chilled/cold display, while meat-based meals will need a heated display or pie warmer.

Choosing the right equipment for your business is vital, especially when the first step is to identify what you’re selling and how you want your business to be presented to the public.

CHOOSE WHAT FOODS TO PRIORITISE WITHIN YOUR DISPLAY

Displaying your meals and dishes in an attractive way is perfect for enticing potential customers.

Displaying a range of foods within your display unit shows variety, so people don’t feel like they can only select from a few items (unless you’re a business that specialises in one type of meal – Sushi joint, Pizza shop etc).

Depending on what you stock can determine the priority within the display and what you need to do to attract customers.

If you’re a health food store or cafe then ensure your vegetables, salads and fruits are vibrant in colour and fresh. Presenting ripe and fresh plant-based foods, especially at the very front of a chilled display is both appealing and comforting to see, while unripe produce sends warning signs and detracts from the visual appeal.

Showcasing fresh sandwiches, wraps and rolls is also important, but displaying their interior fillings outwards gives patrons an insight into what ingredients are inside.

Placing your more popular meals or specials in the front of your display gives customers the option to try your best dishes and maximises the potential for patrons to come back.

IDEAS TO MAXIMISE PRESENTATION

There are always ways to improve your overall presentation, especially when it comes to food display refrigeration and presentation.

Keeping your equipment clean and tidy is a must. Dirt, grime and mess that’s viewable within your food display frame will turn interest away fast, so there needs to be regular maintenance conducted when it comes to your display equipment. Maintenance also includes making sure interior lighting is bright and attractive (to highlight your meals), ensuring the food display window is crystal clear and free of mess and check that food is placed on plates, baking paper, stainless steel trays or within packaging for hygienic purposes.

Labelling and pricing provides key information to your customers and is ideal for those cafes serving a huge variety. Easily viewable information, labels and pricing gives customers confidence with their purchase, so they know what they’re buying and how much for.

Being honest and keeping your serving sizes consistent is also key to overall customer satisfaction. Be realistic to customers about what they’re buying, as doing otherwise is highly deceptive and may cause complaints.

At the end of the day, asides from maintaining equipment and stock, be fun and creative with your establishment and continue to ask yourself the question: Would I purchase these items myself? In addition, a bain marie can be a great tool for displaying and keeping hot foods at a consistent temperature, making it an essential piece of equipment for any business that serves hot meals or dishes.