Making sure your menu features non-alcoholic beverages is a must for summer, however, non-alcoholic beverages are a hit all year, including fancy hot drinks, slushies, milkshakes, and more. Consumers typically see these items as a way to treat themselves, so it’s a great way for restaurants to up those cheque totals.

Each category of non-alcoholic beverages has its place on the menu and offers its own advantages for your restaurant – and for your guests.

Non-alcoholic LTOs

Limited-time offers (LTOs) give guests a chance to try feature beverage flavours that may not turn into regulars on your menu – and they’re popular year-round. This could include seasonal options with fall favours like pumpkin and cinnamon, holiday favourites with peppermint or gingerbread, and a wide array of spring and summer patio options. Over one-third of consumers look forward to getting a specific LTO each year, so there’s a real market to target with limited, seasonally focused features.

LTOs could also centre around a trending flavour, like yuzu or dragon fruit, both hot topics for summer 2023. According to Datassential, this trend represents the largest gap between consumer interest and the number of operators who are offering these options. Here’s a real opportunity to address demand and stand out from your competition before they get on board.

Another option for non-alcoholic LTOs is to use them as part of celebrating an event or holiday. This could be a regular feature, only offered on Taco Tuesdays, a long weekend special, or a specific, themed menu for a holiday like Halloween. These LTOs offer a way to get guests excited, try new menu items, and increase their spend at your restaurant.

Mocktails

Typically, the words ‘non-alcoholic beverages’ conjure up images of alcohol-free versions of some of our favourite classic cocktails. In the last four years, mocktail sales have grown over 133 per cent, so it does represent a market that’s in demand. While 37 per cent of consumers say that they enjoy at least one mocktail per week, only 20 per cent of operators are currently offering these on their menus.

As occasions like “dry January” become more popular, there’s a large number of people looking for delicious, non-alcoholic options. In fact, 57 per cent of Canadian adults say that mocktails are a good substitute for the real thing.

Get creative with the mocktails on your menu! You can add your take on the classics, concoct something all your own, or even ask for feedback from your guests to create some new fan favourites. Either way, there is a place for mocktails on your menu.

Non-alcoholic beverages encompass a wide array of options to excite your guests, draw attention to your restaurant, and benefit your bottom line.