Busy seasons — while hectic and challenging — can be the most profitable times of year for retailers. Whether it’s the holidays, Cyber Week, back-to-school shopping, or special events like Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day, these periods are ripe with revenue-driving possibilities. More customers mean more sales and, ultimately, more profits. But to capitalize on these moments, you need a fully staffed team. So, how can retailers attract and retain the reliable crew of seasonal workers they need?

The answer might be simpler than you think: free food. According to ezCater data, providing meals for retail employees can entice them to accept a job, boost their motivation, and increase productivity. This can make all the difference during the busiest weeks of the year. Dig into the data to see how food can help make retail busy seasons easier to staff and create happier workers to boot.

What Does the Data Say?

When busy seasons hit, retailers nationwide often dip into the same pool of seasonal workers, leading to fierce competition among employers. How do you make your business stand out to attract the retail workers you need? Is offering good pay enough? Sometimes, businesses need to get creative and offer additional perks.

One of the most popular benefits is free food. An ezCater survey of seasonal and part-time workers revealed that employees are more likely to stay with their current employer or return the following busy season if they receive free meals at work. For employers struggling to hire and retain seasonal workers, this insight can be a game-changer.

Food: The Secret Weapon for Recruitment and Retention

Food is a beloved perk, and that’s great news for retailers. It could even put an end to the seasonal scramble for employees. Here’s how:

Free Food Attracts New Workers

Retail workers, like everyone else, want good pay. But it’s no longer the sole deciding factor. So, which job will they choose? In many cases, it’s the one with the free food. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of employees are at least somewhat likely to consider switching jobs if the new company offered free meals, according to ezCater survey data.

It makes sense. Offering free meals at work shows potential hires that you care about their well-being. Who wouldn’t want to work for an employer that truly values and appreciates them?

Free Meals Foster Commitment

Free food doesn’t just attract new workers; it also makes existing employees feel valued. They are much more likely to continue working for their company or return the following busy season. This boost in retention is true across various industries. For instance, 70% of grocery workers, 69% of manufacturing workers, 68% of warehouse workers, and 60% of retail workers say that free meals make them more committed to their current employer.

These numbers indicate that food perks are key to retaining employees, especially in industries that feel the impact of busy seasons the most.

Food Perks Enhance Focus and Productivity

Free meals at work can also bring out the best in your employees. A satisfying meal gives them the energy and motivation to tackle the retail rush during peak seasons. Two out of five workers (40%) agree, saying that catered meals make them more productive.

It’s easy to see why. Food perks encourage retail employees to take a much-needed break. When they return to work, they feel recharged. In fact, 32% of workers say they focus better after taking a lunch break. They also report feeling less stressed (29%) and enjoying their work more (29%) on a full stomach.

Showing Appreciation Through Food

As the busy season brings in more money-making opportunities for retailers, it also creates more work for employees. Between long shifts, odd hours, growing inventories, and increased customer interactions, they might not have time to stop for lunch.

Dealing with all those challenges is much easier when retail workers feel appreciated. Saying “thank you for your hard work” goes a long way — and so does offering free food.

Meals from a catering service make employees feel valued, more energized, and less burned out. On top of that, it helps them stay healthy during the busy season. That’s something workers badly need: only 18% say they eat lunch away from their workstation during busier times of the year.

Beat the Busy Season Blues with Catering

The next time your company is gearing up for a seasonal rush, don’t forget the not-so-secret ingredient to solving hiring challenges: food perks. Serving free meals may seem like a small gesture, but it’s one that employees love. A full stomach goes a long way in helping retail workers feel appreciated, energized, and productive.

Ready to see how something as simple as a catering service can help with recruiting retail employees during busy seasons? Explore ezCater’s corporate solutions to provide meals at multiple locations, across a variety of shifts and workstations, from front-of-house to warehouse staff.