The holiday season can be a whirlwind for restaurants, with reservations at peak capacity and calendars packed with holiday-themed events. But savvy restaurant leaders know there’s one key revenue stream they need to tap during the holidays: off-premises catering. 

According to ezCater research, this year’s corporate holiday party spending is up: 92% of corporate decision makers say they plan to spend the same or more as last year. On average, companies spend $44 per guest on food and beverages, and with 54% of companies planning parties for less than 100 people, that’s good news for restaurants. Smaller workplace parties mean those companies are likely turning to restaurants for their holiday party catering needs.

But for restaurants, a successful catering season doesn’t happen by chance. It takes smart planning.  With the right approach — and some help from partners like ezCater — it’s easy to manage the rush, maximize holiday sales, and keep customers coming back long after the season ends. Start with these four tips.

1. Update store hours to avoid holiday mix-ups

The holidays are hectic enough, so don’t let outdated store hours add to the chaos. Keeping holiday schedules and closures updated means fewer last-minute cancellations, less confusion, and happier customers. It’s easy for ezCater’s catering partners to update operating hours with ezManage. Here’s how to make sure your schedule is ready for the holiday rush:

• Sign in to ezManage.
• Head to the Settings tab and select the store to update (if managing multiple locations).
• Scroll to Operating Hours and hit “Edit.”
• Use the drop-down menus to adjust availability for each day.
• Click “Save,” and you’re good to go!

2. Set a daily order limit so you don’t exceed capacity

During the holidays, every day can feel like a marathon, with staff racing to complete all of their usual tasks, but at record pace. Setting a daily order limit creates the breathing room your restaurant needs to ensure quality and service don’t suffer. 

Once you reach the daily order limit, you can decide whether it makes sense to take on more or shut down for the day. Either way, having a clear plan means no scrambling, no compromises, and no unhappy customers. 

With the right systems in place, you can set your limit ahead of time and know when it’s time to call it a day. For ezCater partners, it’s incredibly simple. You can stop or temporarily pause orders in ezManage to notify customers once you’ve hit your daily order limit. 

3. Avoid holiday surprises by adjusting lead times

Nothing dampens holiday cheer faster than a late or missing order, so be sure to build in some extra wiggle room. A little bit more prep time can mean the difference between a smooth day and one that leaves everyone saying “Bah Humbug.” Our best tip for avoiding order issues? Adjust lead times in advance to help reduce order rejections and keep things on track.

4. Ensure you have sufficient delivery coverage

With holiday orders flowing in — and traffic and weather creating extra complications — delivery can turn into a problem for even the most well-organized teams. Don’t let bumps in the road dampen holiday sales. When delivery staff is stretched thin, ezCater’s ezDispatch can handle the increased demand without missing a beat.

ezDispatch connects businesses with ezCater’s network of vetted delivery providers who make sure orders reach their destinations on time.

• Already delivering, but at capacity? Deliver what you can and let ezDispatch handle the rest.
• Don’t have your own drivers? Use ezDispatch to offer delivery up to 20 miles away, no fleet required.

Just head to ezManage and request ezDispatch. We’ll quickly match your order with a driver, confirm, and send over all the details, including pickup time and the assigned delivery provider. Prepare the food and ezDispach will handle the rest.

Take advantage of ezCater’s support and resources

ezCater is here to help keep the holiday hustle from turning into a hassle. The Catering Partner Help Center is available 24/7, ready to provide quick answers and keep operations running smoothly.

Need extra help? The Partner Success team is just an email away at partnersuccess@ezcater.com. Whether it’s sorting out delivery questions or planning for peak days, support is always on hand to help keep the holidays full of cheer.

By putting these tips into action and using ezCater’s tools, it’s easy to stay on top of the rush, keep operations smooth, and maximize holiday sales. Want to get in on the holiday catering rush? Learn how ezCater can help your restaurant grow its catering business.