The holiday season is almost here, and let’s be honest, this is one of the busiest, most stressful times of the year. But it’s also one of the most profitable if you play your cards right.

While many restaurants focus on in-house dining, there’s a huge opportunity in takeaway, delivery, and catering during Christmas and New Year. People are busy, stressed, and honestly, many just don’t want to cook. That’s where you come in, offering convenience, delicious meals, and a stress-free experience. And yes, technology can make all of this a lot easier.

Let’s walk through why this matters, how to leverage tech, and how to make sure your holiday operations run smoothly, without burning out you or your staff.

Why Takeout & Delivery Matter During the Holidays

First, let’s talk numbers. According to a survey by the National Restaurant Association, 48% of consumers plan to order takeout or delivery during the holiday season.

That’s nearly half of your potential holiday customers. They’re not just ordering a pizza or a small dish, many are looking for full holiday meals for their family, friends, or office gatherings. And let’s be real, this demand can quickly overwhelm a restaurant if you’re not prepared.

Plus, another stat really drives it home: 77% of consumers say they will let restaurants do some of the cooking during the holiday season. People want convenience. They want quality. And they’re willing to pay for it.

If you can meet this demand efficiently, you’re not just serving food, you’re creating loyal customers who will remember you long after the holidays are over.

Catering: Your Holiday Goldmine

Here’s the thing: catering isn’t just for weddings or big events anymore. During the holidays, catering is massive. Families, offices, and social groups all want stress-free meals, and they’re willing to outsource the cooking.

This is your chance to shine. Think of it as: “I can handle the cooking so you don’t have to.”

Here’s how to make the most of it:

• Offer festive bundles: platters, family-style meals, sides, desserts, all packaged for convenience.

• Include heat-and-serve options: not everyone wants to cook. Give them meals that can be reheated easily at home.

• Prepayment or deposits: this protects you from last-minute cancellations and helps you plan inventory.

• Batch prep with tech: use a kitchen display system (KDS) or integrated POS to manage multiple catering orders without disrupting regular takeaway/delivery flow.

Catering is one of those areas where planning pays off big. It’s easier to scale than in-house dining because you can batch prep, plan delivery routes, and manage orders digitally.

How Technology Can Make Holiday Operations Smooth

Scaling up doesn’t have to mean chaos. The right tech can help you handle volume efficiently while keeping customers happy.

Dedicated Online Ordering for Catering

Set up a special catering page on your website or app. Let customers select bundles, quantities, and delivery/pickup times. Connect this to your POS so everything flows straight into your system, no double entry, no confusion.

Kitchen Display System (KDS)

A KDS helps separate catering orders from regular takeaway/delivery tickets. This way, your team knows which orders are urgent, which are big batches, and which can wait. It keeps the kitchen organized and ensures orders go out on time.

Inventory Management & Alerts

Holiday orders often require larger quantities of certain ingredients, think turkeys, desserts, sides. Use inventory tools to track stock in real time. Set up low-stock alerts so you can reorder before you run out.

Digital Payments & Automation

Require deposits or full prepayment for catering orders. Digital payments (cards, mobile wallets) are safer and more convenient. Plus, you can automatically send confirmation emails or SMS with all order details, including reheating instructions if needed.

Delivery Tracking

Use a delivery-tracking system like BIM Dispatcher to give customers updates: when their order is being prepared, picked up, or arriving. It reduces stress for both your team and your customers.

Planning Your Holiday Menu

Your holiday menu should feel festive, thoughtful, and scalable. A few tips:

• Bundles & platters: offer kits for 4–6 people, 8–12, or more. Include main dishes, sides, and desserts.

• Seasonal favorites: mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, holiday desserts, customers expect classic holiday dishes.

• Heat-and-serve options: clear instructions make your life easier and theirs too.

• Upsell: suggest extra sides, desserts, or beverages during online ordering to increase the average order value.

Remember, presentation matters. Good packaging ensures food arrives fresh and intact, and a small insert with serving/reheating instructions goes a long way in creating a professional experience.

Marketing Your Holiday Catering & Takeout

Even with the best menu, people won’t know about your offerings unless you promote them effectively:

• Email campaigns: target past catering customers with early-bird offers and reminders.

• Social media: share photos and videos of your holiday bundles, behind-the-scenes prep, and festive dishes.

• QR codes: place them on receipts, menus, or table tents linking directly to your catering page.

• Local digital ads: target nearby offices, families, and communities with special holiday offers.

• Loyalty incentives: reward repeat customers or referrals to encourage more holiday orders.

Team & Operational Readiness

Holiday catering can overwhelm even seasoned staff if not managed well:

• Staff scheduling: use software to predict busy shifts and assign cooks, packers, and runners.

• Prep days: cook proteins, portion sides, and assemble desserts ahead of peak orders.

• Packaging: invest in sturdy containers, stackable trays, and thermal bags.

• Quality control: have a final check before handing off orders.

• Delivery logistics: plan routes if you handle your own delivery or coordinate with third-party services.

Risk Management & Forecasting

• Forecast demand: use past data or industry trends to estimate orders.

• Set order cutoffs: for example, “Orders must be placed 48 hours before pickup/delivery.”

• Cancellation policy: enforce deadlines for refunds or partial refunds.

• Deposit policy: protects against no-shows.

• Emergency menu: have a backup plan for ingredients or dishes in case of unexpected surges.

Long-Term Benefits

Getting your holiday takeaway, delivery, and catering right doesn’t just pay off now:

• Repeat catering clients: offices and families may come back year-round.

• Brand loyalty: a smooth, professional experience creates lasting impressions.

• Data insights: track what sold best, peak times, and popular add-ons for future planning.

• Operational resilience: the systems you implement now help year-round efficiency.

Christmas and New Year are a golden opportunity. If you focus only on in-house dining, you might miss out on huge revenue. But with smart tech, careful planning, and festive menu bundles, your restaurant can thrive.

Stay organized, leverage tech, and make it easy for your customers to let you do the cooking. Serve great food, deliver with care, and watch your holiday profits soar, while also building systems that support you throughout the year.