Increasing the Average Order Value (AOV) is a goal for any food court business aiming to boost revenue. By encouraging customers to spend a little more per order, you can see significant increases in your total earnings. In a busy food court setting, maximizing each transaction is especially valuable. Thankfully, there are several strategies you can use, including leveraging a point-of-sale (POS) system to automatically upsell items, offering enticing combos, and using psychological pricing tricks.
Here’s how you can increase the AOV in your food court, with simple and effective techniques that will engage customers and help your bottom line.
Create Irresistible Combos
Combos are a classic but effective way to boost AOV, especially in food courts where customers look for convenience. Bundling items together at a slightly lower price than if purchased separately makes the offer feel like a bargain. For instance, offering a “meal deal” with a main dish, side, and drink at a 10% discount can encourage people to add more items.
Take McDonald’s, for example: by creating meal combos, they consistently increase the AOV, encouraging customers to spend more than they might on just one item. According to the National Restaurant Association, 45% of customers are more likely to spend on a combo deal (NRA, 2022). These combos work even better in food courts, where many customers come in groups. When family or friends dine together, combos make it easy for them to pick a set that everyone can enjoy without stretching their budget.
When creating your combos, aim for a balance of value and variety. A customer who might have only bought one item could be tempted to buy a combo if they see a slight discount along with added items they enjoy.
Offer Premium Add-Ons
Another way to increase AOV is by offering premium add-ons. For example, let’s say you run a burger stall. Offer add-ons like cheese, avocado, or bacon at an additional price. People love to personalize their meals, and they’re often willing to pay a little more to get their meal just the way they like it.
A good POS system will make these suggestions for you, showing add-on options during checkout. This gentle nudge is often enough to get customers to say yes to an extra topping or side. A report from Toast suggests that add-ons can increase average order value by up to 15%. This approach works particularly well in food courts where customers want a unique, personalized experience without needing to move between multiple vendors.
Leverage Psychological Pricing
Psychological pricing can make a noticeable difference in your AOV. Techniques like charm pricing (e.g., setting prices at $9.99 instead of $10) or using slightly smaller font sizes for the price can make prices feel lower. Research shows that customers are more likely to buy items priced just below a whole number (Journal of Consumer Research, 2023). This approach helps customers feel like they’re getting a deal, encouraging them to buy more items overall.
In addition to charm pricing, consider offering “good, better, best” options. For example, a regular, large, and family-size option for drinks or sides. This simple layout guides customers toward the middle or high-end options, increasing your AOV.
Use a POS System That Upsells With Food Combos
An advanced POS system is one of the most effective tools for increasing your AOV. Modern POS systems come with features that automatically suggest popular food combinations to customers, like a burger with fries and a drink or a dessert with a coffee. This automated upselling is a powerful tactic because it reminds customers of items they might want to add, without requiring your staff to remember each possible combination.
For instance, with the right POS system, a customer ordering a pizza can instantly see a suggestion to add a side of garlic bread or a soda. By suggesting these options directly on the screen, the POS increases the likelihood of an extra sale without any extra work from your staff. Studies show that upselling can boost average order value by 10-30% (HubSpot, 2023). In a high-traffic food court, this can lead to substantial revenue growth over time.
Additionally, you can customize upselling prompts based on sales data. If a certain combo is selling well, the POS can highlight it to more customers. With this data-driven approach, you get the best combinations in front of your audience at the right time.
Introduce Limited-Time Offers and Exclusive Deals
Create a sense of urgency with limited-time offers. Offering exclusive deals or time-bound discounts encourages customers to add more items to their orders. For instance, you could promote a “limited-time meal deal” that includes a dessert and a drink at a discount. Knowing that a deal won’t last forever can push customers to buy more in the moment.
This approach taps into FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), which is powerful in the fast-paced environment of a food court. According to a study by Eventbrite, 60% of millennials make purchases due to FOMO (Eventbrite, 2022). In a food court, this means you can leverage limited-time offers to nudge customers into spending a little extra.
Showcase Best-Selling and High-Margin Items
Highlighting best-sellers and high-margin items on your menu can also encourage customers to increase their spending. When people see that a particular dish is popular, they’re more likely to order it. For example, if your POS system shows that a specific item is a bestseller, you can place it prominently on your menu to attract more attention.
Including visuals and highlighting popular or premium items makes it easier for customers to spot them. Data shows that items with high-quality images sell 30% more (Upserve, 2023). This can work effectively in a food court, where customers make fast decisions. By making these items stand out, you increase the chance that customers will choose a slightly pricier option, which increases AOV.
Reward Loyalty With a Points System
Another way to boost AOV is by implementing a loyalty points program that rewards customers for larger purchases. For example, customers could earn points for each dollar spent and redeem those points for discounts or freebies. Knowing that they’ll earn rewards encourages people to spend more, especially if they’re close to redeeming a reward.
Loyalty programs have proven effective across industries. In the restaurant industry, 45% of customers say they’re more likely to make a repeat purchase if there’s a loyalty program (Paytronix, 2023). A loyalty program in a food court setting can encourage people to buy an extra item or upgrade to a combo to maximize their points.
Use Digital Menu Boards to Highlight Deals
Digital menu boards are an excellent way to display promotions and upsell options visually. These boards catch attention, making it easy for customers to see special deals and meal upgrades. In a busy food court, digital boards can also help customers quickly scan options without slowing down the line.
Many food courts report higher sales after switching to digital menu boards, as they allow for dynamic changes throughout the day. For instance, you could feature lunch combos during the midday rush and highlight desserts or snacks during the late afternoon. According to a study by Digital Signage Today, digital menu boards can increase sales by up to 30% (Digital Signage Today, 2023).
Increasing the average order value (AOV) in a food court setting requires combining technology and strategy. By implementing a POS system that supports upselling, creating tempting combos, and using techniques like psychological pricing, you can encourage customers to spend more on each order. Tactics like limited-time offers, loyalty programs, and digital menu boards can further boost AOV, making a notable difference in your revenue over time.
These methods work together to create a seamless customer experience while maximizing their purchases, helping you run a more profitable food court operation.
