Differentiate your holiday menu with meat & seafood products that maximize profits

31 August 2023, Vancouver, BC –   During the holiday season of previous years, restaurant goers’ demand for impeccable food and service has been fierce - and 2023 will be no different. According to a survey by the National Restaurant Association, “Nearly 60% of consumers say they plan to dine out at a restaurant during the holidays, while 50% intend to order takeout or delivery for a gathering at home. Another one in four say they plan to do both.”

Chefs and restaurant operators face a variety of challenges, including ensuring profitably without sacrificing the quality of the product they serve. Building an innovative Holiday menu that incorporates items that are elevated, but efficient to execute will maximize your success.

You’ve already made a key decision to ensure a winning strategy, which is to partner with a protein supplier, that’s frankly more than a protein supplier. Intercity Packers is here to relieve pressure from your operation, strategically procure meat & seafood, inspire culinary development, and consistently supply the top quality products. With over 50 years of experience serving food service and retail operators, we have some tips on how to be successful during the holidays.

Top 3 Ways To Maximize Profits During The Busy Holiday Season

1. Plan your meat and seafood offering in advance.

Supply and demand can be tight for certain proteins, such as Turkeys, Beef Ribs, FCOs, Strips and Tenderloins, during the big holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. The key to not falling victim to shortages is to work with your ICP Sales Representative to book your offering early.

Your ICP Sales Representative will work with our strategic Procurement Team to find the best products at the best time. Booking your usage early also helps you lock in the best pricing, allowing you to maximize profits.

2. Opt for value-added products

Value-added products come in a variety of forms. Our vendors and expert in-house butchers have added value to the products in the Holiday Product Guide in one or more of the following ways:

• Trimmed
• Portioned
• Seasoned
• Marinated
• Fully cooked

Our expert butchers are here to relieve pressure from your operation. Streamline your back-of-house operation by maximizing efficiency with partially or fully prepared proteins in our value-added product line. Reap the benefits value-added products offer, such as reduced skilled labour costs, zero food waste and improved consistency.

3. Differentiate your holiday menu

Building a menu that stands out from the competition, while still expanding on your existing signature offering, is key to bringing in new and loyal patrons. Consider limited time offers (LTOs) that are elevated but efficient to execute by taking advantage of value-added products. Despite being partially prepared, value-added products offer an opportunity to add new creative features to your menu.

Here’s some inspiration for how the ICP Culinary team turned value-added products from the Holiday Product Guide into unique, seasonal menu items.

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ABOUT INTERCITY PACKERS

In 1972, Intercity Packers Meat & Seafood started out providing beef, pork, lamb, chicken and game products to local restaurants. We are now Canada’s leading supplier of the highest quality meat and seafood products to restaurants, healthcare and education customers across Canada. Our trained staff have years of experience in custom cutting of proteins. Because we produce food for the restaurant industry, our manufacturing plants are federally inspected and fully licensed, employing the high standards for food safety and quality assurance. With continuous innovation and the latest technology in the industry we provide safety, consistency, and leading-edge new products for our customers to meet evolving market trends and consumer preferences.