Competition is healthy. It gives you the chance to evaluate yourself from your contemporary and then the scope for being best from better is much more. Competition gives you options, diversity, opportunities and inputs to change. With food industry, evolving each day, it is not a matter of surprise that your customer will be loyal to you only. He can obviously move to your competitor, where he is getting what he wants. May be they are able to provide him such a platter, he craves for each time he visits their restaurant.

Nevertheless, it can also be the other side of the coin. You are following the trend and know what your customer wants, everything is just perfect. But you never know, when your pie gets shared. Below here, we are sharing some tips which will help you stand out ahead of other patrons.

i) Embracing Diversity – Diversity, is one of the most important aspects of being different from others. If Bruschetta is one of the top selling items in your menu and you think your customer’s will throng your place, five years at a stretch for that, you are not on the correct lines. You should always survey what is that ‘in thing’ and re-organise your menu accordingly. Though following the trend blindly is not a wise thing either. Moreover, changes only in the menu doesn’t only save you from being typecasted. Some fine lines are also to be considered. Taking full advantage of your location can yield brownie points.

ii) Being you – Let’s say you are the only restaurant in town. Your business is going great guns and you are a complacent person. But what if, a sudden presence of competitor, some stones throw away? It is always wise to promote your brand and give it the visibility, the way you want when you would visit a restaurant as a customer. Standing for what you are is the most important pillar of this point. For example, if you serve healthy, non-oily food with loads of veggies and wheat grass, stick to it. Try out recipes which will help you present the same wheat grass in a different shape, feel and taste. That’s what is called ‘I am, what I am’.

iii) Employee choice – That may sound a bit weird to you. But you may be considered by a group of customers for the way you are as an employer, the values, the morals which you had instilled in your employees. May be your customer gets special attention or recognition from your staff. A smile face of your wait-staff can make the day of an otherwise boring and sullen day of the customer.

iv) Seeking advice – There is no harm in seeking insights or feedback from your patrons. They are the one who have always visited your restaurant and preferred your food. Right? So, seek advice once in a while. Any kind of event in the restaurant can give them booster. Ask for which is the most loved items, what item they want you to be present or offering a free wi-fi or any kind of return gift can bring them back again and again.

So, these are the things which if you can put a little effort will be viable for you and at the same time keep your competition thing – ‘Why have not I thought about it?’