Introduction
Increasing average spend does not mean pushing your customer to buy something they do not want. It means showing them, at the right moment, options that make their order feel more complete: a side dish, a larger size, a dessert, a drink or a package for two people. If you do it well, the customer feels they have received more value and you improve the performance of every order.
The key is to design offers that fit your menu, your costs and the way your customers order. Some ideas work better for delivery, others for dine-in and others for collection from your restaurant. Below you will find practical ideas you can apply straight away, with examples and steps to organise them without confusing your team.
1. 2+1 offers with the right product selection
The 2+1 offer is a classic because it increases the number of products in the order. However, it should not be applied across your whole menu. If you use it without care, you may reduce your profit margin or overload the kitchen with products that are not worthwhile.
Start with products that are popular, have consistent quality and can be prepared quickly. For example, you can run 2+1 on soft drinks, small starters, coffees, beers, individual desserts or specific sides. Avoid dishes with expensive ingredients or difficult preparation.
- Choose 3-5 products that can support an offer without putting operational pressure on you.
- Set a clear rule, such as “buy 2 of the same product, get the 3rd free”.
- Define the duration, for example weekdays or quieter hours.
- Train your staff to suggest it naturally, not pushily.
This way, the offer becomes a tool for increasing the order value, not just a discount.
2. Upgrades for a small extra charge
Upgrades are one of the simplest ways to increase average spend, because you are not asking the customer to change their choice. You are simply suggesting that they make what they already want a little richer. The idea is: “Would you like to make it better for a small difference?”
It can be a size upgrade, an added ingredient or a switch to a more premium option. For example, a coffee can become a double, a salad can get extra protein, a pizza can get extra cheese, a burger can come with a double patty or a meal can be served with a larger portion of chips.
- Create 2-3 basic upgrades for each popular dish.
- Keep the descriptions simple: “extra bacon”, “double meat”, “large size”.
- Do not add too many options, because the customer gets tired.
- Place the upgrades where they are visible: on the menu, in online ordering or in the waiter’s suggestion.
If you use online orders, choices and extras help a lot, because the customer sees them at the moment they are deciding.
3. Ready-made combos for meals, groups and families
Combos increase average spend because they turn a simple choice into a complete meal. Instead of the customer ordering only a main course, you give them a package that includes a main, a side and a drink. Instead of ordering one pizza, you suggest a package for two or for a group.
The secret is not to create vague “menus”. Create combos for specific needs. For example: “Lunch combo”, “Package for 2”, “Family box”, “Burger meal”, “Pizza night”, “Office lunch”. This way, the customer immediately recognises that the offer has been made for their occasion.
- For one person: main + side + drink.
- For two: 2 mains + 1 starter + 2 drinks.
- For a group: a selection of starters + 3-4 mains + soft drinks.
- For a family: large portions, options for children and a dessert.
Make the combos easy to produce and clear in their description. If they need many exceptions, your staff will get confused and so will the customer.
4. Tasting menus and trial packages
A tasting menu is not only for fine dining. It can work in a meze restaurant, street food venue, café, patisserie or ethnic cuisine, as long as you adapt it to your style. The idea is to give the customer the opportunity to try more products through an organised suggestion.
For example, you can create a selection of 4 small dishes, a tasting box with different flavours, a “try the best sellers” option or a menu for two people with a starter, main and dessert. This also helps promote dishes you want your audience to get to know.
- Choose dishes that represent your cuisine well.
- Combine popular products with 1-2 options you want to promote.
- Keep portions sensible, so there is variety without waste.
- Give the package a name, e.g. “Flavours from our kitchen” or “Mini tasting for two”.
A package like this increases the value of the order and makes the experience more interesting.
5. Minimum order offers without feeling pushy
A minimum order can help make delivery worthwhile or increase the value of collection. However, you need to be careful with how you present it. If the customer feels you are forcing them, they may leave. If they feel that with a small addition they get something better, they are more likely to continue.
One practical idea is to connect the minimum value with a benefit. For example: “With an order from a specific amount, get the dessert of the day”, or “With a larger order, you get free delivery”. The amounts must be decided based on your own costs and your own area, not by copying others.
- Calculate which order value makes sense for delivery.
- Create small add-ons that help the customer reach the limit.
- Suggest low-complexity products, such as a drink, dip, side or dessert.
- Do not change the rules every day, because you confuse customers.
The goal is for the customer to think “let me add something else”, not “they are pushing me to pay more”.
6. Smart add-ons at the end of the order
Many buying decisions happen at the end, just before the customer completes the order. There, you can suggest small add-ons that complete the meal: extra sauce, a bread roll, salad, chips, soft drink, dessert, coffee or a children’s option. These products should not feel random. They need to relate to what the customer has already chosen.
For example, if someone orders a burger, chips, sauce and a soft drink fit well. If they order pasta, a salad or garlic bread fits well. If they order coffee, a small dessert or snack fits well.
- Create a list of 5-8 add-ons that have good demand.
- Connect each main category with the right sides.
- Use a simple phrase: “Goes well with…” or “Add…”
- Do not show irrelevant suggestions, because they reduce trust.
In the online channel, make sure the options are clear and easy. A well-set-up online ordering system of your own, such as Wiiz Eat, can help you display menus with choices and extras without the customer needing to make a phone call.
7. Promoting offers in the right places
Even the best offer will not work if the customer does not see it. Promotion should happen at all points where the customer makes a decision: in the restaurant, on the menu, on social media, in your Google presence, on the packaging and in your ordering channel.
Do not write a general message such as “we have offers”. Write specifically what the customer gains. For example: “Package for 2 with 2 burgers, chips and 2 drinks”, “Lunch combo every day”, “Add the dessert of the day to your order”. The clearer the suggestion, the easier it is for them to decide.
- Place the offer on the first page of the menu or in a special section.
- Create short posts and stories with a photo of the package.
- Print a QR code on the delivery bag or on the shop window.
- Inform your team so they mention it using the same simple phrase.
If you want to make better use of your own channel, also see the guide Order links & QR codes for your restaurant, so customers can easily find where to order.
8. Measurement, improvement and simplification
Offers are not something you set up once and then forget. You need to monitor what customers ask for, what makes things difficult for the kitchen and which packages make sense for your restaurant. You do not need complicated analysis to get started. A simple weekly record is enough.
Keep notes on which offers sold, which caused delays and which led to complaints or confusion. Ask your team what they heard from customers. If an offer needs a lot of explanation, it probably needs to be simplified.
- Test each new offer for a specific period.
- Compare whether it increases order value without disrupting the flow.
- Keep the offers that are easy, understandable and profitable.
- Remove those that confuse people or lead to mistakes.
The best strategy is the one you can repeat consistently. Start with a few strong ideas, present them clearly and improve them based on your customers’ real behaviour.