Dive Brief:
- Bojangles has launched catering through a partnership with ezCater, the chain said in a press release last week.
- Customers can place catering orders for breakfast, lunch and dinner through the platform. There is a $50 delivery minimum.
- Bojangles sees catering as an opportunity to boost incremental sales as the channel’s orders are roughly 10 times bigger than an average digital sale, Sergio Perez, Bojangles’ senior director of omnichannel marketing, wrote in an email to Restaurant Dive.
Dive Insight:
Bojangles is also working on adding catering to its website and app alongside its launch on ezCater, Perez said. Its website and app will help guests calculate how much they need by entering info about their event, such as number of guests and menu preferences.
Bojangles didn’t need to make operational changes to prepare its kitchens for catering, Perez said, adding that it has ample capacity to handle anticipated volumes.
While scheduled times will vary by location and order size, most guests will be able to order catering between 12 to 24 hours in advance for pickup and delivery orders, Perez said.
The catering menu will include breakfast items like biscuits and Bo Rounds to lunch and dinner staples like fried chicken, sandwiches, fixins and Legendary Iced Tea, the press release said.
“We combined menu data like product mix and worked alongside operations to create the optimal catering menu for catering occasions,” Perez said. “Whether guests are looking for boxed meal options or larger formats like platters, we got them covered for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”
Catering is an ideal channel to grow for the chain as it continues its nationwide expansion. The 800-unit fast food brand expects to surpass 1,000 units within the next few years, given a development pipeline of over 250 units. The company has also been signing large franchised deals recently, including a 30-unit deal that brings it into California for the first time.
