Ramadhan Buffet Package: Tips and Strategies for Restaurant and Cafe Owners

22 Mar 2023 - Best view with desktop

Ramadhan is a time of year when many Muslims fast during the day and break their fast in the evening. This makes the Iftar meal a crucial part of the daily routine during the holy month. A food buffet package for Ramadhan should consider the cultural and religious practices of the people observing the fast. Here are some tips for creating a food buffet package for Ramadhan:

Affordable Ramadhan Package: It's important to consider that Ramadan is a time for reflection, prayer, and community. For many Muslims, this month can also be financially challenging. Therefore, offering an affordable Ramadan package can help cater to customers who may be on a tight budget. You can create a simple and affordable buffet package that still offers a range of dishes and flavors to suit everyone's tastes. By offering an affordable Ramadhan package, you can demonstrate that you value your customers and are committed to providing a memorable and inclusive experience for everyone.

Offer a variety of dishes: A Ramadhan buffet should have a variety of dishes to cater to different tastes and preferences. Offer dishes from different cuisines and regions, such as Arabic, Indian, and Indonesian, to cater to a diverse crowd. Traditional dishes are an important part of Ramadhan celebrations. Include dishes like Mee Goreng, Nasi Dagang, Nasi Kerabu, Rendang, Apam Balik, Biryani, Kebab, Dim Sum and Dates.

Dietary Restrictions: Many people observing Ramadhan may have specific dietary restrictions, such as those with diabetes, gout, and a need for low-sodium options. Therefore, it's essential to ensure that your Ramadhan buffet includes dishes that cater to these dietary restrictions. You can provide a variety of healthy options that are low in sugar, purines, and sodium, while still offering a range of flavors and textures to suit everyone's tastes. By offering healthy and nutritious options, you can demonstrate that you care about your customers' health and well-being.

Halal Food Source: It's important to note that many Muslims adhere to halal dietary guidelines, which means that the food they consume must be prepared and sourced in accordance with Islamic law. As a restaurant or cafe owner, it's crucial to ensure that all food items included in your Ramadan buffet package are halal certified. This can help you build trust and credibility with your Muslim customers and show that you respect their religious beliefs and dietary requirements. By sourcing your food items from halal-certified suppliers, you can provide your customers with the assurance that the food they are consuming meets their religious standards.

Offer Healthy Options: Ramadhan is a time to focus on spiritual and physical health. Offer healthy options like fresh fruits, salads, and grilled meats in your buffet package.

Consider the Timing: When planning a Ramadhan buffet package, it is essential to consider the timing of Iftar. In Malaysia, Muslims break their fast at around 7.10 PM-7.25 PM (depending on locations) and then perform their Maghrib prayers after the first light meal.

Many Muslims also perform Tarawih prayers at the mosque after the Isya' Prayers. As a restaurant or cafe owner, you can provide a small clean prayer room with access to water for ablution, to cater to the spiritual needs of your customers. This thoughtful gesture can create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for Muslims during Ramadhan.

Provide Appropriate Packaging: Since people will be taking the food home after Iftar, make sure the packaging is appropriate. Use containers that keep the food fresh and prevent spills.

Offer discounts for larger orders: To encourage group orders, offer discounts for larger orders. This will help families and groups of friends celebrate Ramadhan together. In addition to offering discounts for larger orders during Ramadan, consider promoting takeaway orders for your buffet package. Many Muslims prefer to break their fast at home with family and friends, so take-away orders can be a popular choice. You can offer special packaging for takeaway orders that keep the food fresh and prevent spills. By providing this service, you can help families and groups of friends celebrate Ramadan together in the comfort of their homes.

Decorate the dining and buffet area: Create a festive atmosphere by decorating the buffet area with Ramadhan-themed decorations like lanterns, lights, and banners. Another way to enhance the Ramadhan dining experience is to create a corner for decorations that is Instagram/TikTok-worthy. You can set up a beautiful and eye-catching display of Ramadhan decorations, such as lanterns, flowers, and other traditional decor items. This can create a great photo opportunity for customers to share on their social media platforms, which can help promote your restaurant or cafe. Additionally, you can encourage customers to use a specific hashtag when sharing their photos on social media, which can help generate buzz and create a sense of community around your Ramadhan buffet package. For an authentic Ramadhan atmosphere, it's important to consider additional elements beyond the food. For instance, playing Islamic traditional background songs can create a soothing and welcoming atmosphere for customers. It's also a good idea to play the Athan at Maghrib time to signal the time for breaking the fast. Additionally, as a sign of respect, it's important to ensure that your waiters and waitresses wear modest clothing during Ramadhan. This can include attire that covers the shoulders, arms, and legs. By considering these additional elements, you can provide a more authentic and inclusive Ramadhan experience for your customers.

Tips for Managing Cost and Waste

Monitor Inventory - Keep track of inventory to ensure that you do not over-order or run out of ingredients. This will help you reduce waste and control costs.

Control Portion Sizes - Controlling portion sizes is an effective way to reduce waste. Offer smaller portions or encourage customers to take only what they can eat. You can also provide take-out containers for customers to take leftovers home.

Donate Excess Food - If you have excess food, consider donating it to a local charity or food bank. This can help reduce waste and benefit those in need.

Use Leftovers Creatively - Use leftovers creatively by incorporating them into new dishes or offering them as specials the next day. This can help reduce waste and save money.

Optimize Kitchen Operations - Optimize kitchen operations to reduce waste and increase efficiency. Train your staff to use ingredients efficiently and minimize waste in food preparation and handling.

In conclusion, as Ramadhan approaches, restaurant and cafe owners must prepare to cater to the needs of Muslim customers. Offering a food buffet package for Iftar is a great way to attract customers during this holy month. However, managing costs, waste, and timing can be a challenge. To ensure a sustainable and profitable Ramadhan buffet package, restaurant and cafe owners can incorporate the following tips: managing costs, reducing waste, timing, offering takeaway orders and discounts for larger orders, playing Islamic traditional background songs, playing the Athan during Maghrib, ensuring modest clothing for waitstaff, creating a corner for decorations that is Instagram/TikTok worthy, and offering an affordable Ramadan package. By considering these tips, restaurant and cafe owners can provide an inclusive and authentic Ramadan experience for all their customers.

This article presents the personal opinion of Zainal, the Managing Director of Franext Pte. Ltd. Malaysia, a consultancy company in the franchise development and market research industry. In this article, Zainal shares his insights on this field, drawing from his extensive experience and expertise. If you would like more information or questions, please call him at +60108319772, WhatsApp or email him here