Catering

5 ways QR codes help grow restaurant catering

Photo: Crumbs

February 18, 2026 by Kelly Grogan — Founder, CRUMBS

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QR codes are one of the most underutilized tools in catering marketing. They're inexpensive, trackable, and they meet your guests exactly where they already are - in your restaurant, opening their to-go bag, or standing in a break room next to the spread you just delivered.

When used with intention, a simple QR code becomes a direct pipeline to new catering leads, repeat orders, and measurable word-of-mouth growth. Here are five strategic placements that drive real results.

1. IN-STORE "ENTER TO WIN" DISPLAY

Create a dedicated catering display in your restaurant that showcases your packages, menus, and seasonal offerings. Pair it with a QR code and a clear call to action: Enter to Win a Free Party for 10!

The goal here isn't to give away free catering - it's to win the chance to feed a group. It doesn't matter if it's an office team, a sports league, or a family gathering. What matters is getting your food in front of 10 new people who become fans of the brand while gathering hot leads of those in your building.

A few things that make this work:

• Follow up with every entry, not just the winner. Learn about them. Where do they work? What's the occasion? Even non-winners should receive an incentive to place their first catering order. A discount, a free add-on - something that converts interest into action
• Turn it into a social media moment. Post a video picking the winner. Share their free party. Tell followers how they can enter next. This creates ongoing buzz and extends the reach well beyond the people walking past your display.
• Put a mini version of the sign in the bathroom. Captive audience, high visibility, zero extra effort.

2. BAG STUFFERS DURING MAIN MEAL TIMES

Every guest who places a meal order is a fan of the brand with money to spend at your restaurant. A bag stuffer with a QR code puts your catering message directly in their hands at the exact moment they're most connected to your brand.

The execution matters just as much as the message.

Don't let it disappear in the bag. Staple it to the outside, attach it to a box inside the bag, or use branded stickers and bag seals that carry the catering message. If it ends up crumpled under napkins or covered in condensation, it was a wasted opportunity.

Rotate the content. Keep the messaging fresh with seasonal offerings and limited-time packages. Frequent customers will tune out the same flyer every visit.

Be strategic about timing. A lunchtime order signals someone who likely works nearby - they have coworkers, meetings, and a need for group meals. Ask directly for the office referral. "Enter Your Office to Win Free Lunch" is a strong call to action for this audience. Evening orders indicate disposable income and potentially living in the area, making them a prime opportunity for social catering or partnering with their apartment, HOA or school.

3. LOCAL MARKETING LEAVE-BEHINDS

Tastings, chamber events, networking meetups, daily business introductions - every local marketing touchpoint should include a QR code.

The most effective format is a business card-sized piece, double-sided, with a scannable offer. It's small enough to keep, professional enough to take seriously, and trackable enough to measure.

Gatekeeper your offers. The QR code should be the only way to access the deal. This ensures every redemption is tracked and tied to a specific effort, location, or team member.

Empower your team. Give every employee their own stack of cards with unique codes. Run a contest - the person with the most scans or redemptions wins. This makes your entire staff part of the catering growth engine and gives them a reason to actively promote it.

Maximize free events. If you're showing up to a community event with samples and signage, capture contact information with a sign-up QR code. Never leave a networking opportunity without building your list.

Make it memorable. Everyone can give out a plain business card. Make yours a fun shape, different materials or larger to not go missing.

4. CATERING ORDER SETUPS & COLLATERAL

Every catering order is one of the best forms of advertising a restaurant has. One order puts your food in front of 20 new people. The question is: how do you actually capture those 20 new guests?

Branded packaging alone won't do it. Packaging is passive. A QR code with a clear offer is active - it gives someone a reason to pull out their phone right now.

Place a notecard or small sign near the setup with a direct incentive: "Scan Here for a Free [Item] on Your Next Visit." Position it at the beginning of the line where people are waiting, or leave business card-sized takeaways at the end of the spread where guests linger. The easier it is to engage, the more people will.

Coordinate with your delivery partner. Work with a company that allows communication with the driver, and remind them to set up your signage when they arrive. This is your brand moment - it shouldn't be left to chance.

Invest in packaging that gets reused. Quality bags and boxes that end up in break rooms and kitchens extend your brand visibility long after the food is gone. But pair that with an active QR code strategy so you're capturing leads, not just making impressions.

5. THANK YOU CARDS WITH EVERY ORDER

Appreciation goes a long way, especially when you can't personally attend every delivery. A handwritten notecard with a QR code turns a simple thank-you into a lead-generation tool.

"Scan for a Surprise from the Team at [Your Restaurant]."

"Scan to Tell Us How It Was."

"Scan to Reorder in Seconds."

The tone should be genuine and fun - something the recipient actually wants to scan. This is about showing the guest you care that they chose your restaurant, while making it effortless to come back.

Extend your reach beyond the person who ordered. Include a small flyer or card designed for the break room or elevator. Something that can be posted where the rest of the building sees it daily. One order should create visibility that lasts well beyond the meal.

QR CODE BEST PRACTICES

Use unique codes for every placement. Every poster, bag stuffer, notecard, and leave-behind should have its own code. This is how you measure what's working, what's not, and where your team is focusing their effort.

Feed every scan into your CRM. Tools like QR Code Generator (qr-code-generator.com) make this simple, but whatever platform you choose, make sure every scan is captured in a system built for remarketing. The scan is the introduction - the follow-up is where the revenue lives.

Set codes to trigger a pre-populated text message. When someone scans, it opens their messaging app with a ready-to-send text. One tap and they've opted in. No forms, no friction. This is the fastest path from scan to lead.

THE BOTTOM LINE

QR codes aren't flashy, but when placed with intention and tied to the right systems, they become a quiet growth engine that works while you run your restaurant.

Five placements. Five opportunities to capture new catering customers - and the data to prove what's driving results.

If you want to get more catering orders via QR Codes, CRUMBS can help you implement a strategy. 🍪💚

About Kelly Grogan

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