Holiday Survival Guide for Restaurants
A free guide created by CAKE to help FSR and QSR operators move faster and stay in control during the busiest weeks of the year.
December tests every system in a restaurant. Speed. Teamwork. Margin control. Guest expectations. This free guide brings together the best practices we see across the country, along with insights from CAKE EVP Bill Lodes, who grew up in the restaurant world and has spent his career helping operators thrive.
No spam. Only useful tools and ideas for restaurant operators.
Operations and Speed
Learn how to build holiday speed before the rush, remove friction during peak hours, and prep your floor, bar, and kitchen so every part of service can handle December volume with confidence.
Menu, Money and Marketing
Discover how to streamline your menu for higher margins, run a quick cash-flow check to avoid surprises, update your Google Business Profile for seasonal visibility, and use your Customer Touch Display to highlight gift cards and key upsells.
People and Planning
Get practical guidance on smarter scheduling for FSR and QSR teams, reducing fatigue and stress, managing large parties and peak-hour pressure, and identifying bottlenecks early before they impact service.
We made this guide for
Owners and Operators
General Managers and Shift Leaders
Multi Unit Concepts
Sysco Partners in the Field
Anyone Preparing Their Team for Holiday Volume
The holidays add pressure to every corner of a restaurant. What matters is whether your systems bend or break. Preparation is how you protect your team so they can protect your guest experience.
Why CAKE Created This Guide
Restaurants deserve solutions that support them during their busiest moments. CAKE is built by people who have worked in restaurants, managed holiday volume, and led teams through the real challenges that December brings.
Our goal is simple. Provide tools that help operators move faster, reduce stress, improve guest experience, and support their teams throughout the season.
Prepare your team for a strong and steady December.
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