5 Reasons Why Multi-Unit Restaurants Should Benchmark Their Locations Against Each Other

A lot goes into making a multi-unit restaurant successful. Having the right concept, the right quality, the right service and the right value all matter. But, maintaining success is as much about knowing your numbers as anything, and the best way to do that is to benchmark the performance of your locations against each other. Here’s why it’s essential:

1. Spotting the Stars

Every chain has its standout locations. By benchmarking, you can identify which units are knocking it out of the park and figure out why. Are they doing something special with their service? Is there a menu item that’s a huge hit? Once you know what’s working, you can spread those winning strategies across all your locations, or adjust your strategies for expanding to new locations.

2. Boosting Efficiency

Efficiency is the name of the game. When you benchmark, you can see where some locations might be lagging. Maybe one spot has higher labor costs or more waste. With that intel, you can make changes that streamline operations, cut costs, and boost profits. For example, if one restaurant manages to keep food waste down, their methods can be a blueprint for others.

3. Setting Achievable Targets

Benchmarking gives you a clear picture of what’s possible. By looking at your top performers, you can set realistic and inspiring goals for all your locations. This not only motivates your team but also fosters a bit of healthy competition. Whether it’s sales targets or customer satisfaction scores, clear benchmarks help everyone aim higher.

4. Improving the Bottom Line

Your financial health is crucial. Benchmarking shines a light on the financial strengths and weaknesses of each location. This helps you figure out where you can boost revenue or cut costs. For instance, if one restaurant has higher average sales per customer, understanding their tactics can help other locations improve their sales game.

5. Creating Accountability

Transparency and accountability go hand in hand. When you benchmark, every location knows where it stands and what’s expected. This encourages managers and staff to take ownership of their performance. Regularly sharing results and discussing them keeps everyone in the loop and committed to continuous improvement.

How to get started?

Benchmarking isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a must-have for multi-unit restaurants. It helps you pinpoint best practices, boost efficiency, set realistic goals, improve financial performance, and foster a culture of accountability. By leveraging benchmarking, you ensure every location not only meets but exceeds expectations, driving the success of your entire chain.

Savor makes it easy to benchmark and segment you location performance in ways that make the most sense for you specific organization. With features like Restaurant Compare, and Location Tagging, we save Operations and Supply Chain leaders hundreds of hours a year, getting the right information into their hands, fast.

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