You’ve devoted your heart to your restaurant, perfecting recipes, hiring passionate employees, and creating an atmosphere that makes customers want to return. It is extremely difficult to stand out in the food industry, as even positive reviews can feel generic. That’s where awards come into play.
Winning an esteemed award like the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards (ARTA) doesn’t just turn your restaurant into a more popular one, but also elevates your credibility in the industry. The transformative impact of such awards is astounding.
Going from a local eatery to an award-winning restaurant isn’t easy. This guide will walk you through the entire process from being nominated to receiving the award.
The Importance Of Restaurant Awards
These days, with diners glued to social media, online reviews, and restaurant visibility, an award is a well-rounded third-party endorsement. It displays that experts validate your food, service, and story.
For awards like the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards, which honour the South Asian dining industry in the UK and the brilliant restaurants in it, recognition means bringing to your attention some of the best the country has to offer. It also tells us, “We are not just good, but great in the industry.”.
Outside of self-esteem, there are other benefits as well.
- Increase in bookings and walk-ins
- Better coverage in media and public relations
- Improved employees morale
- More opportunities for financing and expansion
Winning isn’t luck, however. Winning is a well-executed strategic plan, put in place long before your business name is submitted for an award nomination.
Step 1: Understand The Criteria For The Award
Many award-winning restaurants fail at the first hurdle they encounter, as they don’t understand what the judges are looking for. Each award comes with its specific set of requirements.
For the Asian Restaurants and Takeaway awards, the selected criteria are:
- Consistency and Quality Of The Food Provided
- The Ratings Offered by Customers
- Participation in Activities That Foster Development of the Local Community
- Active Use of Locally Sourced or Eco-Friendly Ingredients
- Business Related Innovations and Growth
Winning is not as simple as performing all of the tasks above. You will need to calculate how you spend money, along with your delivery method, and how you add value in your community.
Spend some time looking through the award criteria and examine previous winners. Study the language in their winning stories. What is being rewarded? Rearrange your plan accordingly.
Step 2: Make Sure Your Nomination Is Useful
Completing a nomination is more than just a formality. It sets the stage and, in many instances, is the only impression that judges get to see before deciding if the contestant proceeds to the next round.
Instead of listing achievements, why not weave a captivating story? Why did you establish your restaurant in the first place? What hurdles have you faced and conquered? What is the approach to menu development or sustainability? Be authentic, appealing, and relatable.
Clichés and generalised phrases shouldn’t be relied upon. “We trained four staff members to become certified wine experts and saw a 20% rise in paired wine orders, is more effective than ‘we invested in staff training.”
Don’t forget that data always helps. If you see a surge in positive customer reviews or an increase in delivery clients by 50%, report it. This way, you add credibility, and it shows that you are tracking your success.
Step 3: Engage Your Customer And The Community
This is not a one-man race, and you do not walk this journey alone. Several awards, including the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards, leverage customer votes or customer feedback as part of the evaluative process.
Here is where your community matters. Get them engaged early. Utilise social media, newsletters, and even signage in the restaurant to announce the event. Facilitate the processes for customers to vote or leave reviews.
Do not ask for votes so that it seems like you are begging for it. Create a story around your customers where they feel they are part of the journey. “We’ve been nominated for ARTA because of your unwavering support. Let’s help us bring the trophy home” feels inclusive and celebratory instead of soliciting support.
Highlight any charity work, such as hosting dinners, supporting NHS staff during their challenging times, and sponsoring youth clubs. These restaurants are the ones judges appreciate.
Step Four: Get Ready for the Mystery Visit/Final Round
If you are on the shortlist, congrats. But the work isn’t over.
Most awards carry out mystery diner visits or pre-award interviews to evaluate your claims. Now is when every shift needs to operate like a well-oiled machine. Brief your team. Polish the restaurant front. Ensure that hygiene, menu offerings, and service levels are top-notch.
A restaurant’s accomplishments should not appear to be only on paper. In this case, the restaurant must fulfil everyday expectations of quality.
Step 5: Maximise the Win
Success in winning a restaurant award is a milestone and serves also as an advertisement. Make the first contact with the press after winning the award.
This is how you can maximise your victory:
- Post about it on social media along with any relevant videos or photos
- Add the newly given award title to your website and Google listing.
- Advertise through various publications to gain public attention
- Staff celebration(outing, financial bonuses, generous statements)
- Thank regular customers via promotions or special events
New customers are drawn towards acclaimed restaurants. Always maintain and deepen existing rapport and leverage both to gain credibility and drive new sales.
In case you didn’t win: treat it as a learning opportunity. Use submitted feedback and your previous rounds application, and make revisions for a stronger application next year.
Wrapping Up
A restaurant award isn’t just an accolade. It is a badge of honour, an award that a restaurant uses for growth and visibility. Creating your story, gathering your community, and giving them considerable value on every plate makes the process from nomination to winning an award beneficial in every regard.
Regardless of whether it’s for Asian Restaurant or Takeaway Awards or local recognition, it does not matter. There is no place for luck. What matters is being present, showcasing what makes your restaurant exceptional, and most of all, differentiating yourself.
This is the time to move ahead. The next award can be yours.
FAQs
How do I get nominated for restaurant awards like ARTA?
Almost all awards accept self-nomination or customer nomination. For ARTA, interested candidates can register online, or loyal customers can nominate your restaurant.
What happens if I do not win – will the nomination be useful to me?
Having a nomination boosts your public relations credibility, helps enhance your business trustworthiness, and being shortlisted alone helps with your marketing. This nomination can be used for advertising purposes for the upcoming season.
Are small independent restaurants expected to emerge as winners?
They are, and this is for a good reason. The scope of the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards is focused on originality, modernity, and community involvement – factors that many independent businesses possess and cherish.
