July 11, 2025
Today, food delivery is an integral part of any restaurant or fast food business that plays a significant role in driving consistent, long-term profits. In the U.S., online food delivery revenue is projected to reach $430.85 billion by the end of 2025, representing a stunning 21.6% increase from the previous year.
Be it for midnight sushi cravings, rainy-day tacos, or Sunday brunch burgers, delivery has become part of the typical consumer’s everyday routine. For restaurant owners, that’s a huge opportunity to turn convenience into consistent sales.
But meeting that demand means more than just sending out food fast. Having a great delivery process is about creating an experience that keeps customers coming back. From first-time order deals to smart packaging and menu design, restaurants are finding new ways to boost sales while serving up food that travels well and tastes great.
This comprehensive guide will break down 15 practical, proven strategies designed to help your restaurant significantly increase its food delivery sales, ensuring your business capitalizes on this lucrative market.
As more people choose to dine at home, the demand for convenient, high-quality delivery has skyrocketed. Busy schedules, hybrid work setups, and the sheer ease of tapping a screen have made staying in the new going out.
This shift in behavior isn’t just happening in cities or among younger crowds. It’s everywhere. Families are ordering weeknight dinners, college students are skipping the cafeteria, and professionals are squeezing in lunch between Zoom calls.
As a result, even neighborhood favorites and family-run joints, places that once relied on word-of-mouth foot traffic, are now streamlining operations for delivery.
And it’s not just about keeping up. Restaurants that invest in delivery, especially with a strong online ordering system, are seeing real returns, with takeout profits up to 30% higher than those without one.
In short, a proficient delivery service is no longer optional in 2025; it's essential for staying competitive and profitable. But simply offering delivery isn't enough to capture this lucrative market. The real challenge, and opportunity, lies in how you stand out, attract consistent orders, and maximize your profit from every delivery.
Let’s look at the top strategies to ensure your delivery sales keep on growing and contributing meaningfully to your bottom line.
Also read: Innovative Restaurant Revenue Streams to Boost Profits
Getting delivery right means optimizing every step, from menu design to marketing and logistics. These 15 strategies are designed to help you attract more orders, increase customer loyalty, and turn delivery into a sustainable, high-growth part of your business.
When it comes to food delivery, price and value often make the first impression. That’s why compelling deals are among the easiest and most effective ways to convert interest into immediate sales.
Whether it’s a first-time discount, a free side with a main, or a bundled family pack, a well-placed offer quickly turns browsers into buyers. Customers love feeling like they're getting a good deal, and such promotions not only boost order volume but also increase the average order value.
More importantly, smart deals cultivate customer loyalty. While a first-time discount secures the initial order, consistent value through offers like weekday specials or app-only rewards ensures they keep coming back.
If your restaurant isn’t listed on popular delivery platforms like Uber Eats, DoorDash, or Grubhub, you’re missing out on a massive pool of potential customers. These third-party apps help get your menu in front of more people, especially new diners who may not have discovered you otherwise.
But with that visibility comes a trade-off: commission fees that can eat into your profits, sometimes as high as 30%. That’s why smart restaurants pair their third-party listings with commission-free ordering systems, like a branded website or app powered by iOrders.
With iOrders, you get the best of both worlds:
So while third-party platforms expand your reach, using a self-order system like iOrders helps you retain more profit and build stronger relationships with loyal customers.
Not every dish is made for the road. When it comes to delivery, the best menus are curated with care, focusing on items that not only taste great but travel well too.
Start by spotlighting dishes that hold up well during transit, maintaining their texture, temperature, and presentation even after 30–40 minutes in a delivery bag. Good delivery-friendly options include the following:
On the other hand, it's smart to avoid or clearly label items that don’t travel well:
It’s also a smart move to streamline your delivery menu. Keep the choices clear and focused to avoid kitchen overload and reduce order errors. You can always add optional extras, like sauces, toppings, or sides, to let customers customize without overcomplicating things.
A delivery-friendly menu should keep customers satisfied, even from miles away.
The way your food is packed plays a big role in influencing buyer decisions. Even the most delicious meal can disappoint if it arrives soggy, spilled, or cold. That’s why investing in the right packaging is just as important as what’s on the menu.
Delivery-friendly packaging protects temperature, texture, and presentation:
Not only does better packaging keep your food looking and tasting great, but it also reduces the risk of refunds, negative reviews, and customer complaints. When a meal arrives in perfect condition, it reflects care, and that’s what earns repeat orders.
Customers want ordering to be quick, simple, and reliable, and that starts with the tech behind the scenes. Make sure your restaurant offers easy online ordering through your website or app, with clear menus and fast mobile payment options. The fewer clicks it takes to place an order, the better the experience for your customers.
Behind the counter, it’s just as important to integrate your POS system with delivery platforms. This reduces manual entry, cuts down on order mistakes, and keeps operations running smoothly even during peak hours.
When your systems talk to each other, you spend less time fixing errors and more time serving great food. The result is happier customers, faster service, and more repeat orders.
Everyone loves a little extra, especially when it’s earned. That’s where loyalty programs come in. They’re a simple but powerful way to turn one-time customers into repeat regulars by rewarding them for coming back.
Loyalty programs can be of different types:
These small but thoughtful rewards make customers feel valued and give them a reason to keep coming back to your restaurant instead of ordering elsewhere.
You don’t need anything fancy to start. Many ordering platforms, including iOrders, now let restaurants add built-in loyalty features, making it easy to track visits and offer rewards automatically. Over time, this builds stronger relationships with your customers and keeps your delivery orders growing.
A well-timed suggestion can turn a simple order into a full meal and boost your sales in the process. Upselling and cross-selling are powerful tactics that encourage customers to add a little extra to their cart, often without even thinking twice.
At checkout, prompt diners with smart add-ons:
These gentle nudges work especially well when built directly into your digital menu or ordering flow. For example, when someone adds a burger, the system can automatically suggest a combo deal or add-on sides. It’s convenient for the customer, and profitable for you.
This results in a better dining experience for them and a higher average order value for you. It's a win-win, served with extra sauce.
Even the best delivery menu needs a little spotlight. To keep orders flowing, smart restaurants run targeted marketing campaigns that speak directly to hungry customers where they already are: online and on their phones.
Use a mix of social media, email newsletters, and SMS promotions to highlight delivery-only deals, limited-time offers, or new menu items. A well-timed message can turn a casual follower into a paying customer in seconds.
Consider the following campaigns for broader reach:
Don’t have time to handle all this on your own? iOrders offers managed marketing services that help restaurants build visibility, reach local audiences, and promote delivery more effectively, without adding extra work to your plate.
The goal is to make your delivery offer impossible to scroll past. Targeted marketing can bring in more orders while building lasting buzz, loyalty, and repeat business.
Sometimes, all it takes is a ticking clock to turn a “maybe later” into a “let’s order now.” Limited-time and time-based deals are great tools to spark urgency, fill slow hours, and keep your kitchen busy throughout the day.
These promotions not only encourage quicker decisions, but they also help smooth out demand beyond peak times. And when customers know they can catch a deal at certain hours, they’re more likely to make your restaurant part of their routine. It’s all about giving them the perfect excuse to order.
Your delivery data can be a map to smarter decisions. By tapping into order trends, you can fine-tune everything from staffing to delivery zones, making your operation faster, leaner, and more profitable.
Start by using data to spot patterns in your delivery orders:
With the right insights, you can focus on what works best, cut down waste, and make each delivery shift more productive. It’s a strategy backed by data, and it adds up to stronger delivery sales.
No one likes waiting in the dark, especially when they’re hungry. Offering real-time delivery tracking and clear updates keeps customers informed, reassured, and far more likely to order again.
Here’s how live-tracking features can benefit diners:
These small touches make a big difference in the overall experience. Customers feel more in control and less anxious, which leads to fewer “Where’s my order?” calls and more satisfied reviews.
When people trust your delivery process, they’re more likely to return and recommend you to others.
Fast, reliable delivery is a make-or-break factor for customer satisfaction. When food arrives hot, fresh, and on time, it leaves a lasting impression and encourages repeat business. That’s why streamlining your delivery routes and logistics is essential.
Using route optimization tools, restaurants can automatically calculate the fastest, most efficient delivery paths based on location, traffic, and order timing. This helps reduce driver delays, minimize fuel costs, and avoid late arrivals that could lead to complaints or refunds.
But maybe you don’t have the infrastructure to maintain your own delivery fleet. What do you do then?
iOrders' delivery-as-a-service offers an easy solution to this. We connect you with professional drivers and take care of the logistics, real-time tracking, and smart dispatching, so your team can focus on cooking, not coordinating.
The smoother your delivery flow, the more orders you can fulfill, and the happier your customers will be.
Your customers are constantly telling you how to improve, if you’re listening. Collating feedback from delivery orders gives you direct insight into what’s working, what’s not, and where you can fine-tune your menu, packaging, or service.
Encourage customers to leave ratings, reviews, or quick comments after their order. Even a single sentence about portion size, temperature, or timing can help you make valuable adjustments. At the same time, displaying positive reviews on your ordering page or social media builds trust and reassures new customers that your delivery is worth it.
To make this effortless, iOrders’ Smart Review System automatically collects, filters, and highlights the best feedback, while flagging any issues that need attention. It helps you stay on top of customer sentiment and turn every review into an opportunity for growth.
Today’s diners care about more than just what’s on the menu; how the food gets to them also matters. That’s why sustainability has become a powerful selling point in the food delivery world.
Consider the following sustainable practices:
Promote these efforts on your website, ordering page, and social media. It appeals to conscious consumers and builds a positive brand image, one thoughtful order at a time.
Technology can be a key driver of smarter, more profitable delivery operations. AI and automation tools can help restaurants personalize experiences, optimize pricing, and stay ahead of demand.
Here’s how you can put them to work:
With the right tech, you’ll be able to deliver smarter, faster, and more profitably.
These strategies can help your restaurant grow delivery sales, improve customer satisfaction, and build long-term loyalty. And, if you need a helping hand, iOrders is always ready to get you where you need to go.
Also: 12 Best Restaurant Social Media Campaigns from Major Brands
iOrders is a complete restaurant delivery platform, meticulously designed to give you full control over your branding, customer data, and sales strategy.
With iOrders, you can bypass hefty third-party commissions, connect directly with professional delivery drivers, and utilize AI-powered tools to analyze reviews and understand your customers better. But our platform offers so much more than just these core benefits.
From boosting your online visibility to streamlining order management and running effective marketing campaigns, iOrders brings everything you need into one easy, powerful system.
Here's a closer look at what you can achieve with iOrders:
iOrders empowers your restaurant to stand out, serve better, and maintain full control over your operations, ensuring every delivery is a step toward lasting success.
In 2025, food delivery will play a central role in how restaurants grow, connect with customers, and stay competitive. The strategies listed here help turn every order into a memorable experience and elevate your delivery service beyond the ordinary.
But you don’t have to implement them all on your own.
iOrders gives you everything you need to thrive: delivery tools, marketing support, loyalty programs, and real-time insights, all in one seamless platform. You gain the freedom to grow your delivery business on your terms, reaching more customers, increasing efficiency, and securing more of your earnings.
Ready to grow your delivery sales? Book a demo with iOrders today and see how our all-in-one platform can work for your restaurant.
Bundle meals, upsell sides or drinks, and optimize delivery routes. Using a platform like iOrders also helps cut commissions and improve efficiency.
Run SMS, email, and social media campaigns with targeted offers. You can also use iOrders’ built-in marketing tools to reach more customers.
Meals with high margins and low prep costs, like bowls, pastas, and combo packs. Frequent add-ons and repeat orders also help boost overall profits.
Use integrated POS systems and clear digital menus. Real-time order syncing helps cut human error during rush hours.
DoorDash and Uber Eats run aggressive promotions to drive customer orders. However, these deals are funded by high commission fees, so they work best for short-term boosts.
