When it comes to restaurant reviews, cleanliness is one of the top concerns for guests. Three in four customers say they won’t dine at a place with negative online reviews about cleanliness, and there’s data to back this up. For every star a restaurant receives in a review, revenue increases by 5-9%. This highlights the importance of keeping your space clean, not just the ones your customers see.
To maximize revenue, businesses in the restaurant industry should consider a holistic, company-wide approach to promoting higher levels of cleanliness. Ecolab Science CertifiedTM Programmatically, this specification has two components:
The first is to use science-based, labor-saving products such as multi-surface disinfecting cleaners, no-rinse alkaline floor cleaners, and non-corrosive, alkali-free dishwashing detergents. The second is to provide expert training and audits to ensure that all employees, from the back office to the front office, understand and implement these practices.
Facilities that implement cleaner and safer practices see an increase in their bottom line in five ways:
1. Increased guest satisfaction
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Ecolab studied seven national foodservice brands, comparing their locations before and after they participated in the Ecolab Science Certified program. They found that after the program was implemented, customers were more satisfied overall and more vocal about their feelings. Not only did negative mentions of cleanliness in customer reviews decrease by 24%, but ratings were also 4% higher, on average, than before. Since other factors, like food and staff quality, were held constant, the data suggests that cleanliness itself was the driver of the increase.
2. Your reputation is as clean as your countertops
Customers aren’t the only ones who visit your establishment with a critical eye. Health departments are also on high alert when it comes to restaurant cleanliness and food safety standards, and their findings can have a more detrimental effect on a brand than one or two bad Yelp reviews. Again, the results were encouraging for the seven participating brands: after implementing the ESC program, negative mentions from health department intelligence decreased by 20%, while foot traffic increased by 8%, demonstrating the power of reputation related to cleanliness.
3. Reduce employee turnover
It’s no secret that employee turnover is a challenge in the restaurant industry, with turnover rates as high as 80%. This ongoing cycle of finding, hiring, and training new staff can be costly for businesses with already thin margins. But after these seven businesses engaged with the Ecolab Science Certified program, 72% of employees said it helped them stay, further increasing their bottom line. Not only does the program set employees up for success through accessible training, it also shows employees that their health and safety is a top priority for the company.
4. Work will run more smoothly
Achieving a higher level of cleanliness doesn’t have to come at the expense of time; using effective, well-designed products can actually save labor. And when all staff are trained repeatedly, whether on-site by experts or through smaller digital modules, they will instinctively know how to most effectively disinfect surfaces, sanitize sinks, and wash dishes, turning your facility into a lean, powerful cleaning machine.
5. Cleanliness becomes second nature and something to be proud of.
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There’s no need to reinvent the wheel. The CDC, FDA, and local health departments all provide guidelines on best practices for the food industry. By adopting a program that seamlessly integrates and educates your staff, you can leverage the power of their expertise without doing the research yourself. Then, spread the word by displaying the Ecolab Science Certified seal, communicating a commitment to cleanliness that customers and employees can trust.
Cleanliness is essential for businesses in the restaurant industry. Cleanliness helps improve online reviews, maintains good relationships with health departments, increases customer traffic, and improves employee retention. Increasing your level of cleanliness is a fundamental part of your operations, which ultimately leads to business growth and long-term success.
For more information about Ecolab Scientific Certification, Visit Ecolab.
This post was created by Insider Studios and Ecolab.
