Restaurant Branding Trends to Adopt in 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed almost every industry across the world. Businesses are looking for new ways to break even and survive while others find opportunities to profit and succeed. It might be an uncertain time for the restaurant and hotel industry, but there is a silver lining as well. As a restaurant owner, now is the perfect time to reinvent your business and brand identity. Even up-and-coming businesses can take advantage of the shift in branding trends and reach a wider audience. If you think about it, a powerful brand identity is one of the most important factors that can help restaurants and eateries succeed. Take McDonald’s, Burger King, or Kentucky Fried Chicken, for example. What comes to mind when you think about these places? Apart from the food, most probably their iconic logos. The logo design is the centerpiece of a restaurant’s branding strategy. It has to give you an edge over the competition and connects with the consumers immediately. As we move into the next year, certain changes in branding trends that businesses in this sector should look to adopt. You can develop a new logo design for the restaurant or revamp the old one, pitch different items on the menu and transform the image completely. These are some branding trends that could benefit your restaurant greatly in 2021.

Get a Meaningful Logo Designed

This is one of the most important branding trends that could make or break your restaurant. With a meaningful, value-driven logo, you could stand out against your competitors. If you already have a brand identity, try changing some design elements for a stronger impact. Make some changes to the colors, font, or typography to tell your target audience a story. Refer to tips from professionals about restaurant logo design and create one that your audience can relate to.

Be Minimalistic

It does seem like this is one trend that is here to stay. Minimalism doesn’t mean that you cannot be creative with the design, color scheme, or content. With a simple yet powerful logo and interactive graphic design, you can say a lot without using many elements. Ultimately, you want your brand message to be clear-cut and appeal to the audience. A clutter-free design means you avoid confusion and miscommunication!

Create Brand Awareness Through Influencers

Influencer marketing and branding are quickly becoming popular and can be highly effective. As a restaurant owner, you can create awareness about your brand by getting an endorsement or promotion from an influencer with a large following. This way, more consumers will get to know about the business and what you have to offer. These endorsements also create a beacon of social proof that promotes your restaurant. Keep in mind that the influencer’s value and image should be similar to the restaurant’s because otherwise, the audience will become confused about your authenticity.

Hashtag It

When it comes to branding for a restaurant, social media can be your best option. You can always start a new trend with an interesting hashtag and help it reach far and wide. If you are launching into the market, run a campaign about that. Otherwise, it can also be regarding a new feature or meal you are introducing in your menu. For instance, there are various diet plans that people follow to create a trend around it and get their attention.

Optimistic Colors and Font Style

This branding trend is about creating a positive vibe with visuals. You have to tell the consumers that there is hope and happiness in the future, and everything else has been left behind. This is why optimistic and comforting colors such as gold, yellow, orange, and hues of blue will help you come up with an engaging brand identity. Similarly, the font style should be able to match the message you want to send. An understated and modern font would work well instead of a complicated style that gets in the way. Remember that these principles carry over to your menu as well!

Focus on a Specialty

Basically, the more you highlight your specialty, the quicker you get attention from the people. This is a good branding trend that many restaurants will find helpful. A specialty doesn’t necessarily mean that a particular dish or cuisine; it could be anything that makes your restaurant different from the others. For example, if you use organic ingredients or source them from a particular farm, promote that as much as possible. Tell people that the raw materials that your business uses are healthier and better than all others. It’s what your brand stands for.

Branding Through Association

In the future, the businesses you associate with could be key to your success. You can support a local small business by featuring their products in your restaurants or give away some of the percentages of the profits to a charitable organization. When the consumers see your restaurant’s work, they will get an idea of your brand values and may be easily convinced to try it out. This could make for a lasting and effective brand strategy that could take your business higher.

Restaurant Branding Trends — Concluded

These are a few branding trends for restaurants that experts can see making waves in the coming year. The most prominent factor in this is social media and technology. These tools have and are becoming more critical to branding. Now, you might already have an interactive and engaging website. Still, if your social media presence is not strong, you may find it challenging to succeed in such a competitive environment. In 2021, it’s all going to depend on how well you can curate your brand on social media platforms and become a popular name in the restaurant industry. Subscribe to the blog for more interesting restaurant content!

About the Author

Alicia Rother is a freelance content strategist who works with small businesses and startups to boost their brand reach through creative content design and write-ups. Her area of expertise includes digital marketing, infographics, branding, and graphic design. For service inquiries, you can connect with her here.