When customers are scrolling your menu on Skip, most of them are thinking about cravings, value, and what’s going to hit the spot. But for millions of Canadians, there’s another question running in the background: is there anything on this menu I can actually eat? For those customers, it’s not a preference, it affects whether they order from you at all.
It starts before the order even begins.
And the numbers are impossible to ignore.
- Over 3 million Canadians live with food allergies
- 1 in 2 households are impacted by food allergies
That means for a lot of people scrolling your menu right now, the question isn’t what to order. It’s whether your menu works for them. If it doesn’t answer that, they’re already gone.
Your menu makes the call
For customers managing allergies or sensitivities, your menu description is doing the heavy lifting. They’re scanning for simple answers:
- Does this have nuts?
- Is there dairy?
- Does anything here contain gluten?
- Can I order this without worrying?
If that info isn’t there, it creates just enough doubt to lose the order. Clear details take that doubt off the table.
The right info doesn’t just help. It sells.
Restaurants with clear, detailed menu descriptions, allergen info included, can see up to 40% more orders.
Here’s why it works:
- It builds trust the second someone lands on your menu.
- It opens your restaurant up to more customers.
- It helps people decide faster.
And it doesn’t stop at one order. Customers with allergies are often the ones making the call for the whole group, and when they find a place they trust, they come back for more.
Small details can make a big difference.
You don’t need to rewrite your entire menu to make it easier to navigate. A few simple updates can help customers make informed decisions and order with confidence.
Focus on:
- Calling out the big ones: dairy, nuts, gluten, soy.
- Highlighting key ingredients.
- Flagging important prep details, like shared fryers.
- Keeping your descriptions simple enough to scan in seconds.
A little clarity goes a long way.
Instead of: “Our house-made Creamy Chicken Alfredo pasta,”
Try “Grilled chicken breast over penne in a creamy Alfredo sauce, topped with parmesan and parsley (contains dairy, gluten).”
Detailed menu descriptions can help customers make informed choices, which ultimately drives loyalty for your restaurant.
This is where you stand out.
When customers are comparing their options, clarity is what catches their eye.
Restaurants that get this right:
- Capture more orders.
- Earn more trust.
- Reach a wider audience.
- Create a confident, more inclusive experience.
Small tweaks = real results
You don’t need to rewrite your entire menu to make an impact. Start by:
- Including common food allergens in your item descriptions.
- Ensuring all item descriptions feature key ingredients.
- Reviewing allergen-heavy items like sauces and fried foods.
- Keeping things consistent across your menu.
Looking for extra guidance?
We’re leveraging educational resources from Food Allergy Canada to help keep allergen awareness top of mind. Their Think Food Allergy Toolkit for foodservice operators includes helpful resources and best practices on how restaurants can help better support customers with food allergies.
When it comes down to it.
Customers aren’t just choosing what to eat, they’re choosing where they feel comfortable ordering. Give them that confidence on your menu, and you’re already ahead of the game. That’s what turns a scroll into an order. And an order into a regular.