Restaurants using Tik Tok to advertise and market their menus.

1. Restaurants Finding New Audiences
on TikTok
Aug 13, 2021
If you’re not using TikTok to showcase your business, you might be missing
out on its 100 million active users. The app was downloaded 850 million
times in 2020, with 90% of all users accessing the app on a daily basis.1 It’s
second only to Facebook in terms of minutes used per month, per user.2 As
these stats show, TikTok isn’t just another tech platform you have to check
out; it’s fast becoming a must-have for restaurant social media efforts.
“Food represents one of the fast-growing and most popular categories on
TikTok,” explains Dianna Fricke, Simplot’s Director of Culinary and Corporate
Executive Chef. “Now is the time to get familiar with TikTok and use it to your
advantage.”

2. Why should restaurants add TikTok to their social media program?
TikTok’s mission is to inspire creativity and create joy. How? Through easy-
to-create and -share videos for viewers, most of whom are looking for funny,
entertaining content.2
TikTok helps its users with online tutorials in their Creator Portal. Through the
Portal, you can learn everything from basics—like how to get started—to
more advanced topics like lighting, editing and strategy. You can also learn
more about food influencers for collaborations and partnerships through the
site’s Creator Marketplace.
Let your food do the talking on TikTok
Chefs and restaurants have a built-in advantage on this platform: food
content is visually engaging by its very nature. This lends itself to a quick
impression that’s interesting. TikTok coaches creators on the value of good
first impressions that capture viewers’ attention: “Think about your opening
shot. You should try telling your story right away with visually interesting
footage that could grab someone’s attention.”3
The TikTok app’s algorithm can also work in restaurateurs' favor. Viewers
find videos through the “For You” page. The content on this page is based
on videos the user has watched or engaged with. When the algorithm sorts
out the viewer’s interest, the app feeds more of that content to the user.4
Who to watch on TikTok
To learn more about how to use this powerful platform, look to restaurants
and brands who are doing it right:
Chipotle: They masterminded the viral #guacdance challenge, which
received more than 450 million views in one day, resulting in the serving
of more than 800,000 sides of guacamole.5

3. Dunkin’: The company partnered with the hugely popular Charli
D’Amelio, (who has 107 million+ followers) for a drink promotion. Dunkin’
created a new drink named for the influencer, inspired by her go-to
order, which appeared in her videos. As a result, sales of cold brews
increased 20% on the first day and then 45% on the next.5
Get started. The clock is ticking.
Start with menu items that turn basic favorites into dishes with over-the-top
ingredients and presentation.
“All restaurant patrons love fried potatoes,” says Chef Fricke. “Twisting this
category away from its humble beginnings as just a side dish or breakfast
potato provides more menu offerings and creates a hard-working SKU. Try
the ever-craveable and loved fries and hash browns in a food built like a
burrito, or as the base of a bowl or a pizza topping.”
Need some inspiration? Try these eye-catching mash-ups:
Chocolate Chip Potato Chip Skillet Cookie: Your customers will be all in for
this salty-sweet, chocolatey-chewy, scrumptiously-shareable dessert made
with Simplot Skincredibles® Potato Chips. (pictured above)
Breakfast Hash Brown Smashed Burger: This visual showstopper of a burger
combines the Simplot Traditional Old European Potato Pancake with bacon
and glazed donuts for a breakfast/brunch/lunch that is more than TikTok-
worthy.
Hazelnut S’mores Fries: A spectacular dessert that also assembles well at
home thanks to the Simplot Conquest® Delivery+™ Tin Roof Fries.
What makes these recipes TikTok-able?
“These are twists on completely indulgent dishes that blend the unexpected
—crispy, salted fried potatoes with chocolate, caramel, ice cream,

4. marshmallows and even doughnuts. It’s sweet and savory, crispy and sweet,
blended to perfection,” explains Chef Fricke. “Uniqueness of this trend
creates additional interest in the restaurants that serve these items through
social media.”
The bottom line for operators? Chef Fricke says, “Put learning how to use
TikTok on your to-do list. Then, feel free to let your hair down. The more
outrageous, the better.”
1 https://www.omnicoreagency.com/tiktok-statistics/
2 https://www.statista.com/statistics/1166174/usa-tiktok-influencer-
engagement-rate-us-worldwide/
3 https://www.tiktok.com/creators/creator-portal/en-us/foundations-for-
success/content-strategy-basics/
4 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/24/dining/tiktok-food.html
5 https://www.gloriafood.com/tiktok-for-restaurants#why
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5. New Products
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