After seeing an unprecedented demand for off-premise dining in 2020, Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe is upgrading its app to provide a more streamlined ordering experience

"Last March, almost overnight our customers' digital ordering and payment options increased," CEO Dan Simpson said in a company press release. "We know that our customers want superior familiarity when they order takeout and delivery. This overall experience starts when they place an order on Taziki's app, not just when their food arrives."

The new app will offer curbside "I'm here" messaging, gift card redemption an in-app rewards program and easy to navigate ordering, but the chain is hoping to make an even deeper connection with customers by partnering with Pagemaster Mobile to give away phones. Taziki's customers may now earn a new Samsung Galaxy Series A phone when joining Taziki's Taz rewards program and place orders through the Taziki's app.

Taziki's has committed to distributing 50,000 phones before Dec. 31, in which customers may claim by registering at tazikis.com/samsung and purchasing two months of wireless service.

"More than any other industry during the past year, restaurants have evolved the most," Simpson said. "For Taziki's operators it is necessary to have an app complete with digital ordering and payment capability; for many consumers, it's non-negotiable."

Like many other restaurants, Taziki's is filling some of its own takeout and delivery orders but is also using third-party ordering or delivery partners. The chain believes that infrastructure provided by third-party providers will help the company expand its reach — and in turn, expand the restaurant's sales numbers in 2021.

According to Technomic's 2020 Delivery and Takeout Consumer Trend Report, 36% of consumers said they anticipated ordering carryout as much after the pandemic as they did during. More than 43% said they will order delivery the same amount, but a full 38% said they would order takeout and delivery more frequently.

"Taziki's wants to offer our customers the best experience from the time they place their order to when they finish their meal, no matter where they may be enjoying Taziki's," Simpson said. "Our new app also offers the opportunity to give the gift of Taziki's food as a digital card and the opportunity to stay connected to our customers with the Samsung offer is an added bonus."

Taziki's has over 90 restaurant locations, spanning across 18 states nationally. Development plans include building the brand in existing markets, as well as entering new areas across the country by 2023.

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