Covid-19 has been the catalyst for many beneficial changes in the restaurant industry, foremost among these being a new focus on the importance of sanitization.
One of the most important concepts that business owners and their staff have had to re-think is the role of high-touch zones. These are specific areas and surfaces of an establishment that see the most physical contact from both staff and customers. Some examples of this, such as door handles and touchscreens, are easy to attend to, as they can simply be wiped down. Other items, including menus, present a more significant challenge. South Carolina-based company MenuWorks aims to solve this particular issue with their line of laminated, waterproof, antimicrobial, and washable custom menus.
“What we’re focused on is creating a product that’s both washable and built to last,” said MenuWorks Sales Manager Amanda Marcengill. “Traditional menus such as café covers with paper inserts are easily soiled and often must be replaced. Our menus are easy to clean, less likely to necessitate replacements, and are much more cost effective in the long run.” Even before Covid, traditional menus were a source of frustration. Either they had to be replaced frequently to maintain their presentation, which was expensive, or a restaurant could opt to keep unsightly menus in service, often at the expense of an establishment’s image. MenuWorks has eliminated this dilemma with their line of menus that are washable, attractive and durable. “The secret behind our team’s success is our focus on solutions. For many years, our team has understood the need for a well-built, washable menu. Now during Covid, this is even more relevant. It’s our mission to provide the perfect custom solution for every restaurant,” Marcengill proudly claimed.
MenuWorks incorporates several core features into all of its products. “All of our products are waterproof, easily washable, and durable. This is because they are manufactured with flush cuts,” mentioned Marcengill. This means that the menus are fully sealed, leaving no room for foreign substances to make their way into the seal and ruin the menu. “You could throw our products in a bucket of water for two months and it would come out looking brand new.”
The heavy volume demands of outdoor dining have made the MenuWorks line particularly important. MenuWorks products can handle saltwater, rain and even a muddy puddle. MenuWorks offers a variety of menu styles that restaurateurs can select from. They are also environmentally friendly, as the longevity of the menus reduces the amount of materials that would otherwise be used to produce replacements. “The costs saved due to the versatility and durability of these products far outweighs the small initial investment to purchase our menus,” Marcengill added.
Not only are MenuWorks’ menus a long-lasting solution, they are also easier to maintain. The general idea is that there’s a lot of extra steps needed to keep your menu clean. In reality, with MenuWorks’ menus, all you need is a little soap and water.
MenuWorks has become the only menu manufacturer in the world to partner with the antimicrobial additive company Microban® and has incorporated their technology into their menu product line.
Typical menus that don’t incorporate the antimicrobial technology essentially serve as petri dishes for bacteria and microbes, giving them room to multiply at near-exponential rates. MenuWorks’ products, infused with Microban’s technology, eliminate this problem.
“Thanks to Microban’s antimicrobial technology, all our menus need is a quick wipe down with warm soapy water. Wash your menus, just like you do your hands. Microban® works to fight the growth and spread of bacteria for the life of the menu resulting in a 99.9% reduction,” said Marcengill. “Customers need to feel safe in order to eat at an establishment, while staff need to feel safe in order to work at one.”
Since its founding in 1994, the MenuWorks team has made it their goal to provide restaurant owners with creative and affordably priced menus. Their acquisition by CBS Distribution in 2010 provided MenuWorks with the resources to expand their mission. This has led to the expansion of MenuWorks’ line to include laminated, waterproof menus.
“Our goal is to provide our restaurant partners with unique features not otherwise available through traditional commercial printers,” Marcengill concluded. MenuWorks continues to work towards their goal to this day, helping restaurants everywhere provide the best experiences they can.
Interested parties can contact MenuWorks at 864-877-7007 or visit their website.
