Romano's Macaroni Grill is expanding its community outreach efforts by teaming up with online resource, GroupRaise.com, for non-profit restaurant fundraising opportunities restaurantnews.com reported.
"With GroupRaise, customers come in and pay full menu price, and they know part of their meal is going back to a charity they care about," GroupRaise CEO Devin Baptise told Restaurant News. "That establishes an emotional connection with the brand and validates the pricing. Our customers like spending more because they know they are supporting more."
The restaurant chain has been focusing on involving themselves in the communities they're in; they put 11 Dallas-Fort Worth franchises on GroupRaise to allow organizations throughout the community like schools, churches, and others to arrange money giving opportunities quickly, and hassle-free on the internet Restaurant News reported.
The new way is part of a larger movement other food establishments such as Jason's Deli that care about and are loyal to their communities Restaurant News reported.
"GroupRaise has been great for us, [it] got us connected with our community. [It] allows us to give back more and also increase sales," Angela Willis, local sales manager for Jason's Deli franchises in the greater Knoxville, Tenn. area told Restaurant News.
The deli chain currently has more 160 locations signed up for the site Restaurant News reported.
Individuals wanting to have a fundraising event can apply for a date on GroupRaise.com at a local restaurant where they come with others to eat. The restaurant then gives a percentage of the party's meal sales to the cause of their choosing.
According to Restaurant News, 20 to 200 customers join in on fundraising efforts. About 60 percent of new participants eat in the food establishment for the first time while 96 percent express interest in coming back to eat to the same place after finishing their first meal Restaurant News reported.
GroupRaise has expanded to more than 500 restaurant locations since the beginning of this year Restaurant News reported.
