Food service team at Holy Redeemer Health System tempts, boosts sales with sweet all-chocolate pop-up

The sweet-toothed customers came out to play at Holy Redeemer Health System in Meadowbrook, Pa., where a chocolate station popped up and sweetened the customer experience. The successful event was something new for the culinary team from Cura, part of Elior North America.

“We’ve had dessert stations in the past but never a complete station dedicated to chocolate,” says Executive Chef JT Dunn, who along with John Martinelli, director of retail and catering, put together an order with many different types of chocolates to create sweet treats in an interactive setting.

The event was a team effort, with Sous Chef Tina McQuiggan and Supervisor Rydia Chamberlain bringing the pop-up to life. A display of all the treats let customers see what was available, and McQuiggan and Chamberlain prepared each treat to order. They filled dark chocolate shells with fruit and topping cupcakes and cheesecake with dark chocolate chunks, peanut butter cups, flavored syrups and cream toppings.

Holy Redeemer’s chocolate station made up 4.56% of the day’s revenue and increased average price per transaction from $5.03 to $5.59.

Chamberlain has some pastry experience, so she was able to bring out her plating skills to make fancy swirls and designs on plates. Fancy touches like this helped increase revenue and drive average price per transaction, but “most important, it was well perceived by all and everyone loved it,” Dunn says.

Related:New ways to satisfy salad bar-craving customers in healthcare food service

The event wasn’t just a bit of fun; it brought about a revenue boost. Holy Redeemer’s chocolate station made up 4.56% of the day’s revenue and increased average price per transaction from $5.03 to $5.59.

Contact Tara at [email protected]

Follow her on Twitter @Tara_Fitzie