10 Great Restaurant Merchandise Ideas

You’ve found an amazing restaurant with unforgettable flavours. What if you could take a piece of it home, wear it, or use it daily? 

There is a growing trend of restaurants that now offer branded merchandise that lets you do just that. Both food and fashion are channels to express who we are and what we love. What restaurant merch offers is a new way to share our passion for our favourite eateries. 

For restaurants that create merchandise lines, the advantages go beyond simply generating some extra income. Merchandise gives fans an avenue to display their loyalty and gives restaurants a valuable way to strengthen both brand loyalty and brand recognition. From T-shirts and hoodies to caps and totes, eateries are creating items that reflect their unique style. 

In this article, we’ve put together 10 great restaurant merchandise ideas to help you boost your brand and turn customers into walking restaurant ambassadors.

Why is Branded Merchandise Trending?

Restaurant merch as a trend gained traction during the Covid-19 pandemic, when restaurants facing mounting pressure from global lockdowns and restrictions had to go on the hunt for alternate revenue streams.

Now, this idea that started as a way to survive a pandemic has evolved into so much more. Restaurants are now using branded merch as a core part of their brand strategy; branded merchandise has become about building an offering that reflects the values of the organization, strengthening brand awareness and offering consumers something that resonates with them to create a more memorable experience, even after the meal is over.

10 Cafes and Restaurants with Great Merch

There are many great examples out there of restaurants that have diversified their focus to incorporate some enviable merchandise. But, there are some cafes and restaurants that sell merchandise that really stands out from the crowd. These establishments offer inspiration into how to use branded merchandise to connect with customers and reflect who your restaurant is and what it stands for.

AABEN

A restaurant and craft brewery that reflects the dynamic soul of Copenhagen, AABEN merchandise is sleek, contemporary, and on-trend. While standard products, such as expertly designed custom t-shirts, have proved a popular part of the AABEN web shop, the company reflects its successful brewery operations with some high-quality branded glassware. A perfect merchandising choice for a brewery, the label’s branded glassware, including special edition glassware for festivals, offers beer aficionados a chance to take home a piece of the AABEN experience.

Top Cuvée

Injecting a refreshing sense of fun into the world of wine, Top Cuvée incorporates its free-spirited approach into its branded merchandise. From bright orange creations, to T-shirts proudly brandished with the slogan ‘Wine for Everyone’, Top Cuvée has worked hard to bring its unique flavour to its branded merch range. The label has also started to introduce some merchandise for specials occasions or seasons that align with their offerings, such as their ever-popular summer tumbler.

Slurp Ramen

A company that exists with the aim to redefine ramen in Europe, while still paying homage to the Japanese roots of this popular dish, merch from Slurp Ramen takes a truly international approach. From Danish-inspired totes, to Ugandan made T-shirts that embrace ethical production principles, to clothing with iconic noodle designs that are a call back to the classical Japanese inspired food that the restaurant is famous for; Slurp Ramen has created an internationally inspired merch range that reflects the label’s commitment to sustainability and the blending of cultures.

Hart Bageri

Having taken the bakery world by storm since its opening in 2018, and even proudly being named as one of the world’s best bakeries, the restaurant merchandise ideas found in the Hart Bageri collection is all about simplicity and quality. Adorned quite simply with the bakery’s logo, tote bags, water bottles, sweatshirts and even corkscrews in the brand’s carefully created range of restaurant merchandise lets the quality of the design and the understated elegance of the logo do all the talking. Incorporating sustainability into its products, items such as the tote bag gets extra points for being made from 80% recycled cotton, while even products such as the bakery’s branded Nalgene water bottle incorporates sustainable materials. 

Bao

Bao takes a unique approach to merchandising, opting to not use its own brand name alone in most of its merch. This bold decision has paid off for the trendy London establishment, with its one-of-a-kind restaurant merch perfectly capturing the playful, quirky and individual vibe of the restaurant. While it may focus on illustrations, the designs featured on Bao’s merchandise have risen to some impressive heights with the ‘classic lonely man’ design becoming a fashion statement in itself and bringing something truly iconic when it comes to restaurant merchandise ideas.

Prolog Coffee

Another coffee company killing it in the merchandising game, Prolog's merchandise collection is created to enhance and reflect the organisation’s brand identity. Built on the pillars of sustainability, community and superior design, the company’s collection, including Naglene water bottles and organic totes, features the company’s branding imagery and has become a favourite at community events. 

POPL

With its origins stemming from a NOMA pop-up burger project back in the summer of 2020, POPL has achieved new heights and now has a permanent place on the bustling streets of Copenhagen. With a menu that is designed to be all about the power of simplicity, sustainability, local sourcing and high-quality ingredients, it is no wonder that it has carried these principles into its restaurant merchandise range. The POPL merch, including branded totes and high-quality organic cotton t-shirts, reflects what the brand is all about, upholding ideals of quality, sustainability and the power of simplicity.

Arket Café

An organisation that has mastered the art of combining sustainability, effortlessly on-trend design, and plant-based living practices, it comes as no surprise that the merchandise from Arket Café expands on the ideas of good food, good design, and living well. From plant-based cookbooks to high-quality tote bags, Arket Café has curated a collection of products that provide immediate value to consumers and promotes their core values, encouraging every Arket fan to embrace a cleaner, greener lifestyle.

Grind

One of London’s favourite coffee companies, this Shoreditch based brand can be found across the English capital. With a number of cafes and a roastery to its name, it has seemingly won the hearts of this famously tea-loving nation. Grind is no stranger when it comes to branded merchandise, with an impressive list of products in its collection. From reusable to-go cups to notebooks made from recycled coffee cups, these coffee innovators use their merch to shine a spotlight on some of the core values of the company, with a particular focus on eco-friendly products. Grind even takes its merchandising strategy a step further with the introduction of seasonal products such as advent calendars and cold brew bottles.

Bistrot Paul Bert

A bistro that captures the heart and soul of Paris, Bistrot Paul Bert’s perfectly designed merchandise reflects the artistic flair of the French capital. Limited edition clothing mirrors the artwork found on the restaurant walls, created by the talented Michel Tolmer. Embracing the culinary heart of Bistrot Paul Bert, alongside desirable fashion pieces, the restaurant has pepper grinders, plates, wine glasses and more on offer, all of which of course embrace an ambience of effortless chic.

A guide on How to get Started with Restaurant Merchandise

Like any new business endeavour, it can be daunting to know where to start when it comes to creating your own range of restaurant merch. 
Based on our experience, we have found that there are some key strategies that help to streamline the process. 
 

1.    Define your brand identity

Knowing what your brand stands for is vital when coming up with restaurant merchandise ideas that reflect what sets your company apart in the market. When defining your brand, consider the questions of what are the values of my company? What is its overall aesthetic? And, what experience am I giving to consumers? 
Understanding your brand and what it stands for is the foundation for creating merchandise that elevates and reflects the unique aspects of a company.
 

2.    Select the right merchandise

It is important to match the right merchandise to the right company to resonate with consumers. Aligning your merchandising strategies and selections with your target market, offering, and brand values is a great place to start. A restaurant that is built on the basis of sustainability may do well with a reusable tote bag, a café that embraces an artistic outlook could demonstrate this with custom designed hoodies or T-shirts. Whatever your vibe, the Sugarcoat team is on hand to help you come up with creative ideas that reflect what makes your establishment stand out from the crowd.
 

3.    Find an experienced merch vendor

Creating a high-quality merch collection is no trivial task, and small mistakes can be costly. It is key to find an experienced vendor who can guide you through the process, from design and product selection to production and quality assurance. Sugarcoat is one great option here but there are also others that can help you.
 

4.    Go for quality

Quality is always the best policy when it comes to merchandise. Good quality items work to improve and maintain brand reputation and encourage consumers to purchase your custom products again and again. At Sugarcoat, creating high-quality products is part of what we pride ourselves on. This means you can rest easy knowing that a Sugarcoat product is durable, sustainable, and designed specifically for your market.
 

5.    Promote your merchandise

Merchandise can be an integral part of diversifying and expanding your offering, but it is unlikely to reach its full potential if it is not effectively marketed. Promote your restaurant merchandise through channels such as social media, email and the restaurant website. When promoting your new merchandise, it is also a good idea to particularly highlight any exclusive or limited offers. Hosting in-store events, creating pop-up shops, or even listing merchandise directly on the menu can also be strategies that prove effective when it comes to merchandising.
 

6.    Start small

Before you place an order of 1000 tote bags, test if the quality of your product meets your standards and the products is right for your market. While smaller orders can cost a bit more per item, they lower the cost of mistakes. At Sugarcoat, most products orders can be as limited as 25 units and delivered within just two to three weeks.

Restaurant Today, Restaurant Merch Tomorrow

Embracing restaurant merchandise goes beyond just adding physical products to your offering— it extends your brand’s story and offers a way to keep your establishment present in the daily lives of your customers. By taking inspiration from those that have found success in their restaurant merchandising strategies, you can create merchandise that resonates with your customers and reflects your unique identity. 

By focusing on the key steps - understanding your brand, selecting the right products, focusing on quality, and promoting them effectively – every eatery can create a successful merchandising strategy that expands their offering beyond the dining table.

If you are thinking about selling restaurant merchandise, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Specializing in high-quality, sustainable merchandise, Sugarcoat has a wealth of experience to draw on, a keen eye for what works and is ready and eager to support you every step of the way.