Bundling is one of the most practical ways to grow your average transaction size without raising prices or overwhelming your customers. It allows you to guide their choices in a way that feels convenient and helpful, not like a sales tactic.
Most customers already pair items together. A coffee and a pastry. A latte and a breakfast sandwich. Your job is to notice these habits and turn them into structured offers that make sense for them and your margins.
In this chapter, we’ll look at three practical ways to build bundles that feel natural, boost sales, and support your daily operations.
Start with what’s already working. Most cafés have a few combinations that show up over and over: cold brew and banana bread, cappuccino and a chocolate muffin, drip coffee and a buttery croissant. These are natural pairs, and your data will confirm it.
Once you identify these repeat pairings, the next step is to formalize them. Give them a name. Price them as a set. Feature them on your counter or near the register. You don’t even need to discount them heavily. Just packaging two familiar items as a combo makes the decision easier for the customer and encourages them to buy both.
A good bundle feels thoughtful. If your vegan pastry and oat milk latte are popular with the same group of customers, consider combining them as a plant-based option. These little tweaks make your menu feel curated and intentional, without adding anything new to your workflow.
Great bundles offer value, but not at the expense of your profits. The goal is to increase perceived value without cutting into your bottom line. This works best when you combine high-margin items like tea, brewed coffee, or ready-made snacks with products customers already buy.
For example, a $1.00 muffin paired with a $1.25 cup of coffee can easily sell for $4.00, and customers will feel like they’re getting a deal. If you’re rotating pastries or using day-old baked goods, bundles can also help reduce waste while moving product that’s still fresh.
Another approach is prepaid bundles. Offering a 10-drink punch card at a slight discount brings in upfront revenue and keeps customers coming back. These kinds of structured offers tend to do well when promoted to your regulars, especially through loyalty apps or email.
Before launching a bundle, calculate your cost and margin. Avoid combining two labor-intensive items unless you’ve priced in the extra effort. If the bundle becomes a favorite, make sure it still works operationally during peak hours.
Bundling isn’t just about pairing products — it’s also about when you offer them. Smart timing helps you fill slower hours and bring energy to your menu during seasonal shifts.
In the afternoon, when foot traffic dips, a “Pick-Me-Up” combo with an iced drink and a small snack can increase spend without slowing down service. In colder months, a chai latte and warm pastry work as comfort food. In summer, a cold brew with something citrusy or light feels like the right move.
These seasonal bundles are also great for introducing new or underused items. Instead of launching a product on its own and hoping it gets noticed, pair it with a customer favorite. A new muffin alongside a bestselling latte is a low-risk way to drive trial without adding operational stress.
To make seasonal deals more visible and adaptable, many shops, like Crave Cookies and Chip City Cookies, promote bundles directly in their mobile apps. If you use Per Diem, you can feature rotating combos on the app homepage or let customers create their own seasonal set using the Build Your Box feature. This gives guests more control while giving you a smart way to spotlight specific items based on season or time of day.
Highlight one bundle each week using your in-store signage and app. Keep it clear, consistent, and aligned with your brand. Over time, these bundles become habits, and good habits drive steady revenue.
Thinking about launching a featured bundle? Use homepage banners and featured deals to showcase it directly in your app, right where your customers are already looking.
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