Running an F&B business in Singapore is already challenging with rising rental and manpower costs. Now, another problem has been hurting café, restaurant, coffeeshop stall owners and hawkers fake bulk orders . Recently, more F&B merchants have reported cases where someone places a huge order, often hundreds of dollars’ worth, only to never show up . Since no payment was made upfront, the business is left with wasted food and ingredients costs. Why Fake Bulk Orders Hurt F&B Businesses Fake bulk orders may seem like an isolated prank, but the impact on a business is very real: 1. Financial Losses Preparing a large catering order often requires significant ingredients, packaging, and staff time. When customers don’t show up, all those resources go to waste. For smaller operators, even one fake order can wipe out a day’s profits. 2. Operational Disruption Large bulk orders require advance preparation, tying up both kitchen capacity and manpower. This means genuine dine in or takeaway customers may face longer waiting times, slower service, or even get turned away leading to lost revenue opportunities. 3. Staff Morale Issues Imagine your chefs and kitchen crew spending hours preparing trays of food, only to find out the customer was never real. Over time, this lowers morale and contributes to staff burnout. 4. Damage to Reputation If a business preps heavily for fake orders, it may compromise quality or service for real customers at the same time. Poor experiences can lead to negative reviews, further hurting the brand. 5. Opportunity Costs Fake bulk orders don’t just waste money — they take away capacity. A kitchen busy fulfilling a fraudulent order could have served dozens of genuine customers in that time. How F&B Businesses Can Protect Themselves Fortunately, there are steps businesses can take to reduce the risk of being scammed by fake bulk orders. 1. Require Deposits or Prepayment One of the simplest protections is requiring at least a 50% deposit , or even full payment, for large orders. This ensures commitment and discourages pranksters. 2. Use Secure Online Ordering with Payment Integration Instead of relying on phone calls or WhatsApp messages for big orders, shift customers to a proper online ordering system . With built-in payment gateways, orders are only confirmed once payment is made. 3. Implement Order Verification For bulk or unusual orders, add a verification step — such as SMS or WhatsApp confirmation, or even a quick phone call. This ensures legitimacy before committing resources. 4. Educate Staff Train frontline staff to spot red flags, such as unusually large orders with urgent deadlines, vague delivery details, or refusal to make deposits. How MEGAPOS Protects F&B Merchants At MEGAPOS, we’ve designed our Online Ordering Solution to help merchants avoid the risks of fake bulk orders. Our system requires customers to pay online first before an order is confirmed — meaning your kitchen never starts cooking unless payment is secured. With MEGAPOS, you get: ✅ Upfront Payment Collection – no more unpaid bulk orders. ✅ Seamless POS Integration – payments and orders flow straight into your POS. ✅ Fraud Reduction – filter out bad actors and focus only on genuine customers. ✅ Customer Confidence – a smooth, cashless checkout experience that builds trust. This approach not only protects your business from financial losses but also ensures that your staff and resources are dedicated to serving real, paying customers. Conclusion: Protect Your Business from Costly No-Shows Fake bulk orders are more than just an inconvenience — they’re a growing threat to Singapore’s F&B operators. By preparing proactively with online ordering and secure payment collection , you can safeguard your business against wasted time, resources, and revenue. With MEGAPOS Online Ordering, you get peace of mind knowing that every order is real, paid, and ready to serve. Don’t let fake orders drain your profits. Contact us by clicking here to learn how MEGAPOS can protect and grow your F&B business.

In the highly competitive F&B industry, attracting new customers is crucial—but often expensive. One of the most cost-effective and powerful growth strategies is referrals . Leveraging your existing happy customers to bring in new ones can significantly boost profits while building a loyal customer base. Why Referrals Matter in F&B Referrals are essentially free marketing. When satisfied customers recommend your restaurant, cafe, or bakery to friends and family, they bring a level of trust that traditional advertising cannot match. According to marketing studies, referred customers are more likely to return and spend more than non-referred customers. Benefits of Referral Marketing for F&B Businesses: Lower Customer Acquisition Costs – Instead of spending heavily on ads, referrals bring in new customers with minimal cost. Higher Customer Retention – Referred customers often have a stronger emotional connection and are more loyal. Positive Brand Reputation – Word-of-mouth recommendations reinforce your brand’s credibility. Faster Business Growth – Each satisfied customer becomes a potential brand ambassador, creating a compounding effect. How to Encourage Referrals in F&B Referrals don’t happen automatically—you need to incentivize and make it easy for customers to share. Here’s how: 1. Reward Programs Offer discounts, free items, or loyalty points to customers who refer others. For example, a cafe could offer a free coffee for every friend referred. 2. Digital Referral Tools QR codes, mobile apps, or social media can streamline referrals. Customers can simply scan, share, or click to invite friends, linking directly to your menu or order page. 3. Personalized Invitations Encourage your regulars with personalized messages: “Invite a friend and both of you enjoy 10% off your next visit.” Personalization increases the likelihood of participation. 4. Create Shareable Experiences Make your F&B outlet so enjoyable that customers naturally want to share their experience online or offline. Instagram-worthy dishes, cozy ambiance, and excellent service all encourage organic referrals. Measuring the Impact of Referrals Track the success of your referral program by monitoring: Number of new customers acquired through referrals Repeat visits and average spend of referred customers Engagement with referral campaigns via app or social media Referrals are not just a marketing tactic—they are a profit accelerator for F&B businesses. By creating a structured referral system, rewarding loyal customers, and making sharing easy, restaurants and cafes can enjoy higher revenue, stronger customer loyalty, and a thriving community of advocates .  If you are looking for F&B solutions such as F&B POS System, QR Ordering, Self Ordering Kiosk, and CRM solutions that helps you manage your referral programmes, click here to find out more!

Running an F&B business in Singapore has always been challenging, but in today’s climate of rising costs and tighter competition, bringing in a steady stream of customers can feel tougher than ever. While some strategies require heavy investments in marketing or renovations, there’s one simple yet powerful tool that F&B businesses can use right away: promo codes . Promo codes are not just about giving discounts — they are about creating urgency, driving footfall, and building customer loyalty. Here’s how promo codes can make a real difference for your restaurant, café, or food kiosk. 1. Attract New Customers with Irresistible Offers Customers are always on the lookout for good deals, especially during uncertain times. Promo codes give you the ability to make your outlet stand out by offering exclusive discounts that encourage first-time visits. Example: “Enjoy 20% Off Your First Order – Use Code WELCOME20.” This kind of offer reduces the barrier for new customers to try your food, opening the door to long-term loyalty. 2. Encourage Repeat Visits with Loyalty-Based Codes One of the biggest challenges for F&B outlets is turning one-time visitors into repeat customers. Promo codes can be tied to loyalty or membership programs, giving diners more reasons to come back. Example: “Earn a $5 eVoucher with every $50 spent, Use Code LOYALTY5.” This not only increases customer lifetime value but also boosts word-of-mouth when happy diners share their experience. 3. Boost Sales During Off-Peak Hours Empty tables during mid-afternoons or late evenings? Promo codes can help smoothen demand by incentivizing customers to visit during off-peak times. Example: “Get 1-for-1 Drinks Between 3–5 PM – Code: TEATIME.” Dynamic, time-based offers like these improve table utilization and reduce downtime for your staff. 4. Drive Online Orders & Delivery Growth With the rise of online ordering, promo codes are one of the most effective tools to boost digital sales. Offering exclusive delivery codes encourages customers to order directly from your app or QR ordering system instead of third-party platforms, saving you commission fees. Example: “$4 Off When You Order Direct – Use Code DIRECT4.” 5. Track Campaign Effectiveness with Ease Unlike generic discounts, promo codes are trackable. With the right POS system or CRM integration , you can see exactly which campaigns are working and adjust your strategy accordingly. This gives F&B businesses data-driven insights to fine-tune promotions, avoid wastage, and maximize ROI. 6. Leverage Influencer Marketing with Exclusive Codes Promo codes become even more powerful when paired with influencer marketing. By giving influencers unique discount codes to share with their followers, F&B businesses can reach highly targeted audiences and measure campaign performance easily. Example: “Use Code FOODIE10 for 10% off — shared by your favorite foodie influencer.” This not only builds brand credibility but also helps track ROI on influencer collaborations directly through redemptions. Conclusion: Promo Codes as a Smart F&B Strategy In tough times, every customer counts — and promo codes offer a smart, flexible way to attract new diners, reward loyal ones, and drive sales when you need them most. When paired with the right F&B POS system and CRM tools , promo codes become more than discounts; they become a growth engine for your business. Looking for an easy way to manage promo codes, eVouchers, and customer loyalty? MEGAPOS helps F&B businesses in Singapore launch campaigns seamlessly while tracking real-time results. Contact us by clicking here to know more about CRM loyalty solutions, POS system, self ordering kiosk and QR / online ordering solutions!