Influencer marketing in the food industry is becoming one of the most effective ways to promote restaurants, cafés, and catering companies. How to promote a restaurant on social media? The answer lies in local creators who have a real influence on the community. Research shows that nano-influencers can generate up to 8 times higher engagement than celebrities in the food sector (source: mustard.love).
Why does influencer marketing work better than traditional ads?
Food advertising is costly and often ignored by customers. Meanwhile, influencer marketing in the food industry is based on authenticity and recommendations from people whom the community truly trusts. Local nano- and micro-influencers can drive traffic to restaurants faster than billboards or paid display ads.
Practical ideas for working with local food influencers
- Tasting events and invitations
Restaurants can invite nearby nano-influencers to tasting dinners in exchange for Instagram or TikTok coverage. As a result, their followers discover the venue and are more likely to visit. - Co-creating culinary content
Invite influencers to create recipes together with your chef. For example, record a cooking video or launch a “dish of the month” promoted exclusively on the influencer’s social channels. - Special promotions for followers
A simple discount code like “INFLU10” for customers who visit through an influencer’s recommendation can generate measurable growth. The NanoInflu platform automates such campaigns – restaurateurs can easily set up codes and track results.
Case Study – Café and Nano-Influencers
A small city-center café decided to collaborate with three local nano-influencers. Each was invited for free coffee and cake in exchange for an Instagram post. As a result, foot traffic increased by 30% over the following weekend, and several customers visited using the discount code shared in the influencers’ stories.
NanoInflu – support for the food & hospitality sector
NanoInflu is a marketplace that connects restaurants and catering businesses with culinary influencers. Moreover, the entire process – from campaign brief, through influencer selection, to performance reporting – is automated. Venues can start with barter collaborations (like a free meal) and later scale into paid campaigns. That’s why influencer marketing in the food industry with NanoInflu is a simple, cost-effective way to boost visibility and drive more customers.
👉 Discover how NanoInflu can help your restaurant grow: www.nanoinflu.com
