10 Proven Free or Low-Cost Ways to Promote Your Food Business

Running a food business is a passion-fuelled journey, but let’s be real here, it can also be a tough gig, especially when budgets are tight. 

The good news? You really don’t need deep pockets to build a buzz around your brand. 

With a little creativity and consistency, you can attract new customers and grow your presence without breaking the bank.

Here are ten tried-and-tested methods to promote your food business for free—or very little cost.

1. Get Social (and Stay Active)

Social media is still one of the most powerful (and free) marketing tools out there. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok are especially suited to food businesses thanks to their visual nature. But make sure not to get political.

Top tips:

Post consistently and use high-quality images.

Use stories and reels to showcase behind-the-scenes content.

Engage with followers—reply to comments, ask questions, run polls.

2. Leverage Google My Business

A must-have for any local business. It’s free, and it gets your business on Google Maps and in local search results. Make sure your profile is complete with your location, opening hours, menu, photos, and contact details.

Bonus: Encourage happy customers to leave a review. Social proof goes a long way!

3. Partner with Local Businesses

Team up with nearby shops, cafés, or events. For example, a bakery could offer samples at a local bookshop or farmer’s market. It’s a win-win—you both get exposure to each other’s customer base.

4. Offer Free Samples (Strategically)

People love to try before they buy. Offering samples in high-traffic areas like markets or festivals can generate interest and drive footfall. If you’re online-only, consider a giveaway on social media.

5. Email Marketing

If you’re not collecting customer emails, start now! A simple sign-up form on your website or till can help you build a list. Send occasional emails with news, discounts, and recipes to keep people engaged and coming back.

6. Encourage User-Generated Content

Happy customers are your best promoters. Ask them to tag you in their foodie pics, then re-share on your own social media. You can even run a “photo of the month” competition to boost engagement.

7. Get Involved in the Community

Sponsor a local sports team, donate to a school raffle, or take part in a charity bake sale. These low-cost gestures create goodwill and get your name out there.

8. Run a Loyalty Scheme

A simple stamp card or digital loyalty programme encourages repeat business. It doesn’t have to be fancy—just consistent and easy to use.

9. Join Local Online Groups

Facebook and Nextdoor groups are great for promoting local businesses. Just be sure to follow group rules—many allow self-promotion on certain days or in designated threads.

10. Blog or Vlog Your Journey

Share your story, recipes, tips, or behind-the-scenes content via a blog or YouTube channel. It helps build a personal connection and gives people a reason to support your business beyond just the food.

Final Thoughts

Promoting your food business on a shoestring budget is completely possible—it just takes time, persistence, and a willingness to engage with your community. Start small, keep showing up, and focus on building genuine relationships with your customers.

Remember: you don’t need to be everywhere. Choose a few methods that suit your style and audience, and do them well.

Have you tried any of these methods? Got a tip that worked wonders for you? Please share it in the comments!

Kids Eat Free scheme returns to Tesco cafés for school summer holidays

Tesco has announced it will be re-launching its Kids Eat Free scheme to its 310 cafés across the UK over the school summer holidays.

The scheme will run in cafés between the following dates:

England & Wales: Start 24th July – Finish 1st Sept

Scotland: Start 3rd July – Finish 11th August

Northern Ireland: Start 3rd July – Finish 1st Sept

Tesco's cafes will be offering one free Kids Hot Meal Deal, Kids Breakfast or Kids Pick ‘n’ Mix deal with each item bought by an adult from as little as 60p when showing their Tesco Clubcard at the till.

Jason Tarry, Tesco UK CEO, said: “We know the extra costs of keeping children fed and entertained during the long summer holidays can stretch household budgets, so we’re bringing back Kids Eat Free to give our families a helping hand.”

Popular menu items include beans or avocado on toast, fish fingers, baked chicken goujons or a sandwich. Hot main meals include a vegetable side dish, and the sandwich pick n mix includes a piece of fresh fruit and two snacks, so there’s something healthy and satisfying to feed hungry children from breakfast 'til dinner.

Kids Eat Free is just one of the many ways that Tesco is helping families spend less. Tesco has recently announced price cuts on essential products including spaghetti, cooking oil and yoghurt.

Families can also save thanks to Aldi Price Match, which matches the price of hundreds of products to Aldi, including both Tesco own brand products and big brands, and thanks to Clubcard Prices, more than 20 million Clubcard households have access to thousands of exclusive deals on everything from everyday staples like fruit and veg to treats like prosecco or ice cream.

Aldi faces down council in ice cream wars

What’s even better, customers can secure a £5 voucher to purchase their own ice-cream, simply by emailing freealdiicecream@clarioncomms.co.uk. (T&C comply)

Aldi is offering free ice-cream outside its Brocklebank Road store on Friday 16th June, following the news that Greenwich Council will be banning ice-cream vans in the borough during the summer months.

Pictured: Aldi giveaway ice creams outside the store in Greenwich.  Leading budget supermarket Aldi has come to the rescue for people in a London Borough where ice cream vans have been banned, by simply handing out free frozen desserts.  

Greenwich Council shocked local residents when it published a list of streets across Greenwich and Woolwich town centres where ice cream vans could be prohibited from trading during the summer months.

But Aldi stepped in to counter this ban help and offered Londoners the cool treats as the warm weather continues, even going so far as offering shoppers the chance to win free ice cream.  

Visitors to the Greenwich store on Brocklebank Road could be lucky enough to scoop up to 23 ice creams with a £5 voucher.

Even better, UK Aldi shoppers will be in with a chance to bag some free ice-cream, simply by emailing freealdiicecream@clarioncomms.co.uk to secure a £5 voucher.

The decision to ban ice-cream vans, which was announced by Greenwich Council this week, was met with a frosty reception by Greenwich residents. Thankfully, Aldi has moved in to save the day with the offer of an abundance of ice cool treats for free from its Brocklebank Road store.

With Aldi prices starting from just 21p per ice-lolly, lucky winners will be able to scoop  up to 23 ice-creams with their free voucher. All customers need do is send an email to this to email address: freealdiicecream@clarioncomms.co.uk along with their name and address.

Julie Ashfield, who is the Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, said: “We’d like to reassure ice-cream fans, not just in Greenwich, but across the nation, that they can still enjoy a delicious summertime treat as we head into another weekend of heatwave weather!”

Customers can use their voucher to try Aldi’s extensive range of delicious ice-creams, which includes shopper favourites such as the Gianni’s Caramelised Biscuit Chocsticks (£2.49, 3 pack), Gianni’s Strawberry & Vanilla Ice Blitz (£1.15, 6 pack) and Gianni’s Mini Whirlz (£1.99, 8 pack).

Aldi’s ice-cream range is available in store and via Click & Collect now.

www.facebook.com/AldiUK   

www.twitter.com/AldiUK   

www.instagram.com/AldiUk   

Full T&Cs apply, visit: https://www.aldi.co.uk/free-ice-creams

Free Cookies To Celebrate The Free Day - Leap Day Deal From Domino's. Today only!

To celebrate Leap Day on Wednesday (February 29, 2012), Domino’s Pizza is offering a portion of cookies absolutely FREE from any of its UK stores.

To claim your free cookies, just spend £10 online at www.dominos.co.uk on February 29, 2012. They collect your order from your local store or arrange for it to be delivered to your door and the free cookies will be yours to enjoy!

Simon Wallis, sales and marketing director of Domino’s Pizza, said: “Leap Day only comes once every four years so what better way to celebrate this free day with some free cookies. In every box, there’s a cookie for each year since the last Leap Day!”

To claim your free cookies, log onto www.dominos.co.uk.