Food is a multi-billion-dollar industry, and while “food blogging” may sound extremely saturated, there is an incredibly profitable sub-niche: restaurant affiliate programs. It’s not enough to simply write about which dishes to order from which restaurants; the opportunity exists on the supply side, a $44 billion opportunity. In this guide, we will cover the best restaurant affiliate programs to help you turn your traffic into valuable sales.
Why Join a Restaurant Affiliate Program
For years, the food content sphere has been dominated by blogs showcasing recipes, restaurant reviews, and the latest food trends. These platforms can still reach an audience. However, using them to make money is difficult due to competition and the ever-evolving SEO landscape.
Restaurant affiliate programs are a more tactical solution. Rather than directly reach consumers, these programs focus on businesses in the food industry. This shift offers several key advantages:
- More Expensive Transactions: Not only do restaurants have constant needs for supplies, equipment, and services, but those needs can number in the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars annually. This means that order values are typically higher. So, you may earn more commission than from consumer purchases.
- Recurring Revenue Opportunities: Lots of restaurant needs are ongoing. These programs include everything from disposable supplies to reservation systems that encourage customers to repeatedly return to this revenue-generating machine.
- Less Saturated Market: Even though the food blogging niche is saturated, the restaurant affiliate program niche is not quite as competitive. This helps you to build a solid niche and get targeted traffic.
- Variety of Options: The restaurant world is filled with various services, from apparatus suppliers to reservation services to training programs and web design. This variety will give you the opportunity to customize your efforts to specific niches and audience interests.
13 Restaurant Affiliate Programs to Join In 2025
To better understand all the income opportunities available in this niche, here are 13 different restaurant affiliate programs — sorted by the type of services they provide.
OpenTable Program
OpenTable is a leading online restaurant reservation platform that connects diners with restaurants around the world. With a massive network of restaurants and a user-friendly interface, OpenTable makes it easy for customers to find and book tables for any occasion.
- Focus: Restaurant booking services
- Commission: Revealed upon registration (case-by-case basis)
- Cookie Window: Revealed upon registration
- Payment Methods: ACH, direct deposit, credit card
- Why Promote: High brand recognition, large restaurant network, API integrations for seamless booking.
- How to promote: Website or application integration.
Restaurant.com Program
Restaurant.com is a website that offers discounts on gift certificates to restaurants, helping people save more on dining out. It currently has a diverse portfolio of restaurants and an easy-to-use platform.
- Focus: Discounted restaurant gift certificates
- Commission: 15% for standard sales, 3% for “Specials”
- Cookie Window: 45 days
- Payment Methods: PayPal, check, direct deposit
- Operated by: CJ Affiliate
- Why Promote: High savings for customers, dedicated affiliate support, frequent saving deals.
- How to promote: Through a website using saving deals.
LollicupStore Program
LollicupStore is a premier supplier of beverages, serveware, appliances, and other restaurant and food service accessories. It is an ideal place for disposable items or other useful supplies. LollicupStore is well-known for its full range of product choices and bulk offers.
- Focus: Restaurant supplies (beverages, serve ware, disposables)
- Commission: 3-7% per sale
- Cookie Window: 45 days
- Payment Methods: PayPal, check, direct deposit
- Operated by: CJ Affiliate
- Why Promote: Wide product selection, wholesale deals, custom printing options.
- How to promote: Focus on disposable food containers and compostable utensils.
Napkins.com Program
Napkins.com provides disposable tableware like napkins, plates, cups, and cutlery for restaurants, parties, and events. It offers a large variety of products and has no minimum order requirements. It is a convenient and affordable option for businesses and individuals alike.
- Focus: Disposable tableware and party supplies
- Commission: 13% for content-based websites, 2% for coupon websites
- Cookie Window: 60 days
- Payment Methods: Payoneer, check, (international) direct deposit, wire transfer
- Operated by: ShareASale
- Why Promote: High average order value, no minimum order, diverse product selection.
- How to promote: For websites about birthdays, parties, and other events.
Tundra Restaurant Supply Program
Tundra Restaurant Supply is a one-stop shop for restaurant equipment, parts, supplies, and small wares. With thousands of items in stock at wholesale pricing, Tundra is a go-to for restaurants that need products at rock-bottom prices.
- Focus: Restaurant equipment, parts, and supplies
- Commission: 5% per sale
- Cookie Window: 30 days
- Payment Methods: PayPal, check, direct deposit
- Operated by: Rakuten Affiliate Network
- Why Promote: Vast product selection, wholesale pricing, established customer loyalty.
Olma Caviar Program
Olma Caviar specializes in premium caviar and gourmet food products. The brand sources top-tier caviar and other delicacies from around the world for restaurants and food service providers.
- Focus: Caviar and gourmet food products
- Commission: 3% per sale (plus bonuses)
- Cookie Window: 15 days
- Payment Methods: Payoneer, check, (international) direct deposit, wire transfer
- Operated by: ShareASale
- Why Promote: High-end product, high conversion rate, potential for bonuses.
- Restriction: Only ships within the continental United States.
Revo Coolers Program
Revo Coolers creates talented drink coolers to store your drinks upright and accessible. This brand is mostly geared towards restaurants, bars, and even events that need more convenience and amusement.
- Focus: Innovative drink coolers
- Commission: 10% per sale
- Cookie Window: 15 days
- Payment Methods: PayPal, Trolley
- Operated by: Refersion Affiliate Network
- Why Promote: Unique product, made in the USA, 5-year warranty.
- How to promote: Using pre-sells is useful if you have a majority of North American traffic.
Snake River Farms Program
Snake River Farms focuses on high-quality American Wagyu beef and pork.
- Focus: High-quality meat products
- Commission: To be confirmed
- Cookie Window: To be confirmed
- Payment Methods: To be confirmed
- Operated by: Impact Affiliate Network
- Why Promote: High-quality meat products
ZWILLING Program
Zwilling is a major producer of high-quality knives and cookware. It has a long-standing history as a brand name. Zwilling has offered precision craftsmanship and long-lasting durability since 1731, making it ideal for top professional chefs and home cooks alike.
- Focus: High-quality knives and cookware
- Commission: 4% per sale
- Cookie Window: 14 days
- Payment Methods: PayPal, check, direct deposit
- Operated by: CJ Affiliate
- Why Promote: Established brand reputation, high-quality products, and suitability for both home and restaurant use.
360 Training Program
360 Training provides job certification and workforce training for a number of industries, including restaurants. With its eye on compliance and career growth, 360 Training offers food handling, food safety management, and more.
- Focus: Restaurant training and certification
- Commission: 15% per sale
- Cookie Window: 60 days
- Payment Methods: Payoneer, check, (international) direct deposit, wire transfer
- Operated by: ShareASale
- Why Promote: High demand for certifications, online courses, and accredited programs.
Restaurant Engine Program
Restaurant Engine designs websites for restaurants and hosts them. Providing ready-made templates, dependable hosting, and effortless handling, Restaurant Engine help restaurants snatch attention by building beautiful websites.
- Focus: Restaurant website design and hosting
- Commission: $100 per sale
- Cookie Window: To be confirmed
- Payment Methods: PayPal
- Operated by: In-house
- Why Promote: High commission rate, essential service for restaurants, target restaurant owners, consultants for restaurants, or bloggers for this type of service.
How to Get Started With Restaurant Affiliate Program Promotion
We hope that, by now, you are excited to explore restaurant affiliate programs. Great! Here’s how to begin and make the most of your earning potential:
1. Know Your Niche and Audience
Before you start throwing affiliate links here, there, and everywhere, pump the brakes. Who are you trying to reach? Are you targeting:
- Restaurant Owners/Managers: Go for programs like Tundra Restaurant Supply, Restaurant Engine, 360 Training. The content must mostly focus on increasing productivity, saving money, compliance, and optimizing operations.
- Chefs/Kitchen Staff: Zwilling, Snake River Farms, or Olma Caviar are options to consider. Content should be about good ingredients, tools, and techniques.
- Event Planners/Caterers: Promote Napkins.com or LollicupStore. Think bulk discounts, specialty disposables, and branding.
- Food Bloggers/Reviewers (B2B): Consider programs from OpenTable and Restaurant.com. Create content that highlights easy booking and customer experience.
2. Content is King (and Queen!)
- Solve Problems: What are some issues that restaurants struggle with? Then create content that tackles these pain points. You can write articles like “5 Ways to Reduce Food Waste in Your Restaurant” (and link it to relevant supply affiliates) or “The Ultimate Guide to Restaurant Staff Training” (link it to 360 Training).
- Read Reviews: Always read reviews before making a purchasing decision. Tell your audience why you love Zwilling knives!
- Make Tutorials: Teach restaurant owners how to use reservation systems, optimize their online ordering, or even properly sharpen their knives.
- Use Case Studies: Demonstrate how other restaurants have found success with certain products or services.
3. Strategic Promotion is Key
- Web/Blog: It’s your base of operations. Write pages that are specific to your affiliate recommendations, complete with reviews, comparisons, and tutorials.
- Email Marketing: Create an email list and provide special offers, fresh articles, or personalized suggestions. For maximum impact, segment your list as per your audience interests.
- Network: It is important to establish rapport with restaurant owners, managers, and other professionals in the industry so you can build your brand as a reliable solutions-based option.
- Social Media: Share your content on appropriate platforms. Join restaurant industry groups and forums. Also, make sure you use visually appealing content (i.e. photos, videos) showcasing your product.
- Keyword Research: Do some research on restaurant owners’ and managers’ search terms (i.e., “business lunch specials” and “best online reservation system”) and optimize your site around those terms. Ensure your content ranks well in the search results.
- Paid Advertising: To reach a broader audience, you may invest in targeted ads, such as Google or LinkedIn ads.
4. Transparency and Disclosure
Never forget to disclose your affiliate relationships to your audience. A disclaimer should be added to your website, as well as your content. Integrity builds trust and credibility.
5. Track, Analyze, and Optimize
- Track Your Stats: Use affiliate network dashboards and analytics tools to monitor your clicks, conversions, and earnings.
- Identify Top Performers: Which products and content drive the most revenue? Focus on scaling those efforts.
- Experiment and Iterate: Do not hesitate to experiment with new strategies and content formats. Analyze your outcome consistently and update it as needed to improve your productivity.
Thus, you will be set to build a successful and profitable restaurant affiliate marketing business.
How to Select the Right Restaurant Affiliate Program
Choose a Sub-Niche
There are a lot of categories out there in the restaurant affiliate space such as food, reservations, and kitchen supplies. You need to choose which of these services you want to promote. For this type of niche, due to each of them targeting a different audience, it would be great to have an audience base established. Choose a niche and try to drive customers who’re interested in its products.
Review of Payout Terms and Conditions
Look at the commission rate, cookie length, and payout terms when evaluating restaurant affiliate programs. Go for programs with competitive commission rates and a cookie duration of at least 30 days to convert a sale. The payment terms should be clear. Some programs may have requirements, such as content restrictions, geographic limitations, suitable blog subjects, and minimum traffic or followers, etc.
Look for Relevant Programs
To find these programs, you can:
- Use Search Engines: Search for restaurant affiliate programs on Google to gain an overview of the various options available.
- Check Affiliate Networks: Use networks like Commission Junction, Refersion, and ShareASale. They help you with automated tracking, reporting, and payment services to manage your affiliate marketing efforts.
Joining Restaurant Affiliate Programs: The Secret Sauce for Success
Joining restaurant affiliate programs is a great way to cash in on your online presence and take a slice of a profitable market. You can build a sustainable and profitable affiliate marketing business by focusing on the supply side of the restaurant industry.
Disclaimer: The rates of commissions are changeable, as are cookie windows and other particulars of a program. Continuously confirm the recent updates on the affiliate program sites.
Check other food affiliate marketing for more opportunities. Also, follow us on social media to get the best and latest affiliate programs:
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