When you are in the process of setting up a new restaurant, you may have several decisions to make. A hefty investment is going into the new venture, so you must carefully allocate your resources and where you spend the money. You will be required to purchase a wide range of equipment to set up the kitchen. However, alongside the equipment, you also need to procure supplies to get the kitchen started so your services can begin and the kitchen can continue to run without any hitches.
Purchasing supplies is a vital aspect of food service operations, and as a restaurant owner, you must know which supplies you will need and how and when you will procure them. This article serves as a helpful guide on how you can procure supplies for a restaurant.
Table of Contents
Identify Your Restaurant Supply Requirements
There are multiple factors to be considered when procuring supplies for food service. From buying the right items from the right places to getting the right price, you must take into account various elements to ensure you have a steady stream of incoming supplies at optimal prices so you are getting your money’s worth and operations run smoothly. Before you open your restaurant for the customers, you must be prepared with the right equipment, furniture, and restaurant supplies. This implies that you must list every item required to keep the restaurant running.
Include every little detail to avoid inconvenience. Even a minor oversight may leave the restaurant operations in the lurch. From food supplies to products like tableware, crockery, containers, linen, and even paper towels, there are a myriad of kitchen supplies you will need to account for. You must also determine exactly how much of everything you will need so that you do not fall short or overspend on the supplies.
Research for Suppliers
The next consideration is where you can procure the restaurant supplies. Finding the right supplier who can cater to your needs and facilitates you is crucial for business success. You need a supplier who provides quality products and has an efficient delivery system.
You can begin with simple research online to find restaurant suppliers that cater to your type of restaurant business. This will not only give you an idea of all the essential items you will need in case you missed out on some while compiling a supplies list, but it may also give you cost estimates so you can assess roughly how much you will have to pay.
You can also search for local suppliers in your area to see if there are supply stores nearby; however, doing an online search will enable you to compare multiple options. Once you have a few suppliers short-listed, you can ask for price quotes and their supply and delivery services to determine which vendor is best suited to your requirements. You can also negotiate to get the best prices possible.
Determine a Budget
Once you have a rough idea of how much you will need to spend on the supplies, you can set a budget. Setting a budget can also help you short-list vendors, as you can select the ones who can work within your budget. It also lets you know how much you can spend to procure the supplies accordingly.
Inventory Management and Setting a Schedule
There are different kinds of supplies, and for many items, you will need to order on a recurrent basis, i.e., daily, weekly, or monthly. These are mostly the perishable items or fresh ingredients you need to restock regularly. Besides these items, you may also need to order some items less frequently, like packaging containers and paper towels. You will need a procurement schedule for these items according to the frequency with which these need to be restocked so you never run out.
Final Thoughts
When considering how to procure supplies, you must consider your requirements, the cost factor, supplier delivery schedule, and the quality of products. For food supplies, you must prioritize freshness and timely supply, while for items like crockery or tableware, you need durability, cost, and brand consistency to contain your costs and uphold the quality.
While the aim is to procure supplies at lower prices to increase profits, you must also ensure quality and that you get the requisite supplies in time so that your operations are not affected and the system runs smoothly.