25 August 2009
Buying Restaurant Supplies: Shop Smart, Save Big
Posted by chefal under: Equipment Maintenance & Tips; Recession Tips & Tricks .
When you outfit your kitchen you will forget at least one thing on opening day–guaranteed. It could be something minor, like potholders, or it could be something crucial–like storage space for food. We’ve seen it all.
Getting your kitchen ready for a smooth operation is a challenge and, if done wrong, you can lose time, money, and even customers. Make sure you remember the following steps when you take out your checkbook:
1. Don’t Splurge: Think about your kitchen’s purpose, theme, and menu. Make a list of all the large equipment you will absolutely need to prepare your ingredients with. If you are opening a sandwich kitchen you’re going to need a commercial fridge, meat slicer, and perhaps a refrigerated prep table. Stop there and save your money. You can invest in more equipment when the time is right or when your menu expands.
2. Don’t Skimp on the Small Things: When… it comes to kitchen equipment people generally forget some of the small things, like tongs, spatulas, and whisks. Missing equipment will slow staff down and the quality of your food will go south. Make sure you go through every recipe that’s on your menu and acquire every small tool that will expedite its creation.
3. Spend Wisely: If you find a good deal don’t pass it up. Add equipment to your kitchen that can add value to your production and can play a useful role in your kitchen in the future. If your kitchen is busy pumping out pizzas you might to buy a meat slicer so you can start making subs.
4. Don’t Forget Storage: Sometimes it’s hard to realize how much storage you need until you find yourself needing it. Invest in equipment that has storage options and space. You’ll be thankful as your kitchen grows.
5. Buy Green: If you buy equipment that is environmentally friendly you can help your community and advertise your use of green products to your customers.
6. Better Safe then Sorry: Outfitting your kitchen can be hectic and you might forget one important category of supplies: safety equipment. Make sure you have gloves, thermometers, hairnets, fire extinguisher(s), and a first aid kit at hand. A safe kitchen is a lawsuit-free kitchen.
Comments are closed.