It’s no secret that supply chains today are more unpredictable than ever. Getting the inventory that your restaurant needs to serve its customers feels nearly impossible at times! Managing your inventory takes a lot of work and coordination even under the most ideal circumstances. In today’s blog post, we’ll go over some of the ways that your business can focus on the essentials when it comes to restaurant inventory management.
Pare Down Your Menu
No restaurant owner wants to cut customer favorites from their menu. But sometimes there are ways to pare down your offerings without sacrificing your bestsellers. Try looking for items that aren’t ordered as often that include ingredients that aren’t used elsewhere. These are options to temporarily eliminate when trying to focus on the essentials. Even if the ingredients that you’re eliminating aren’t hard to find or more expensive than usual at the moment, you’ll free up funds to go-to products that are.
Restaurant Inventory Management Systems
Managing your restaurant inventory is easier if you have the right systems in place. There are lots of programs and software available that make it easier for you to track expenses, sources, and more. You might be surprised to find out where your money’s being spent. A good restaurant inventory management system keeps things organized and makes sure that every cent is kept track of.
Look for Products that Do Double Duty
When inventory items are more expensive than usual or harder to find, look for products that do double duty. Don’t buy multiple types of, say, paper towels, when you could be buying just one in large, bulk quantities. Apply this same reasoning to other items, too, like cleaning supplies. Usually, you can save money on items–even when product costs are high–by buying them in bulk.
Restaurant Inventory Management: Source from Local Farmers and Producers
Going right to the source is one way to make sure that your products aren’t delayed in transit. Get in touch with local farmers, producers, and manufacturers to see if you can shift your inventory sourcing to your local community. Not only can this help you more effectively manage your restaurant’s inventory, it also can be a great marketing tool. Partnering up with local people can create a great working relationship for both parties involved.
Managing restaurant inventory is a hard job in these uncertain times. Focusing on the essentials can be a great place to start. In addition, working with local farmers and streamlining the products you need by looking for those with multiple uses are great options. Plus, carefully managing your inventory can help you maximize the use of the products that you are able to get your hands on.
We hope that these tips are helpful to you as you work to streamline your restaurant’s inventory and focus on the essentials!
