Although the foodservice industry is under great pressure due to the impact of COVID-19, the demand for foodservice will not shrink in the long run. Restaurants, cafes and other foodservice business will boom in the future. With the increase in competition among various businesses, foodservice businesses need to provide better quality dishes and food at more affordable prices to gain the customer trust. Therefore, choosing the best and most suitable foodservice suppliers on the market is a major factor for the survival and development of the business.
To the customers, one of the important factors in deciding which restaurant to dine out is the quality of the food. Imagine if you went to a restaurant nearby your company and wanted a fresh and delicious meal, but instead you were served slices of meat that had gone bad, this would surely disappoint your taste buds and keep you away from the restaurant forever. It is common that bad quality ingredients rain all the efforts the restaurant owner has made to attract customers and gain their trust.
So how can restaurateurs ensure that the food they serve is fresh and of good quality? It can be done by controlling the upstream source and choosing suppliers who can supply raw materials that meet standards and equipment that can operate consistently over time to keep your kitchen running properly.
However, with the large number of foodservice suppliers in the market, choosing the right one can be quite a headache for restaurant owners. Here are some tips on how to choose your best and most suitable restaurant suppliers.
1. Compare quoted prices before you choose the restaurant suppliers
Before we buy anything, we must consider the cost firstly. You can contact different suppliers and request a quote for certain food supplies and equipment.
By learning about different products and different prices from different suppliers, you can find out more information about the ingredients and equipment they offer. Such information will be very helpful, although you may never have considered before. This will give you a better ldea of the market and help you make an informed decision.
Today, it is much easier to get information from Internet than before. You can check prices online or contact the foodservice suppliers to see if they can give you a pricing breakdown, including the price of the product itself, delivery costs and installation fees, etc.
2. Ask restaurant owners, foodservice professionals for recommendations
Another key factor to consider when choosing foodservice suppliers is the suppliers’ reputation. You can ask chefs, restaurant owners and other professionals in the foodservice industry to see which restaurant supplies store and ingredient supplier they recommend.
Word of mouth is still one of the most effective ways to find the right foodservice suppliers, so don't be afraid to ask around a little more and surely you can find useful information.
Also, it will be helpful to check foodservice industry websites and review websites for relevant suppliers, as previous customers have shared many of their experiences with different restaurant suppliers. You can also use google maps or foodservice business directory websites to find local foodservice suppliers in your area. Check what industry professionals have rated about a particular supplier there.
3. Test the products in advance
If you're not sure whether you should choose a supplier, ask them if you can have a trial of their products. Most suppliers will be willing to give you some free samples so that you can actually test them in your kitchen to see if they meet your needs.
This is one of the most direct ways to get to know the supplier and the products they offer, and to determine if the quality of their ingredients, supplies and equipment are up to par.
Make sure the products your supplier offers are of high quality. This means that raw ingredients and condiments must not only be freshly sourced, hygienically packaged and processed, but more importantly, the product must has a good appearance and tastes authentic.
Appearance is the first, and then followed by taste, one cannot be without the other. No one wants a delicious meal that looks ugly, or a stunning meal that tastes bad, especially in a high-end dining environment. Vision and taste go hand in hand.
While a trial of ingredients cannot prove the long-term reliability of a supplier, it can give you a pretty useful reference of information in terms of freshness of raw materials.
As for foodservice equipment and restaurant supplies, you can also consider trying them out beforehand. If possible, items such as knives and cutlery are tested a few more times before purchase to examine their performance and reliability in detail. If you choose equipment that is a bit more expensive but of very reliable quality and low failure rate, it will also help you save money in the long run.
4. Visit the supplier's store and warehouse
It is also important to visit the supplier's store and warehouse on site. For food ingredients, it’s better to make sure that the supplier's warehouse is not too far from your location and the warehouse facilities are sanitary to prevent contamination of the stored products.
Also, you have to check if they have sufficient storage space to replenish the supplies at any time. In case the warehouse storage space is not large enough to have sufficient buffer stock, The shortage of raw materials could affect your business operation seriously and lead to irreparable losses.
5. Consider delivery speed and service responsiveness
On time supply of raw materials is important to foodservice industry. If possible, it is better to choose a local supplier with sufficient stock to ensure that products are delivered in a timely manner after you order them so that the ingredients can be kept fresh.
For products that do not require regular replenishment, such as catering equipment and kitchen supplies, although they can be ordered from remote suppliers or buy them online, it is important to calculate the delivery time in advance. In addition, make sure that the equipment suppliers have a reliable service network in your area, so that it can be repaired promptly in case of failure to avoid affecting the routine business.
6. Choose the right foodservice supplier for your needs
I have mentioned above that it is better to choose local suppliers with sufficient storage space because they generally have greater advantages in the supply of products and services to meet your needs. However, you need to find and choose the most suitable suppliers for your foodservice business.
Each supplier, large or small, local or remote, has its own advantages and disadvantages, with different product categories and service strength.
Smaller local suppliers may have not ability to provide enough products for larger restaurants, but their products or services may be of high quality. Large suppliers will generally provide a consistent quality product, but then may be less flexible and responsive than smaller suppliers. You should consider all of these different factors and find the supplier that best suits your needs.
Conclusion
Consider all the tips above and valuate your candidate foodservice suppliers from all the aspects. No matter which supplier you choose, be sure to research the market carefully and get as much information as possible to ensure that you make the right decision, Also, Keep in touch with other backup suppliers, in case something goes wrong with your current supplier.