Establishing a restaurant is no easy feat, and getting your kitchen up and running is a long and tedious process. One of the many challenges new restaurateurs face is finding a supplier, and this is one of the most critical actions to undertake as it can mean the beginning of the end of your business.
To help you select better and make an educated choice, here are some of the things you should look for when choosing a restaurant supply company.
- Reasonable Pricing
Your budget is one of the most important considerations when choosing a restaurant supply store. There are a lot of suppliers out there, and the available options can overwhelm you. It should be quite easy to narrow them down if you just stick to your budget and only consider the ones you can actually afford.
To further save on costs, you might also want to consider suppliers who offer great deals and discounts. Looking for pre-owned equipment is also a good idea because they usually work just fine, as long as they are maintained properly.
Unless you have millions to shell out to establish your restaurant, you will need to strike a balance at first between what you want for your business and what is essential in setting it up. Once you have a few suppliers in mind, you should get price quotes first before making any commitments.
- Good Reputation
Choosing a restaurant supply store with a good reputation is usually the safest bet. If other restaurants can vouch for and assure you that they have a good working relationship with certain suppliers, you can use that as a reference and see for yourself what those suppliers have to offer.
This is not to say that you should not consider restaurant suppliers who are just new to the business. But looking for someone who has already established themselves and has steady long-term partnerships with various restaurants saves you the stress of worrying if you can trust them.
- Item Availability
Getting a supplier that can provide all your restaurant needs is ideal as this saves you the trouble of having to look for different suppliers for different items.
If you can find big-ticket components such as refrigeration systems, cooking equipment, water filtration systems, and smaller items like janitorial supplies and plumbing hardware all in one place, make sure that the supplier also offers service warranty on their products with long-term validity so that you will not need to worry too much about potential repair costs.
Research is the key when selecting the right restaurant supplier who offers almost everything, so be extremely thorough in your search. It may be a tedious process in the beginning, but it can save you a lot of time and money in the long run.
- Proven Quality
The quality of the products you use will affect how your restaurant operates. If you are considering buying brand new items, ask yourself if it is from a trusted manufacturer, where it is made, and what materials are used. If you are thinking of purchasing second hand equipment and tools, ask how old the equipment is, who the previous owners were, and what state they are in.
Whether your restaurant equipment is brand new or pre-loved, inspect the equipment in person before buying to look for any flaws. You do not want to spend all that money on something that is faulty and breaks down easily and frequently. So try to look for items with the highest quality you can afford, especially for those you will be using most often.
- Dedication to Food Safety
Aside from the needed tools and equipment, another crucial aspect of your restaurant is the food you serve. When looking for food suppliers, look for someone who is not only reputable and offers reasonable prices for their goods, but also someone who values food safety and cleanliness as much as you do.
Food quality is not something you should compromise. It largely depends on how the ingredients are stored and transported before it even reaches your restaurant. You might want to visit your food suppliers facilities and see their transport vehicles, storage amenities, and offices, so you have an idea of how serious they are when it comes to food safety and cleanliness.
You can also gauge how committed they are to sanitary protocols by looking at their employees personal hygiene, especially those who are part of the delivery. These are the people who will handle your food ingredients, after all, so be extremely observant of them because you cannot risk getting your food contaminated.
- Timely Delivery of Goods
Delayed deliveries will negatively impact your restaurant operations and consequently your sales, so choose a restaurant supply company that has a good reputation for making deliveries on time. You should also know what delivery schedule works best for you and ask your supplier if they can be flexible about it to optimise time and logistics costs.
- Excellent Customer Service
Excellent customer service creates a solid foundation for a long-lasting positive relationship between restaurateurs and their suppliers, so look for a restaurant supply company that cares about your business as much as you do and does not see you as just another sale.
It is good to have someone you can easily approach when certain issues arise and would happily assist you with your concerns. This will help develop a strong partnership with your supplier and eventually help your restaurant operations run smoothly.
Takeaway
Your restaurant supply company can make or break your business, so it is crucial to find someone who offers high-quality products and services. Moreover, looking for a restaurant supplier also means looking for a long-term partner, so it should be someone you know you can fully trust. They are not simply there to supply your restaurant needs, but more importantly, they are your allies in making your restaurant business a success.
