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were registered on food delivery platforms like Grubhub, DoorDash, and Uber Eats. For example, an app might offer 15% off your first order. They will create multiple fake accounts in bulk and then sell them to those looking for a discount on food. What are some common fraud activities you are seeing that affect restaurants?
“As the restaurant industry appears to increasingly embraces AI, the journey to full-scale transformation is still a work in progress," said Evert Gruyaert, restaurants and food service industry leader, Deloitte. "Leveraging That includes things like voice AI in drive thrus to automate the order-taking process.
Effective, sustainable SOPs focus on minimizing waste and maximizing productivity. For example, implementing procedures to monitor inventory closely can prevent overstocking or food spoilage, while clear cleaning and maintenance schedules ensure the proper use and consumption of supplies.
Start with the basics: food cost, labor percentage, ticket times, and guest retention, not in spreadsheets or back-office meetings, but on the floor and in the flow of the shift. When a lunch ticket gets voided because the kitchen missed the allergy note, explain what that mistake costs in foodwaste, comped revenue, and lost trust.
Ballas shares his insights with Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine and discusses issues that must be on the radar for franchises and brands including AI, automation, sustainability, staffing, training, and more. We focus on responsible sourcing and operational efficiencies that minimize waste.
As part of creating that good environment, she’s taken multiple steps to cut Rifrullo’s carbon footprint, including composting all food scraps, one of the most important steps restaurants can take to combat climate change. When foodwaste goes to landfills, it creates methane , a powerful greenhouse gas.
However, productivity is more easily trained than managed. Staff productivity plays the largest role in restaurant revenue, which is why it’s so important to invest in your recruiting and hiring strategies, finding like-minded individuals to move your restaurant forward while minimizing time waste.
Every day, youre juggling staff, food quality, inventory, customer service, purchasing, and moreall while trying to cultivate a dining experience that wows your customers enough to keep them coming back. Running a restaurant is a balancing act. Its tough, and cant be done passively. What is Restaurant Operations Management?
A bar is a profitable business option if you’re looking to enter the food industry. Start by tracking all the income your bar generates, including sales from drinks, food, and any additional services. Bars that effectively manage their inventory and reduce waste tend to maintain higher margins.
Real-time inventory systems help restaurants cut foodwaste , save money, and improve operations. Forecast Demand : Use sales data to predict future needs and order the right quantities. Forecast Demand : Use sales data to predict future needs and order the right quantities.
Introduction to FoodWaste in Restaurants Foodwaste is a significant challenge for the restaurant industry, impacting both the environment and profitability. Understanding how to reduce foodwaste in restaurants is the first step toward sustainable and cost-effective operations.
If youre one of the thousands of restaurants that added online food delivery in recent years, you might be wondering: is it actually helping my business grow? These metrics give you a clear picture of your delivery performancefrom order volume and customer retention to delivery speed and profitability.
After all, it’s not just the quality of your food that can keep customers coming back — 73% of diners base their satisfaction on the quality of service they receive. Can you provide an example of how you’ve improved employee performance through training? Hiring the right people can make or break your business.
In this article, you will learn: The five most important restaurant costs to track and manage Easy strategies for controlling food costs and labor costs Tactics to save money without hurting your guest experience Lets start with the big picture and learn where your money is actually going.
From managing reservations at the host stand or firing orders straight to the kitchen from table side, tablets are changing the way restaurants run. To really get the most out of your tablets, you need to be strategic about how you choose them, use them, and train your staff. Each with its own notifications, dings, and order screens.
The magnetism of the kitchen dates to those early days of growing up in a home where food played an important role, not as much as some, but enough to leave an indelible mark on my life. At least from my own experience there is comfort and excitement every time I enter a professional kitchen. These are my memories of cooking for the soul.
One of operators most difficult challenges is balancing restaurant operating costs without compromising the food, service, and customer experience that makes your restaurant unique. If youre pushing out more orders, getting more ingredients, and staffing more servers, these costs will reflect that.
And no, increasing restaurant sales doesn’t mean turning your restaurant staff into pushy upsellers trying to squeeze a few extra dollars out of every order. Create Limited-Time Offers That Drive Action Limited-time offers (LTOs) give potential customers a reason to order now, not later.
A spike in food costs, a drop in sales volume, or one slow season can wipe out months of hard work. They tell you how much money your restaurant keeps after paying for everything from food costs to labor expenses to utilities and rent. Keep them too low, and youre losing your net profit margin every time someone orders.
Managing delivery orders shouldnt feel like running an obstacle course, but for many restaurant operators, thats exactly what it is. Juggling multiple food delivery apps means switching between tablets, manually entering orders into the POS, and trying to keep track of ever-changing fees and commissions.
Standardized Training Programs: Newbies get uniform training with digital training tools across multiple locations. Consistent Equipment Across Locations : Using standardized equipment across all locations, such as commercial deep fryers , ensures consistency in food preparation and quality.
It blends sales data, food cost, and menu psychology to help you stop guessing and start making decisions that grow your margins. Real menu engineering efforts are grounded in hard numbers: data, food cost percentage, and how much profit each dish actually brings in, so you know exactly what to promote, rework, or cut.
It’s no surprise that the fast food chains, which have over 100,000 outlets between them, see opportunities for AI efficiencies. Vulnerabilities in Voice and Vision With voice-automated ordering, there are known threats such as bad actors targeting systems with sub-human-level sound, which can be heard digitally but not by humans.
How do you handle multiple tables and orders at once? What steps would you take if a customer received the wrong order? How do you maintain accuracy when taking orders for large groups? How do you handle special dietary requests or food allergies? How do you handle multiple tables and orders at once?
A Dilemma of “Super Size” Proportions Amid rising food prices and shifting consumer preferences, the restaurant industry is facing a dilemma of “super size” proportions. Red Robin climbs 3 percent to 78 thanks in large part to its focus on menu and food. Still, the food and service metrics are quite high.
Diners are increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of their meals, not just in terms of ingredients, but also how their food is packaged. For restaurants offering takeout, delivery, or pre-packaged goods, packaging can be a major contributor to waste and carbon emissions. And less waste means fewer trash pickups.
Managing food costs is one of the most important factors in running a profitable restaurant. With rising ingredient prices and tight profit margins, understanding the food cost formula can make the difference between financial success and failure. What is the Food Cost Formula? Lets dive in!
Food prices continue rising at grocery stores and through suppliers, while staffing gaps and shifting guest preferences add extra pressure to already thin margins. For instance, restaurant operators who track ingredient usage patterns and implement precise portion controls see significant reductions in foodwaste.
They connect tools like inventory tracking, payroll, and online ordering into one system, allowing real-time data access for smarter decisions. Key benefits include: Efficiency : Automates workflows like inventory management and order processing. When backend systems work efficiently, it leads to faster, more accurate service.
Dining habits change, food costs fluctuate, and customer preferences can shift depending on what’s trending. The clues are subtle at first: a dip in orders here, a negative note in a review there. That’s when it’s time to take a closer look at your food costs and how they’re impacting your bottom line. But together they add up.
Keeping menus updated across various online ordering systems and third-party delivery apps can feel like a never-ending game of catch-up. Manually updating menus across multiple online ordering channels is tedious, time-consuming, and prone to mistakes. The growing popularity of online ordering has only made this challenge more urgent.
Hire the Right People and Train Them Well Finding top talent is like casting a winning team. One pro we know tested a cook with a plate this order challenge under a timer. Training locks in that potential. The National Restaurant Association found well-trained staff stay 30% longer. Training builds a stronger team.
Managing food costs is a growing challenge for restaurants as ingredient prices fluctuate and margins shrink. It also streamlines the ordering process, ensuring that every ingredient is purchased and used with purpose. Heres what it does: Reduces Waste : Tracks expiration dates and prioritizes older stock (FIFO method).
Proper inventory tracking helps reduce waste, control costs, and boost profits. Why Every Restaurant Should Prioritize Inventory Control Effective inventory control means fewer surprises, less waste, and better financial management. Prioritizing it leads to: Lower food costs by minimizing spoilage and overordering.
Steps to calculate costs : Determine unit costs, account for waste, and break down menu item costs. Improve profits : Analyze cost data to refine menu design, negotiate better supplier deals, and reduce waste. This setup allows you to compare theoretical costs with actual expenses, making it easier to spot waste or inefficiencies [2].
That’s why having a solid restaurant management training program is so important for owners and operators looking to build a successful team. A well-structured management training program equips new leaders with essential skills while promoting ongoing development. This will help you avoid purchasing more than you need.
Wastedfood, stock shortages, and manual tracking errors all lead to higher costs and lost profits. Key Ways POS Systems Save Restaurants Money: Real-Time Tracking : Automatically updates stock levels as orders are placed, reducing waste and preventing stockouts. That’s where POS inventory tools step in to help.
Cost Savings: Dual pricing eliminates credit card processing fees; low-stock alerts minimize waste; online ordering allows restaurant operators to get rid of pesky third party commissions Customer Engagement: Loyalty programs and CRM tools enhance customer retention. This change reduced wait times by 30% and improved order accuracy.
When it comes to streamlining operations in a busy kitchen, choosing the right order management system is crucial. Kitchen Display System vs Traditional Order Tickets has become a key debate for many restaurants. In contrast, traditional order tickets can lead to miscommunication, delays, and inefficiency.
Running a successful restaurant in 2025 means more than just great food—it requires smart financial decisions. Use these Calculations to Maximize Cost Reduction The food cost percentage is the number one calculation that restaurants can use today to maximize their cost reduction. Food cost control is crucial.
From AI-driven ordering systems to smart inventory tools and contactless dining experiences, today’s innovations are reshaping how restaurants operate, serve customers, and stay competitive. In 2025, staying ahead means more than great food—it means leveraging the right tech to boost efficiency, reduce costs, and elevate the guest experience.
Product Mix Reports : Identify bestsellers and underperforming items to optimize your menu and reduce waste. Inventory Reports : Monitor stock levels, usage patterns, and waste to control costs and prevent overstocking or shortages. Labor Reports : Align staffing with demand, track productivity, and reduce unnecessary labor costs.
This system helps restaurant owners and managers track stock in real-time, reduce waste, and maintain optimal inventory levels. Poor inventory tracking costs restaurants up to $600/month on beverages , but mobile tools reduce waste, prevent overstocking, and improve real-time decision-making.
By accurately tracking ingredient costs and streamlining menu pricing, it helps restaurants minimize waste, maintain profit margins, and make data-driven decisions. Heres why recipe costing integration matters: Real-time tracking : Automatically updates ingredient costs and inventory levels to reduce waste and improve accuracy.
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