This site uses cookies to improve your experience. To help us insure we adhere to various privacy regulations, please select your country/region of residence. If you do not select a country, we will assume you are from the United States. Select your Cookie Settings or view our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Cookie Settings
Cookies and similar technologies are used on this website for proper function of the website, for tracking performance analytics and for marketing purposes. We and some of our third-party providers may use cookie data for various purposes. Please review the cookie settings below and choose your preference.
Used for the proper function of the website
Used for monitoring website traffic and interactions
Cookie Settings
Cookies and similar technologies are used on this website for proper function of the website, for tracking performance analytics and for marketing purposes. We and some of our third-party providers may use cookie data for various purposes. Please review the cookie settings below and choose your preference.
Strictly Necessary: Used for the proper function of the website
Performance/Analytics: Used for monitoring website traffic and interactions
Around 33 to 40 percent of food goes to waste each year. In this article, we’ll look at the smart strategies restaurants can enact in their supply chain management to minimize food waste, improve margins, and ease their environmental impact in the process. It’s the cost of waste.
The restaurant industry is fast-paced and demanding, with constant pressures to deliver excellent service while managing operations smoothly. Discover practical strategies to reduce stress and establish clear standard operating procedures, or SOPs, to create a sustainable work environment.
One of the most prominent is its engagement in the zero-waste movement. Is zero waste achievable? It takes commitment alongside some investment in specific areas of operations. What strategic steps can you take to bring your kitchen closer to achieving zero-waste? trillion dollars is lost due to wasted food.
Food waste is one of the restaurant industry’s most persistent and costly challenges. According to ReFED , restaurants in the United States alone waste 5.76 That food waste equates to billions of dollars literally thrown away. Technology plays a critical role in helping restaurants minimize waste and improve efficiency.
Learn how to track and reduce food waste, optimize labor costs with smart scheduling, make data-driven decisions with regular P&L reviews, and manage fixed and variable costs efficiently. Our guide breaks down five actionable strategies to help you control costs and maximize profitability.
A recent eBook by Softarex Technologies highlights all the main aspects of AI usage in restaurant operations, from customer service to back-of-house management. Enhancing Customer Service with AI One of the most visible applications of AI in restaurants is in customer-facing operations.
” As a business operator who works with data daily, I decided to test that idea the hard way: could I use GPT to create consistent, integrated operational reports across multiple store locations…without a formal data layer? My advice to restaurant operators: AI can be a powerful partner. Quick answer: No.
By Bailey Ramsey, Contributor Food waste is a critical issue in the restaurant industry. To put this in perspective, restaurants waste anywhere between 4% to 10% of the food they purchase. This leads to huge financial losses, operational inefficiencies, and environmental harm.
What should restaurant operators take away from these results to meet guest expectations? Winning new customers is harder in this market so operators should lean into customer databases to leverage loyalty. In what ways can restaurant operators rework menus to be responsive to guests and hopefully profitable?
Real-time data helps with labor scheduling, adjusting menu items, reducing waste and improving profitability. Learn how harnessing data enables better decision-making and enhances operational success. In the competitive restaurant industry, data is crucial for controlling costs and boosting efficiency.
At this time of year, restaurant operators often search for ways to be more efficient, reduce costs and be more profitable. What are common misconceptions restaurant operators have regarding the impact of cooking oil on sustainability? What is the connection between restaurant cooking oil and sustainability?
The restaurant industry loses an astounding $162 billion each year in food waste. All restaurants should proactively work to reduce food waste, which will also help you save money, increase profits, spotlight your commitment to sustainability, and help the environment. Between a third and a half of food is wasted worldwide annually.
Restaurant operators are dealing with shrinking margins, labor shortages, and higher guest expectations than ever before. It’s about taking friction out of operations—so staff can spend more time focused on hospitality, not paperwork. Optimize pricing strategies based on real-time demand, reducing food waste.
Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine asked restaurant industry experts for their views on what trends and challenges owners and operators can expect to see in 2025. At the same time, it can result in consumers creating more waste if they order more than they can eat.
Similar to most operators, you likely have been forced to get by with a smaller crew on every shift, scaling down where you can. Minimizing wasted effort. But cutting back on quality, safety, service, or cleanliness isn’t an option. Asking more from your staff isn’t either. Improving the consistency of work.
Amid these potential disruptions, operators need a fresh approach to managing food costs. Currently, owners and operators across the country are grappling with: Worker Shortages : The restaurant industry is facing a severe labor crunch, with 45 percent of operators reporting they need more employees to meet demand.
Food waste is recognized as an endemic challenge around the world. is wasted each year, about 119 billion pounds, estimated at over $408 billion. For restaurants, an industry with challenging profit margins, minimizing food waste is nothing less than a survival strategy. But unchecked waste can threaten the bottom line.
FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Rule 204 approaching, restaurant operators stand to gain improved confidence in the safety and quality of the food they serve. The resulting improvements in data accuracy and reliability will help the operator respond to food safety incidents efficiently. The time to act is now.
Without a strong system in place, even the best restaurants in the world will struggle with unhappy customers, high turnover rates, wasted inventory, and razor-thin profit margins. What is Restaurant Operations Management? Great restaurant operations dont happen by accident. Its tough, and cant be done passively.
Technology is transforming the way restaurant operators work. Think, a 25-75% reduction in food waste that translates to millions of dollars in savings. Advanced analytics and forecasting. automated procurement. you name it, tech companies (like Apicbase) are already working on it. A fully automated supply chain.
A lot of operators still might not do it, though, either because they underestimated how important it really is, or they felt overwhelmed by the math it takes to get accurate numbers. This gives you a more complete picture of your operational costs. It’s just part of the job. It’s the foundation of knowing your actual food cost.
The first is a manager on duty, and the second is starting to think like an operator. When a lunch ticket gets voided because the kitchen missed the allergy note, explain what that mistake costs in food waste, comped revenue, and lost trust. That’s when you’re building real operational thinkers. Start small.
These include: Food Costs Labor Costs Occupancy Costs Operating Costs Marketing and Promotions Expenses Every successful restaurant owner knows that tracking these isnt just a bookkeeping exercise; its how you spot opportunities to save money, collect data for better decision making, and run more efficiently.
Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine asked Zabaneh to elaborate on best practices restaurant operators should put in place now. What can restaurant operators do to bring in new guests and keep them coming back for more? For back of house, operators should focus on tech that drives speed, efficiency, and cost savings.
Integrating IoT devices and connectivity drives efficiency, enhances food safety, mitigates risks, increases transparency, reduces waste, and provides many other benefits for restaurants. Optimizing shelf life and reducing waste. restaurants waste an astonishing $57 billion each year on uneaten food? Did you know that U.S.
The courses includes foundational knowledge on emerging green technologies, strategies for waste reduction, and operational efficiencies that align with sustainability goals. Chefs and operators can start by experimenting with portable induction cooktops, which provide a low-investment opportunity to explore this technology.
One of operators most difficult challenges is balancing restaurant operating costs without compromising the food, service, and customer experience that makes your restaurant unique. The Three Types of Restaurant Operating Costs Before you can start paring down expenses, you have to understand what youre actually spending and why.
These changes are driven by a combination of consumer demands, technological breakthroughs, and the industry’s need to adapt to economic and operational challenges. From reimagining workflows to enhancing guest interactions, technology is shaping how restaurants, bars, and hospitality businesses operate.
From labor to supply chain to utility bills, restaurant operators are feeling the pressure. And when those are off, waste and inefficiencies climb. That level of control has helped us reduce waste by nearly 75 percent during slower periods, in addition to serving our guests the freshest food possible.
From personalized customer experiences to unlocking operational efficiencies, technology is the fuel driving the next era of restaurant success. Today, staying ahead means adopting a unified, flexible IT environment that gives operators the control they need to thrive. And technology is the key to unlocking that potential. The result?
Starbucks’ latest gambit to improve operations? By Heather Lalley on Jun. 13, 2025 Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Upscale soup dumpling chain Din Tai Fung has the industry’s highest average unit volumes. Photo: Shutterstock Welcome to Restaurant Business’ Week in Review for the week of June 9, 2025.
By actively reducing our environmental footprint — through energy and water conservation, innovative waste mitigation, and sustainable supply chain management — we provide safety, efficiency, and accountability that benefit both current and future generations.
Beyond the immediate lost revenue from empty reserved tables, these missed bookings disrupt carefully planned kitchen and staffing operations. Restaurants prepare ingredients and schedule staff based on anticipated guest numbers, and when diners fail to arrive, this precision quickly unravels into wasted food and unnecessary labor expenses.
Inflation, supply chain disruptions, and an unforgiving labor market have created a perfect storm for restaurant owners and operators. As costs rise and pressures pile up, the time is now to perform a complete audit of the true costs of human resources operations. The mounting headwinds are unrelenting.
Advanced networking solutions have emerged as a critical player in this revolution, offering the potential to enhance restaurant operations dramatically. At the core, these solutions include high-speed internet, ensuring all digital operations run smoothly and without interruption.
Looking for someone to oversee day-to-day operations is a critical business decision that needs careful consideration. For example, they may hold regular team meetings to go over new policies or operational updates. A manager who encourages empathy and teamwork between the two sides guarantees smoother operations.
Inventory management tools, for example, enable the real-time tracking of food stock, alerting staff to use items before they spoil and reducing waste. Back-office digital innovations are also helping restaurants manage costs and make the most of their workforce. Staffing and workforce management tools are also proving useful.
For restaurant operators striving to cut through the noise and connect with today's diners, understanding the nuances of modern marketing and PR is crucial. What are common mistakes you see restaurant operators making in their marketing efforts and how can they rebound? It's essential for survival and growth.
He believes that it's underutilized in the restaurant industry and can discuss the benefits it has for inventory management and food waste reduction, and why it’s a secret tech weapon that more brands should utilize. What should restaurant operators understand about RFID?
Despite positive indications, most restaurant operators are still in dire need of staff. Statistics from the National Restaurant Association reveal over 87 percent of operators are likely to hire restaurant staff in 2023, provided they can find qualified applicants. Shockingly, staffing in the restaurant industry remained 3.6
Moving to more eco-friendly options like biodegradable materials using bamboo or already recycled paper helps reduce unwanted waste from clogging landfills. More than 63 percent of municipal solid waste in the US was a result of food packaging. This also lowers operational costs.
Think of them as your restaurants vitals: they help you monitor the health of your business in real time, so you know where to adjust operations before problems become expensive. Lets dig deeper into the 11 Key Performance Indicators every restaurant operator should track and know. Subtract all your expenses to get your Net Profit.
Technology – and especially AI – is already reshaping how restaurants operate, and that impact is only going to grow. AI-driven tools can help optimize everything from labor scheduling to inventory management, reducing waste and improving margins. The key is using technology to work smarter, not harder.
For example, training employees to not waste food and other resources is a growing priority for restaurants seeking to minimize environmental impact while maximizing efficiency. By incorporating this training into your calendar, you align your business with modern consumer values and cut down on operationalwaste.
We organize all of the trending information in your field so you don't have to. Join 49,000+ users and stay up to date on the latest articles your peers are reading.
You know about us, now we want to get to know you!
Let's personalize your content
Let's get even more personalized
We recognize your account from another site in our network, please click 'Send Email' below to continue with verifying your account and setting a password.
Let's personalize your content