If you own your own catering business in the London area, you know better than anyone just how expensive it can be. There is the cost of food, the equipment, renting kitchen space, employees, and of course legal issues that can accompany running this type of business. If you’re looking for ways to reduce the costs your catering business is incurring without making any sacrifices to the quality of food you’re making, then you’re going to want to look at these four tips that can really add up in the savings department.
Consider using commercial kitchen space
For anyone who is looking for a kitchen to buy in London, you know all too well just how pricey it can be. In fact, the kinds of prices you come across can sometimes force you to give up on your dream simply because it’s not affordable. This is where looking for a commercial kitchen to rent in London can act as the perfect solution. FoodStars is one option that caterers are now taking notice of as it offers you a commercial production kitchen at the fraction of the cost of purchasing your own building.
This option is perfect for catering companies that are looking for premium quality kitchen space without it costing a fortune. The kitchen space starts at 400 sqft and provides all the latest equipment and prep tools. There are also storage solutions available, both cold and dry, if needed.
By using commercial kitchen space, you can eliminate expensive rent issues, forego location costs, and not have to deal with the legal issues of owning a building.
Make sure you aren’t over-purchasing
Another tip is to make sure you aren’t going overboard where purchasing is concerned. Purchase only what you need to cook, and make sure you are cooking the right amount of food. Food waste can add up to a lot of money wasted and just doesn’t make good financial sense. What this means is that you need to be very precise when it comes to portion sizes, and taking down orders correctly.
Ideally you shouldn’t have any waste at the end of an order. Everything that was purchased should be cooked, and then used to fill the order.
Make changes to your menu
It could be that you need to make some changes to your menu to cut down on costs as well. Start with the items that aren’t popular and remove them. Next you can start looking at things such as the cuts of meat you are using (look for a less expensive option), look for ways to use leftovers as part of another dish, and make sure nothing is going to waste. For example, rather than throwing out stale bread, consider using it to make the perfect breadcrumbs. It’s all about looking at your options in a more creative way.
Skip on the buffets and opt for plated meals instead
If you have traditionally offered buffet style meals, you may want to consider switching to plated meals. At the end of the day you’ll spend less money and have less waste when offering a plated meal over a buffet. There is a lot more food to prepare when you are putting together a buffet. This means more supplies to buy, higher labour costs, and as stated – more waste.
Whether you choose to use just one of these tips or all four, you should start to see the savings almost immediately, which will make a big difference to your bottom line.
