Foodservice businesses are operating in an ever more challenging environment. Cafés, restaurants and hotels as well as suppliers and distributors are constantly challenged by the rapid rate of technological change, major economic uncertainty and rising input costs. This is evident in the number of venues and retailers closing down or reducing floor space.
Combined, these pressures make for a tough business climate — there’s never been a more urgent need for the foodservice industry to seriously redefine what drives profitability.
It’s not all doom and gloom though: while the sector’s profitability is heavily impacted by food costs, wages, lease negotiations and overheads — all things that are difficult to control — there is still scope for foodservice operators to master their margins.
High rents and cumbersome wage award systems can be mitigated with a little ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking. Looking at areas of business that tend to get ignored can have a significant impact. Sometimes it takes a pair of fresh eyes to spot them.
Sabella Consulting & Solutions can assist all foodservice businesses, from cafés and restaurants to suppliers and distributors, to identify areas for improvement. Everything from optimising where an owner’s time is spent and effective utilisation of POS systems to menu item rationalisation and food wastage is up for investigation. Even electricity usage and operating hours are considered.
Historically, foodservice businesses have been slow to actively seek out commercial or strategic guidance.
Many operators, especially those who have been in business for a number of years, tend to rely on their intuition about what works and what doesn’t. Adding to the strain is a need to ‘wear multiple hats’; business owners and managers often don’t have time to reflect strategically after busy days serving customers, managing staff, developing menus, ordering produce and bookkeeping.
And while distributors and suppliers are often experts in selling their products, few have the resources to assess the financial implications of ‘doing business’.
Sabella Consulting & Solutions goes beyond the compliance work done by in-house financial teams and external accountants. It’s less about bookkeeping and more about relearning how to operate in a shifting economic climate.
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