According to the National Restaurant Industry, eight out of every ten people who own restaurants started on their careers while working on entry-level positions. You’ve most likely figured out the types of equipment you will need for your new cafe or restaurant.
Whether you’re new to the restaurant industry or a seasoned veteran, having the correct restaurant equipment is critical to the success of your business.
With so many various brands, models, and suppliers to pick from, it’s easy to become overwhelmed when determining which purchases are important and which are just a waste of money.
Your choice of restaurant supplies may make or destroy your business.
They have the potential to impact your productivity, service quality, and safety compliance.
It can be easily stated that having the right and effective equipment for your restaurant is considered as the first and foremost requirement of making your business a grand success.
Questions To Ask Before Buying
The idea of owning the latest and best kitchen equipment might be tempting ; as it means you’ll be able to implement the menu you planned, but you must at first properly ideate what you actually want to attain with your planned menu & only then decide the equipments you actually need.
Consider the following important questions:
- What’s on the menu?
- What are the elements needed for me to perfectly prepare and serve the items on my menu?
- How to best preserve my ingredients and raw materials?
- What is my anticipated volume output?
- What will I do with my equipment?
- How much can I afford to spend?
- What will the maintenance and hygiene bills be like?
Because each answer is unique to each shop, all the above pointers should be kept in mind when assessing the equipment you have your eyes on and want to get your hands on.
Fast food restaurants would need less robust kitchen machines as compared to say, ice cream parlors. Similarly, cafes are more likely to invest in commercial coffee machines than are burger joints.
Only consider buying equipment that are readily essential now. You can always upgrade once the cash starts flowing in..
Ten Factors to Consider Before Buying Restaurant Equipment
Before you decide to invest in the items on your commercial kitchen equipment list, you should contemplate these 10 important things. If considered carefully, they will help your business to flourish and to earn more profit.
1.Availability of Capital
The promoter’s or management’s monetary availability has a high influence on the overall quality and quantity of any and every kind of equipment that is needed to efficiently operate the services the restaurant shall provide.
Equipment built of quality materials that is long-lasting, requires less maintenance, and takes up less storage space will always be more expensive than the not-so pragmatic ones.
2.Energy Efficiency
The majority of industrial kitchen appliances are really quite energy-intensive. Restaurant equipment generally consumes twice the energy of the ordinary commercial structure and six times that of household versions.Swapping regular kitchen equipment for energy-efficient kitchen ones will save you money while reducing your average carbon emissions. You can save almost 25% of your energy bills by using energy star certified appliances, as reported by the US Department of Energy.
3.Size
How much your commercial kitchen will be able to handle of the services depends largely on its layout. It is important that you set up the necessary appliances depending on the spaces available in the kitchen area that can seamlessly fit it all in. It’s upsetting to discover that your industrial oven may not fit inside your floor plan. Remember to take your measuring tape before heading out to buy these machines.
4.Quality and Durability
Commercial kitchens are always very active, with some functioning for hours on end. That means you’ll need equipment that can take a beating. Would you pick second hand equipment over new ones? Make checking brands and models stay on top of your priority list.
You should always distinctively gauge durability and quality when making a big appliance purchase.A worn out machine will definitely affect taste and feel of the food prepared with it.
Consider various factors when checking quality and longevity of products i.e manufacturing material, certification, and maintenance rules.
Before purchasing second hand restaurant supplies, you should check the age, current condition, and previous use. The appliances, whether they are new or reconditioned, should be manufactured of real commercial-grade materials that will give prolonged service. You must be certain to thoroughly check out all the appliances and equipment for physical damages or functioning disabilities.
5.Cost
Setting up a perfectly-functioning commercial kitchen can spend a significant portion of your initial capital. You may need to prioritize and obtain the most crucial restaurant supplies at the start. But then, you must not overlook or be a miser in terms of quality or performance as it can cost your dearly in the future. Do not be concerned about purchasing high-quality cookware for your restaurant in order to maintain food quality and hygiene.
Choosing commercial kitchen equipment for your business may be a frustrating process. Take your time to select the appropriate and efficient supplies to avoid mistakes that can burn your fingers. Click Here for Restaurant Equipment Canada. They will assist you in selecting the equipment that will enable you to succeed in the food industry.
6. Usability and Maintenance
Restaurants have one of the highest employee turnover rates. You should opt for commercial kitchen appliances that are easy to operate and thus efficient when using in a fast paced kitchen. You should think about ergonomics, ease of cleaning, and storage choices. The technological aspects should be user-friendly, making it easier and simpler to use and operate the equipment .
You may also need to examine the techniques required for cleaning the appliances properly and ensure maximum hygiene in the part of the kitchen where all the food shall be prepared. Examine the NSF mark to ensure that the equipment passes food safety regulations. Warranty on appliances can sometimes be of great help as far as post-buying maintenance and future repairs are concerned.
7.Design and Pattern That Fit Into Your Interior
The thematic decor pattern of the restaurant should reflect in your choice of aesthetics when picking a new kitchen equipment. It contributes to the overall ambiance and dining experience and strip floor machine.
8.Suitability For Multiple Applications
Multipurpose kitchen tools like cutlery, ceramics, glassware etc. should be prioritised to increase efficiency and make it easy to access and use.
9. Easy To Replace
The person in charge of operations should be able to replace malfunctioning equipments or damaged parts without any difficulty.
Also, the restaurateur using plates of a particular shape and specific design to serve during the main course should be able to relocate plates bearing the same patterns on the same shapes as the previously broken plates whenever necessity occurs.
10.Brand Reputation
In the restaurant sector, brand reputation plays an extremely important role. A recognized name is frequently an indicator of dependable, safe, and high-quality equipment. This is the reason why you’ll notice the same brands of coffee machines at different coffee shops.
A brand’s reputation is built up of a number of things i.e number of users, service quality, quality control measures taken and brand legacy.
It is critical to conduct thorough research and due diligence on key restaurant equipment, especially if you are not so familiar with the brand.
Some respectable companies may feature low-cost equipment types that are unsuitable for high-volume culinary environments. At the same time, less popular brands with good product quality might prove to be a steal.
Always primarily consider brand value while judging the quality. Ask for assurance to your supplier and be sure to check in with other users of the same product to gain their insights on this. Review customer experiences related to the equipment you’re looking to buy. Invest In Your Restaurant’s Future.
Starting and maintaining a restaurant can be tough as it requires a lot of attention, budgeting and ideation.
Collaborate with your restaurant advisors and chefs to identify what equipment your restaurant needs and how to best utilize it.
You should also build your restaurant with these criteria in mind to prevent unpleasant surprises such as costly retrofitting or unanticipated equipment operating permit expenses.
Aim to buy the bare basic essentials and then consider buying the secondary products if your budget allows it.That way, you save up on money all the while ensuring a dynamic and solid investment with promised good returns.