What are the best ways to manage restaurant inventory?

1 Plan your menu

One of the first steps to manage restaurant inventory is to plan your menu carefully. Your menu should reflect your concept, your target market, and your budget. You should also consider the seasonality, availability, and shelf life of the ingredients that you need. By planning your menu, you can avoid overstocking or understocking items, and optimize your inventory turnover rate.

3 Store properly

Once you receive your orders, you need to store them properly. This means that you should follow the first-in, first-out (FIFO) principle, which means that you should use the oldest items first, and store the newest items in the back. You should also label and date your items, and keep them in the appropriate temperature and humidity conditions. By storing properly, you can prevent spoilage, contamination, and theft of your inventory.

4 Track regularly

Another essential step to manage restaurant inventory is to track it regularly. This means that you should record the quantity and value of your inventory, and compare it with your sales and expenses. You should also conduct physical counts of your inventory, and reconcile them with your records. By tracking regularly, you can identify any discrepancies, errors, or losses in your inventory, and take corrective actions.

5 Use technology

One of the best ways to manage restaurant inventory is to use technology. Technology can help you automate and streamline your inventory management processes, and provide you with real-time data and insights. You can use software, apps, scanners, or sensors to plan, order, store, and track your inventory, and integrate them with your point-of-sale (POS) system, your accounting system, and your supplier network. By using technology, you can save time, money, and effort, and improve your inventory accuracy and efficiency.

6 Train your staff

The final step to manage restaurant inventory is to train your staff. Your staff should be aware of the importance and benefits of inventory management, and follow the best practices and procedures that you have established. You should also assign clear roles and responsibilities to your staff, and monitor and evaluate their performance. By training your staff, you can foster a culture of accountability and teamwork, and enhance your inventory management outcomes.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?