What are effective strategies for reducing food waste and controlling costs in your team?

1 Plan your menus and purchases

One of the first steps to reduce food waste and control costs is to plan your menus and purchases carefully. This means analyzing your sales history, customer preferences, seasonal availability, and portion sizes, and designing menus that optimize the use of ingredients and minimize leftovers. You should also plan your purchases according to your menu needs, inventory levels, and supplier agreements, and avoid overbuying or impulse buying. By planning your menus and purchases, you can reduce the amount of food that goes to waste, lower your purchasing and storage costs, and improve your customer satisfaction.

2 Track your food waste and costs

Another key strategy to reduce food waste and control costs is to track your food waste and costs regularly and accurately. This means measuring and recording the amount, type, and source of food waste that occurs in your kitchen, such as spoilage, overproduction, trimmings, plate waste, and theft. You should also track your food costs, such as the cost of goods sold, the food cost percentage, and the variance between actual and standard costs. By tracking your food waste and costs, you can identify the sources and causes of waste, evaluate your performance and efficiency, and implement corrective actions and improvements.

4 Innovate your processes and products

A fourth effective strategy to reduce food waste and control costs is to innovate your processes and products to make the most of your resources and create value from waste. This means finding new ways to use or reuse your ingredients, such as making stocks, sauces, soups, or compost from scraps, trimmings, or peelings. You should also find new ways to offer or sell your products, such as creating daily specials, discounts, or promotions from surplus or near-expiry items, or partnering with food rescue organizations or apps that connect you with customers who are willing to buy them at a lower price. By innovating your processes and products, you can reduce your food waste, increase your revenue, and enhance your reputation and image.

5 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?