The best way to save money for your commercial catering business? Ensure your equipment works efficiently, doesn’t break down and lasts for years to come.
Easier said than done though, right?
The truth is that a lot of the legwork needs to happen before you make a purchase. Afterward, the key to getting the most out of your equipment is preventative maintenance and a regular cleaning schedule.
Here, we discuss this in more detail. Use the following advice to maximise the value of your catering equipment.
1. Don’t make blind purchases
It can be tempting to rush through the buying process. You’ve done some research, you have a general idea of the type of equipment you need and you found a company that can supply it for you. Job done?
Not quite. Without expert consultancy before your purchase, you risk buying equipment that doesn’t suit your catering business. This can result in long-term problems that can be tricky to fix.
What you need is an in-depth discussion with the catering equipment company supplying the product prior to your purchase.
They should ask you questions about your business, such as your average customer intake, your budget, the size of your kitchen and your growth plans.
This will give the company the bigger picture so that they can do relevant research and provide advice on the best catering equipment for your company. Whether it’s a commercial oven, dishwasher or fridge, making a personalised purchase is key to maximising your equipment’s output.
2. Find a catering equipment company you can trust
Having a strong relationship with your catering equipment company directly impacts the effectiveness and lifespan of your purchases.
Because you’ve spent time building a strong relationship, the catering equipment company will know your business inside out. This means they can give you a proactive, personalised service, ensuring you get the best possible care and attention.
Signs you found a catering equipment company you can trust include:
- quick response times
- reliable engineers
- a personalised service
- reliable equipment
- minimal downtime
You can learn more about this in our blog: 5 Signs You’ve Picked the Right Catering Equipment Company.
3. Get a preventative maintenance plan
You book your car in for a service every year (hopefully) to fix issues before they have the chance to become big and costly problems.
So why not do the same for your catering equipment? It will save you just as much time, money and stress in the long run.
A preventative maintenance plan is the ticket. It ensures your equipment is taken care of on a regular basis eliminating unnecessary breakdowns or faults in the future.
At NCE Catering, our preventative maintenance plan covers catering equipment, refrigeration equipment and air conditioning units.
We carry out one visit per year as a necessity to keep your warranty valid and your equipment in top condition. During the visit, we check to see if any consumables need to be replaced to prevent other issues from occurring in the future.
Check to see if your catering equipment company provides preventive maintenance before making a purchase.
4. Hire specialist technicians
Ovens, fridges, dishwashers and air conditioning units are intricate pieces of equipment. If something goes wrong with your equipment, you don’t want a jack-of-all-trades technician to deal with the problem.
You need someone with specialist knowledge and experience. The more expertise they have, the faster and more effectively they can work to get your equipment in tip-top shape.
So, if your equipment needs repairing, make sure you ask the company carrying out the service if they can send a technician with specialist expertise.
This will ensure your equipment is properly taken care of, solving problems there and then and eliminating the need for unnecessary call-outs.
5. Stick to a cleaning schedule
Most major pieces of catering equipment require daily cleaning to avoid the build-up of grime which can lead to many problems, from equipment degradation to fire hazards. Dirty equipment can also impact the taste of your food and create foul smells in your kitchen.
Usually, all you need for daily cleaning is some warm water, cleaning detergent and a clean cloth. Your equipment might have specific cleaning instructions in its accompanying manual. For cleaning advice related to commercial ovens, read our guide.
On top of daily cleaning, your equipment will also need a monthly deep clean to tackle hard-to-reach areas, such as draft diverters and fan blades. This is key to keeping your equipment in top condition and may also be a requirement for a valid warranty.
It might be worth investing in professional deep cleaning services. Not only will it save you time but it will ensure the job is completed properly, improving your kitchen’s health and safety.
Spend more time doing what you love
Use this advice today to get the most out of your catering equipment. In the process, you save time and money, giving you the freedom to focus on your business’ growth. To recap, maximising the value of your equipment requires:
- Personalised consultancy before your purchase
- Working with a catering equipment supplier you can trust
- Signing up to a preventative maintenance plan
- Ensuring specialist technicians conduct any repairs
- Sticking to a daily cleaning schedule
Got a question about what we’ve discussed today? Get in touch on our website. Or call us on 0113 833 1234. You can also email us at info@northerncatering.co.uk.