Category: Blog

cost reduction

5 Steps In 5 Months to 5 % Savings

Pre-pandemic, restaurants were doing well! Products were available, prices are stable, and employers had the power. Then an unexpected punch to the gut happened when the supply chain took a major hit due to shortages and price increases.

What if we said there were things you can do today in order to keep costs low and improve your margins? That means that in a world where everything was all about marketing, sales, butts-in-seats, new locations…. is now all about cost reduction, streamlining efficiency and driving margin.

The biggest and brightest minds in the industry are shifting their focus from top-line revenue to margins and profitability.

Here are 5 steps that you can begin taking today to reduce your prime and operating expenses by 5% in the next 5 months putting you on the right path to profitability:

Integrate Technology

technology

Are you calling your distributors every day to check on stock levels of your most pressing inventory? Many operators are finding out about substitutions only after the products have already been delivered to their restaurants. This does not work when you have been using the same ingredients since the day you opened your restaurant. By leveraging technology such as InsideTrack, you gain visibility into product sourcing and substitutions so you can prepare for menu changes ahead of time – instead of last minute.

What about carrying out core responsibilities in your restaurant such as auditing and price verification? That takes time and resources that not everyone has these days. Your in-house system of taking multiple spreadsheets and comparing them against each line item is no longer a very efficient way to audit. That manual process is too long and can lead to overlooked overcharges – which cost you money at the end of the day. By embracing technology in both your front and back of house, you can streamline operational tasks and reduce spend all at the same time.

Think About Outsourcing

outsourcing

Today, restaurant operators are having to do more with less and are being forced to outsource certain functions of their business such as Marketing, Legal, HR, Payroll, or Accounting.  So, why not outsource supply chain management and purchasing? This does not mean your current supply chain team is replaced. Instead, by partnering with supply chain experts you expand your resource pool and supplement your current staff. Most operators would love to add to their supply chain staff but the added cost to do so is too much, leaving them scrambling to manage the supply chain chaos on their own.

When you work with a supply chain management partner like Consolidated Concepts, Sundell and Associates, or even Restaurant Partners Procurement, you don’t have to pay for training, salary, insurance, and time off.  This is a popular option for many emerging and national chains, Private Equity firms, and even Publicly Traded restaurants.

Produce Management

produce management

Most operators don’t have the bandwidth, volume, or category expertise to efficiently manage their produce programs in-house. By leveraging a third party produce management company, you can reduce your produce spend by 5-10%.  On average, produce spend is about 15% of total food cost, so a 5-10% reduction in produce cost can lead to 100-200 basis points off your total food cost. Produce prices fluctuate throughout the course of a year due to things like seasonality and different growing regions. Yes, it’s true that you can occasionally buy better than the market but locking in contracted prices will protect you from volatility and you’ll ultimately be better off. Produce management companies such as Fresh Concepts or Produce Alliance will not only help you maintain, but improve your pricing, quality, food safety and traceability.

Operational Efficiency

operational efficiency

There are many changes you can make, both big and small, within your operation that can help you cut costs without making it so obvious to your customers. Take trash liners for example. If they are too big for your trash cans, you are wasting money on buying bigger bags without maximizing the full value out of each liner. By buying liners that are the correct fit, you can save on costs and extract the full value of each trash bag. What about your TV’s? Are all your TV’s running at the same time – even the ones where no customers are being seated? What a waste of power and electricity. Turn unused TV’s off and save on your electrical bill. Don’t forget about your kitchen burners. If you aren’t making food right away, they don’t have to be turned on as soon as your staff is clocking in. All that is doing is heating your restaurant up, forcing the AC to kick on – using unnecessary energy.

Making changes to your utility usage such as turning of lighting and electronics in unused sections of your restaurant, buying the correct size trash bags, using energy saving light bulbs are all small changes you can make cut costs.

GPO

gpo

GPO’s sometimes have a bad rap. They can cost an operator money and sometimes require you to switch products and change distributors. But not all GPO’s are the same. GPOs are widely used in the Healthcare and Hospitality space and the adoption rate for restaurants has dramatically increase over the past few years. Finding the right GPO partner for your restaurant brand can reduce costs and broadliner purchases by 50-150 basis points or more, depending on how contracted you are. Work with a GPO partner that is distributor and manufacturer neutral – one that will not require you to switch products or vendors and will honor your contracts. Work with a GPO partner that you can call on when you are looking for new product suggestions or reporting and analytics on existing purchases.

If you implement any of these suggestions, you will reduce cost and improve your margins.  It’s just a matter of how much. At Consolidated Concepts, we can help you tackle each of these steps, reach your business goals, reduce your costs, and streamline your operations. Become a member today for FREE and start making smarter business decisions.

drive-thru window

Should Your Restaurant Chain Add a Drive-Thru Window?

When consumers are in a rush and looking for something to eat quickly on-the-go, their options are limited. If only their favorite restaurant had a drive-thru window… all of that hunger could be quickly satisfied.

If you’re looking for ways to upgrade your restaurant and increase your bottom line, consider adding a drive-thru window. Maybe this has been a long-awaited goal of yours and you just need that extra push.

More and more restaurant chains are adding drive-thru’s models to their operations. Schlotzsky’s and Tim Horton’s have both hopped on the drive-thru trend and debuted new location designs.

Our restaurant experts at Consolidated Concepts say it’s time to invest in another profitable revenue stream.

Here are four benefits to adding a drive-thru window to each of your restaurant locations:

support off-premise dining

Not everybody has the time to sit down and enjoy a meal at a restaurant. Sometimes they’re just looking for a quick bite during their lunch break, while traveling, or running a handful of errands. Whatever the reasoning may be, adding a drive-thru window to your restaurant chain will not only benefit the consumer but you the operator as well.

Off-premise dining is slowly making its debut again, especially with the cold weather ahead. Consumers aren’t always going to want to leave their house or dine-in. Sometimes it’s just easier to sit in your car and head through the drive-thru.

less contact

With cases on the rise once again, there may be consumers who are hesitant to dine-in at their favorite establishments. They may be immunocompromised, caring for an elderly, or just being extra cautious. Having the option of going to a drive-thru to enjoy a delicious meal from their desired restaurant will give them one less thing to worry about. This will even help boost brand awareness and loyalty.

increase bottom line

Drive-thru sales are booming. There’s no doubt that adding a drive-thru window to your restaurant establishment is a worthy investment. The pandemic has helped increase the popularity of drive-thrus’, but even before COVID, these windows have always been revenue boosting machines.

When you have a drive-thru window, you can take more orders at once, which means profits are always coming in. This doesn’t mean you won’t have consumers who dine-in, it just means you’ll now have a wave of both, which is beneficial for you.

staff training and meal packaging

One key point to mention, if you are considering adding a drive-thru window to your restaurant chain, is to be sure to create a strategy and identify the best way to incorporate the new design into your operation without taking away from what you already have. According to QSR Magazine’s Drive-Thru Study, 89% of survey-takers say that order “accuracy” was “somewhat” or “most” important with their experience. Followed up by “speed” at 88%.

Consumers are looking for something quick and easy, whether they’re eating their meal in the car or taking it back home with them, their food should be served fast and stored properly to eat on-the-go.

While we all know that mistakes can happen, as stated above, accuracy is what’s most important to consumers when utilizing the drive-thru window. This is why it’s crucial to train your staff to ensure their efforts are both efficient and effective.

Don’t forget, you need to make sure you have enough staff to cover each station because your drive-thru will be busy and may get hectic at times.

In addition to staffing efforts, you want to make sure meals are properly packaged in a way that makes it easy for the consumer to enjoy their food without making a huge mess. Whether this means extra napkins, cutlery, or containers that will keep their food fresh, warm, and well-put together – going above and beyond in your packaging will make consumers want to buy from your establishment again.

Join Consolidated Concepts

Fortunately, for Consolidated Concepts members, we help with everything you’ll need to make sure your drive-thru window is well-equipped to increase your bottom line and bring repeat customers.

Become a member today to help steer your drive-thru window to success!

Revamp Restaurant

Revamp Your Restaurant with These Savings Programs this Summer

It’s officially summer which means diners are starting to crowd restaurants again. Is your operation prepared to take on the rush?

At Consolidated Concepts, we offer savings programs that will help you revamp your restaurant with infinite solutions!

Need to liven up the atmosphere with a new paint job? Replace those light fixtures you’ve been putting off for years? We’ve got you covered.

Any HVAC and plumbing needs? Fountain maintenance? Cleaning supplies? Our programs are secured to help you fix, replace, and/or maintain all of your operational needs from A to Z.

Savings on ACE Hardware Products and Solutions

Did you know that Consolidated Concepts members get a 10% discount on products and solutions from ACE Hardware? That means you could be saving with top national brands on paint and supplies, lighting and electrical, hand and power towels, outdoor equipment and supplies, janitorial and sanitation, plumbing and HVAC, hardware, and much more!

ace hardware solutions

Solutions on Water Management and Supplies

If your operation has an outdoor pool or fountain, you’re in luck. Consolidated Concepts partners with Leslie’s Pool to give you exclusive savings on water management and maintenance. You get access to discounts on pool and spa chemicals, equipment, cleaning and maintenance solutions, and more, to ensure your water management needs are secured.

leslie's water supplies

Save on HVAC Systems with Carrier

Nobody wants to be sitting in their own sweat while enjoying a delicious bite at your restaurant this summer. Your HVAC system needs to be running efficiently so that your operation is properly climate controlled and at a suitable temperature for your diners. We’ve partnered with Carrier, the experts in HVAC, to give you exclusive savings and benefits on air conditioning, heating, and building controls. Satisfy your guests by setting the standard for performance, sustainability, and energy efficiency.

carrier HVAC solutions

Join Consolidated Concepts Today!

Whether it’s fixing the light fixture you’ve been putting off or maintaining your HVAC, at Consolidated Concepts, we offer our members exclusive savings and solutions to help revamp your operation to ensure boosted profits and repeat customers.

Join today!

Tork Hygiene Solutions

Customer Perception is Everything – Invest in Tork Hygiene Solutions

According to Tork, 60% of consumers have higher expectations on restaurant hygiene due to Covid-19. Hopefully by now your operation has implemented a new cleaning process and invested in the right sanitation solutions to support the increased awareness your customers have when it comes to how clean a restaurant is – or is not.

Your guests want to see that you have taken the necessary steps to ensure their cleanliness. It builds trust and lets them know you care about their health and well-being. This can include staffing a full-time employee whose soul purpose is to clean the front-of-house at all seconds of the day or replacing all your high contact appliances and tools with solutions to ensure a more sanitary dining experience.

front of house technology

Tork Matic® Hand Towel Roll Dispenser with Intuition Sensor

You can make changes in every area of your restaurant – including the bathroom. Take hand towels vs. air dryers for instance. Tork reports that 70% of visitors wish more facilities offered paper hand towels as an alternative to air dryers. Why? Because jet air dryers can spread up to 10x more germs. Another reason customers prefer hand towels is that over half of consumers say they stop drying their hands before they are completely dry because air dryers take too long to dry their hands.

When you’re ready to swap out your restroom air dryers for hand towel dispensers, Tork has made the process easy by creating the Tork Matic® Hand Towel Roll Dispenser with Intuition Sensor. With a one-at-a-time automated dispenser, less hand towels will be used meaning less waste, clutter and best of all – cost.

restaurant safety

Tork Xpressnap & Tork Xpressnap Fit Dispensers

Embrace new front-of-house technology solutions to provide a more contactless dining experience. How many of us have gone to our favorite fast-food restaurant or ordered to-go, saw the napkin holder, and thought “let me just grab a few extra”. Then you grab a bunch of napkins, and some fall out of your hands and boom – now you have touched someone else’s napkins. This is not very sanitary.

Whether napkins are needed for your drive thru, dining room, or carry out windows, customers sometimes take more – and touch more – then they actually need. Tork has created solutions to help prevent customers from touching too many napkins at once with the Tork Xpressnap Dispensers. With one-at-a-time dispensing, guests always have a fresh napkin because they only touch the napkins they use. This controls waste with 50% less leftover napkins lying around giving a better guest experience and promoting hygiene.

restaurant sanitation

When it comes to choosing the right sanitary and hygiene solutions, Tork has products to help you improve every area of your operation. As a Consolidated Concepts member, you get access to exclusive savings on Tork solutions you need to make your operation a safer and cleaner environment.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence – the Future of Foodservice and Supply Chain

Back-of-House restaurant operations have never been just easy. Especially now, post-pandemic, when many operators are struggling with staffing and labor shortages, supply chain shortages, inflation…the list goes on.

As a restaurant operator, you want to make sure you’re leveraging technology to help save you both time and money. At Consolidated Concepts, we can help you do this by using a little something called Artificial Intelligence.

Artificial Intelligence

AI

The future of Foodservice and Supply Chain lies in the hands of Artificial Intelligence.

What is Artificial Intelligence you ask? It is the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like humans and mimic their actions.

It may seem like you’re completely unfamiliar with AI, but rest assured, you see it every day—even when you don’t know it.

Did you know that every time your Google Maps reroutes you as you’re driving to your destination, it uses AI? It monitors your phone as you drive to make better decisions for you based on where you are and where you’re going.

Or have you noticed that every time you type a letter on your touch screen keyboard, the area in which you’re clicking in expands a bit and the letters become bigger? That’s because your phone knows what you’re about to type based on the sensitive area your fingers are clicking in! That’s AI too.

As humans, we are always looking for ways to solve problems in a more efficient and timely manner. Whether it’s transporting from one place to another or beating your partner in a game of chess.

With Artificial Intelligence in the foodservice industry, you can make better business decisions. In short, a lot of it is classical optimization. This means, by looking at either past or present data, you can determine what the best possible solution is to the problem you’re facing right now.

Back of House Technology

Back of House

The truth is, you’re most likely already using AI in the front-of-house tablets on tables for order taking and payment of checks. You’re probably even using it for reservations, restaurant seating and digital QR codes for menus.

If you’re doing marketing or serving any Instagram ADS, that’s also AI. If you have an online ordering engine or displaying product recommendations, or maybe your HR department is screening candidate resumes. What about your finance department forecasting? That’s all Artificial Intelligence!

The problem is, technology has been slower to be adopted in the back-of-house.

In the front-of-house, AI helps you control variables such as menu costs, table numbers, hours of operation, etc. It’s a lot easier to control.

Although you should be taking control of your back-of-house, too! That starts by utilizing the purchasing data your operation generates. Unfortunately, the amount of data your restaurant produces is so complex and time-consuming for the human mind to manage, this is where AI and technology come into play.

In the back-of-house, your variables are constantly changing. Pricing, inventory levels, quality. It’s hard to manage and keep track of every single situation, whereas in the front-of-house, your variables are limited—making it a lot easier to handle. Plus, almost everything is in your control.

The current challenges within the supply chain makes it extremely difficult for operators like you to manage a successful restaurant. You’re facing roadblocks left and right, and almost every day has become unpredictable.

Now, imagine if there was a way to identify new savings opportunities, optimize pricing, handle product substitutions, and do much more with little to no effort. Because there’s only so much we as humans can do, Artificial Intelligence is the future of our industry.

You as an operator need to focus on what you are good at and the real reason you opened a restaurant in the first place to create great food and memorable experiences for your customers.

Leave the time-consuming, laborious part to technology…

How Can AI Help Me?

Artificial Intelligence can solve all your problems. How do you adapt to the supply chain? AI. How do you deal with product shortages? AI. How do you deal with things like price fluctuations and inventory levels? AI.

For instance, artificial intelligence can identify thousands of substitutions for items you’re already buying within a matter of minutes. Humans don’t work as fast as technology.

How many analysts would you have to hire to identify over 1,000 similar items in two minutes? A lot. That’s why it’s important to embrace technology and AI.

But that’s only one of many things Artificial Intelligence is capable of.

Forget about your spreadsheets and long nights spent in the office. Our technology analyzes, normalizes, and cleans your data for you.

An AI engine (if you ask it to do so), can help you find similar or the same products at a lower price. It can also uncover what products are in stock or out of stock.

AI analyzes high volumes of data, provides visibility into purchasing, and helps you improve your partnerships. When you have a better understanding of your operation, you save money, time, and labor. AI provides consistency, stabilizes your pricing, and alleviates the supply chain strain.

How Can I Get Started?

If you’re ready to embrace technology and implement AI into your operations, you first need to work with a data partner that leverages AI, such as Consolidated Concepts.

Our cutting-edge technology was designed to identify areas where emerging, growing, and established restaurants may unlock additional opportunities to save money and increase profitability.

Start leveraging AI to streamline operations and put money back into your bottom line, by becoming a member today!

 

 

 

Savings

How Can I Drive Restaurant Growth and Maximize Savings?

These days, every penny counts and anywhere you can maximize savings is crucial to your bottom line.

Is it the end of an era? Not quite. The current supply chain crisis doesn’t look to be coming to an end anytime soon which means operators must find ways to maximize savings to keep costs low and profits high while navigating an uncertain supply chain.

Bracing for continued price increases and supply shortages, restaurants are scrambling to keep up with commodity pressures and order delays.

More and more restaurants are outsourcing their supply chain management and turning to technology solutions to streamline processes and gain visibility into their purchasing.

At Consolidated Concepts, we are committed to helping you run a more efficient restaurant operation and are dedicated to maximizing your savings through the help of technology and industry expertise.

When you become a Consolidated Concepts member, you get access to exclusive savings and services that drive restaurant success such as:

Supply Chain Management

There is no better time then now to future proof your supply chain processes. Not only has it been difficult for restaurants to find a willing workforce, they’ve also been challenged with finding solutions to manage a chaotic and unpredictable supply chain.

Our experts work to identify the right products for your operational needs and solutions to help you reduce overhead. Our full-service supply chain management services minimize your costs so you can put money back into your bottom line.

We perform various functions such as product sourcing, contract negotiation, managing overcharges, managing inventory, and looking for new distributor contracts.

supply chain management

Data and Technology

Restaurants generate large amounts of data from multiple sources every day. This data is filled with incredible value and insights about your purchasing.

The challenge is understanding the data and what to do with it. By cleaning and organizing the data, you open the door to analyze your restaurants purchasing history.

For multi-unit restaurants, this can be a major opportunity for cost savings.

Our industry leading technology is the most advanced food procurement spend management tool in the industry. It provides clean data and dashboards with in-depth information into purchasing trends, pricing, contracts, rebate management, overcharges, location-level spending, and more.

data and technology

Maximize Savings with Rebates and Deviations

What if we said you could be earning cashback on the items you’re already purchasing?

It’s true.

As a multi-unit restaurant operator, taking advantage of rebates and deviations should be a no brainer.

At Consolidated Concepts, we analyze your purchases and identify savings opportunities and rebates so you can put money back into your pocket. Our rebate and deviation contracts with over 350 manufacturers on over 165,000 line items cover every category imaginable.

rebates and deviations

Produce Management

If you haven’t already, it’s time to consider utilizing a produce management program as they offer a wide variety of benefits to multi-unit restaurants.

One major benefit a restaurant receives by joining a produce program is full visibility throughout the produce process so you can choose the right produce specifications for your restaurants needs.

Produce management is a best practice and ensures your customers are getting the best quality foods on their plates – or in their cocktail glasses.

Not only can a produce program help you stay on top of food safety and traceability, but it also protects your operation from price fluctuations throughout the year.

produce management

Partner with Consolidated Concepts 

Take advantage of instant savings and fully customizable service and ensure your multi-unit operation is running at its full potential.

At Consolidated Concepts, our clients have the strongest procurement departments in the restaurant industry. By Partnering with Consolidated Concepts, you get access to massive buying power, hard-won expertise, and insightful data and analytics.

Boost profitability and improve procurement when you become a Consolidated Concepts member.

Efficient Restaurant

How to Run an Efficient Restaurant During a Labor Shortage

To run a restaurant operation during the current labor shortage is one thing. Running an efficient one is another. With the continuation of the pandemic and no relief in sight, especially before the holidays, restaurant operators are seeking alternatives to what was once known to them as their traditional, every-day way of running their operation.

There’s no doubt that times are changing, and everyone is doing their part to keep up. These changes are fairly easy to make and will not only help you run a more efficient business, but will also put money back in your pocket.

Let’s take a look at three different ways Consolidated Concepts experts say you can run an efficient restaurant during the current labor shortage:

Technology Can Streamline Processes

Technology has played a massive role in restaurant operators lives, especially since the beginning of the pandemic. From QR code menus and mobile ordering to inventory management, there’s nothing technology can’t do to help streamline your operation.

One way we encourage restaurant operators to implement technology is by partnering with industry experts such as InsideTrack. With the help of their spend management technology, you’ll have access to the most effective data cleaning in the foodservice industry. Data accuracyconsistency, and reliability are guaranteed. Operators like you gain better insights and spend intelligence into your operation.

By embracing spend management technology, you make better business decisions and identify new opportunities for savings and revenue. Data on your purchases is organized into easy-to-read dashboards you can access at any time. InsideTrack members can streamline operations by utilizing spend management, contract management, cost savings, GPO services, and much more—all within one powerful technology software.

Another way experts at Consolidated Concepts encourage the use of technology is by taking advantage of food cost management. Food cost management technology is a great resource that helps operators and chefs manage and control their food cost, inventory, and much more.

Food cost management technology puts time back into your day and helps you figure out any pain points that may be affecting the success of your operation.

Instead of hand-counting each item, you simply upload a screenshot of your invoices and Orderly takes care of the rest. You speed up your inventory process when you implement technology into your operation.

Now you can calculate the cost of a recipe online, too! With solutions such as Orderly, you’re able to build all of your recipes directly into the system. Each time an invoice is uploaded, the technology breaks down each ingredient and updates your prices in real-time.

Technology is key to running an efficient restaurant operation during these times. There’s an infinite number of things technology can do to ensure you’re streamlining operations, putting time back into your day and money into your bottom line.

Using Versatile, Easy-To-Prepare Ingredients

Did you know you could save time and money by incorporating versatile ingredients that are delicious and easy to prep? With products like Idahoan Real Potatoes, your customers will have that homemade taste and authentic feel they’re craving.

With the cold weather here, you can even add quick, savory soups onto your menus with items like Campbell’s Soup. Maybe even a soup base that’s less expensive and more consistent than scratch for you to work your final touches on such as LeGoût Cream Soup Base.

Have you considered pre-made sauces that are free of artificial colors/flavors and preservatives? Save time on prep and create dishes your guests will love with Knorr® Professional sauces. From gravies to sauces, your back of house will be thanking you for putting time back into their busy schedules.

But that’s not all. Who has time to hand-squeeze lemon and lime? Nobody, especially now with the labor shortage. That’s why The ReaLemon and ReaLime juices are great labor-saving ingredients that eliminate the inconvenience of slicing and squeezing. These juices are also a great option for salads, dips, main meals, and even beverages.

When you use versatile ingredients, you save money and put time back into your day while also satisfying your customers’ needs. Work smarter, not harder.

Partnering with Supply Chain Management Experts

Another way to ensure you run an efficient restaurant operation during a labor shortage is by partnering with supply chain management experts like Consolidated Concepts. With the current state of the supply chain, taking control of what comes into your operation seems nearly impossible.

You’ll have access to a fully customizable service that brings instant savings on thousands of items you may already be buying. Our experts help reduce costs, improve quality, and identify areas you may be able to achieve savings and negotiations in. This includes supply chain management, master distributions agreements, managed produce, and contracts.

Our supply chain management ensures maximum profitability and productivity while giving you access to items at the best competitive prices.

Join Consolidated Concepts Today!

If you’re looking to run an efficient restaurant operation during the current labor shortage, becoming a Consolidated Concepts member is a great place to start. As mentioned above, our experts will help reduce costs, improve quality, and identify instant savings!

Get started today!

Supply Chain Success

3 Ways to Ensure Supply Chain Success

The Supply Chain is facing a major crisis that is affecting operators all over the country. The numerous challenges this has led to over the course of these past 20 months is unimaginable. This is why supply chain success is crucial. From equipment delays and rotten food to sky-rocketing prices and product shortages, it seems there will be no relief anytime soon.

Fortunately, we have ways you can help alleviate the situation and ensure your operation is running at its full potential during these unprecedented times. Satisfy your customers, please your staff, and put money back into your bottom line.

Here are three ways to ensure you’re on the road to supply chain success:

Embrace Supply Chain Technology

Technology is evolving each and every day. Operators like you can easily boost your profit margins and put time back into your day. No more outdated unreliable information and lack of transparency. With technology, you can track, audit, and optimize your purchasing process to make sure you’re not over-spending.

Technology helps strategically source products so that your restaurant operation is putting the best ingredients on customer tables at the best imaginable prices. This means driving value to your customer experience and your brand.

Leveraging supply chain technology means you’re able to identify supply chain weaknesses within your operation and improve your purchasing process.

Technology gives you visibility into competitive distribution agreements, strategic commodity planning, inventory management, and much more.

Leverage Buying Power for Cost Reduction

When your options are limited, you have a much lesser chance of opportunities for savings on purchases. Leveraging buying power is the key for cost reduction. With access to contracts and pricing you wouldn’t find anywhere else, operators like you can gain discounts and rebates across hundreds of categories within the foodservice industry.

Did you know? Your operation could be saving on products and services you use every day. You can use your purchasing data to your advantage and maximize profits. With over 165,000 line items from over 350+ industry leading manufacturers, you’ll find the most competitive pricing for your operation. No more unprofitable contracts you can’t get out of.

We’re here to make sure you’re getting the most out of your money.

Join a Managed Produce Program Today!

Lastly, when your restaurant operation joins a managed produce program, they’re guaranteed the highest quality products at the most affordable prices. No more rotten foods and product shortages. We partner with the best local produce distributors to ensure you’re satisfying your guests and putting money back into your pocket. Our expertly-managed produce programs focus on improving the quality, safety and traceability of your food programs.

The supply chain is experiencing challenges that impact your operation every day. By partnering with Consolidated Concepts supply chain experts, you can ensure you’re making profitable more informed business decisions.

With a managed produce program, you gain access to the best quality, consistency, and food safety standards that’ll wow your customers.

All Things Supply Chain

You don’t have to navigate the supply chain alone. We want to help you succeed in the restaurant world.

Decrease cost, increase quality and ensure you’re on the road to supply chain success by becoming a Consolidated Concepts member today!

Are you a restaurant operator looking for updates on commodity insights, supply chain news and resources? Visit the Buyers Edge Platform Supply Chain Support Center today!

Cold and Flu Season

Solutions to Get Ahead of Cold and Flu Season

In partnership with Georgia Pacific

When you aren’t sanitizing your operation properly, there’s no point in having guests dine at your restaurant. Why would they choose your operation over your competitors who use high-quality products and solutions to clean their restaurant?

Ensuring the ultimate surface sanitation demonstrates your commitment to the safety of your staff and guests. Your customers will notice the steps you are taking to provide a clean environment. Remember, the level of effort you put into your sanitation is a direct reflection of your business.

Let’s take a look at two solutions from Georgia Pacific that can help you maximize sanitation and get ahead of cold and flu season.

Dixie Ultra™ Service System

Is your operation using the old “rag and bucket” cleaning system to sanitize tables and clean high touch point surfaces? If they are, did you know that you could be decreasing the sanitizer strength by 50%-70%? At this point, you really aren’t sanitizing your operation because you’re leaving behind germs and noroviruses. Time to enter a new era of surface sanitizing with the Dixie Ultra™ Service System. With a tight fitting dispenser lid, you can virtually eliminate the risk of spills, splashes, sprays, and vapors common with that open bucket and spray bottle your staff is currently using. Even better is their one-at-a-time dispensing mechanism that helps conserve wipes, allowing sanitizer concentration to last longer and less frequent solution changes.

Dixie Ultra SmartStock® Tri-Tower Cutlery System

Are your customers taking handfuls of utensils? Is your staff having to clean up un-used and now contaminated cutlery because customers over-grabbed? Your self-service station can be a common ground for germs. When you don’t have automatic dispensers for your cutlery, you risk customers touching more than just their own fork and knife.

Take control of your cutlery and help prevent the spread of germs with the Dixie Ultra SmartStock® Tri-Tower Cutlery System. Not only does it improve hygiene with its touchless automatic dispensing, it reduces load time too. With a fully enclosed dispenser, stocking up utensils is hygienic and easier than ever. The SmartStock® Tri-Tower dispenser holds up to 390 utensils so restocking happens less frequently.

No buttons or levers to push, Dixie Ultra SmartStock® Tri-Tower Cutlery System helps prevent contamination as patrons only touch the utensils they need.

Save on Sanitation Solutions as a Consolidated Concepts Member

As a member of Consolidated Concepts, you get access to exclusive savings and discounts on high-quality products and solutions to ensure your operation is a clean and safe environment. Our 350+ contracts offer pricing and rebates combined with our innovative technology to optimize savings and profitability for our clients. Our rebate and cost contracts are geared toward the products and deals that are most important to multi-unit operators.

Not a Consolidated Concepts member? No problem! Contact our experts today to start saving!

Rebates and Deviations

What Are Rebates and Deviations?

Are you taking advantage of rebates and deviations?

Making a profit is not always the main motive for opening a restaurant. It’s also about having a true passion for cooking and hospitality. Usually, the latter is behind the drive and motivation to open a restaurant.

But when you’re running a multi-unit chain operation, making a profit moves to the top of the list.

Restaurants are already running on thin margins.

Anywhere you can save money is vital to your bottom line. As a multi-unit restaurant operator, taking advantage of rebates and deviations should be a no brainer.

What are manufacturer rebates?

Rebates are marketing funds used by manufacturers as an incentive to build customer loyalty and improve sales.

Rebates are earned by the operator based on their purchases of the manufacturer’s products. 

Manufacturer rebates are dollars paid out quarterly to customers based on their purchases.

Any purchase on an item that is covered on a Consolidated Concepts contract, our team will track and pay back to operators.

What are deviations?

Deviations are off-invoice savings on items you are already buying.

Consolidated Concepts is able to leverage the spend of all our customers and offer competitive pricing on food and nonfood items from our partner manufacturers.

Our team will always do a deep dive into your current spend to make contract recommendations based on your current data, with the end goal of lowering your off invoice spend.

Why should I care about manufacturer rebates?

These rebates are provided on items you are already purchasing, so, it’s simply extra money in your account without any extra work.

You can use these funds in any way to help your operation– staff training, marketing dollars, employee incentives.

This means you can focus on your COP and contracted items– and you can still earn dollars back on everything else through our program without changing products.

How do I track manufacturer rebates?

Every quarter, Consolidated Concepts will provide operators with “proof of purchase” to the manufacturer and collect the rebates earned by the operator.

Every quarter, we will provide a breakdown of your manufacturer rebate check to you.

Partner with Consolidated Concepts

Consolidated Concepts has rebate and deviation contracts with over 350 manufacturers on over 165,000 line items that cover every category imaginable.

From canned tomatoes and frozen chicken breasts to garbage bags and plastic forks – you name it, we have it covered.

Contact us today to learn more!