Tag: technology

How to Develop Exciting Menu Items Without Sacrificing Margins

How to Develop Exciting Menu Items Without Sacrificing Margins

At this year’s Fast Casual Executive Summit 2024, industry leaders tackled one of the most pressing challenges for multi-unit restaurant operators—how to diversify menus for growth without sacrificing margins. As the sponsor of the session Beyond Burgers & Fries: Diversifying Your Menu for Competitive Advantage,” Consolidated Concepts proudly contributed to the discussion, with our very own expert, Luis Lara, moderating the conversation. The insights shared by industry leaders, guided by Luis’s expertise, explored how operators can create exciting new menu items while maintaining profitability. 

In today’s competitive landscape, staying relevant means more than just meeting customer demands—you need to exceed them. But how do you innovate while maintaining your bottom line? At Consolidated Concepts, we help you strike that balance, ensuring you can scale for sustainable success. 

Menu Innovation that Drives Growth 

  • Knowing Your Customers: Every successful menu starts with understanding your guests. We provide data-driven insights into customer preferences, helping you introduce trending items, from plant-based options to globally inspired dishes, that resonate with your diners and differentiate your restaurant. 
  • Protecting Your Margins: Creativity shouldn’t hurt your profits. We work with you to engineer your menu, strategically pricing and portioning dishes so that even your most innovative items stay cost-effective. Our menu engineering expertise ensures that each dish boosts profitability. 

Technology to Streamline Menu Development 

  • Recipe Costing and Automation: We implement recipe costing tools that give you real-time visibility into your dish costs. This helps you make informed decisions about which items to keep, where to make adjustments, and how to maximize profit without sacrificing quality. 
  • Optimized Inventory and Ordering: Managing supply chains for multiple locations can be tricky, but our technology solutions streamline the process. We help you optimize inventory management and automate ordering, ensuring you always have the right ingredients on hand while minimizing waste and overspending. 

Elevating Your Operations for Success 

At Consolidated Concepts, innovation goes beyond just your menu. We help elevate your overall operations to meet today’s customer expectations while controlling costs. 

  • Supplier Partnerships: We help you form strategic relationships with suppliers to secure the best prices on high-quality ingredients, allowing you to expand your menu without inflating costs. Leveraging our network, you gain access to exclusive deals that drive profitability. 
  • Tailored Solutions for Growth: We know that every restaurant is unique. Our team works with you to develop custom solutions tailored to your specific needs, from menu development to supply chain optimization, ensuring your restaurant is positioned for growth and success. 

Ready to innovate your menu and grow your business without sacrificing margins? Fill out the form below or click here to contact Consolidated Concepts today and learn how we can help you scale for success. 

 

 

Tailoring Success

Tailoring Success: The Power of Custom Contracts for Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators

In the highly competitive landscape of the restaurant industry, success hinges not only on exceptional food and service but also on effective contract management.

Multi-unit restaurant operators face unique challenges in managing numerous contracts with suppliers, vendors, landlords, and other stakeholders across their expanding network.

It is within this context that the power of custom contracts emerges as a vital tool for driving operational efficiency, mitigating risks, and maximizing profitability.

By adopting a strategic approach to contract management and leveraging technology, operators can unlock substantial advantages and gain a competitive edge in an industry where every detail counts.

Tailoring Success

The Power of Custom Contracts for Multi-Unit Operators

As a multi-unit operator, custom contracts in conjunction with being a Consolidated Concepts member offers several advantages.

Here are some of the benefits of custom contracts:

Tailored Pricing

Tailored Pricing and Cost Savings

Custom contracts allow multi-unit operators to negotiate pricing and terms specific to their unique needs and purchasing volumes.

By leveraging the expertise and purchasing power of Consolidated Concepts, operators can secure competitive pricing and maximize cost savings across their restaurant locations.

Vendor Selection

Vendor Selection and Management

Custom contracts enable multi-unit operators to choose preferred vendors that align with their specific requirements and quality standards.

Consolidated Concepts assists in vetting vendors and negotiating contracts that meet the desired specifications of the operators.

This ensures consistent product quality and streamlines vendor management across all locations.

Flexibility and Customization

Flexibility and Customization

Custom contracts provide multi-unit operators with the flexibility to tailor contract terms. This includes delivery schedules, payment terms, product specifications, and service-level agreements.

This customization allows operators to align contracts with their operational needs, ensuring efficient and seamless supply chain management.

Streamlined Procurement

Streamline Procurement Processes

Consolidated Concepts and custom contracts simplify the procurement process for multi-unit operators.

Operators can access a wide range of pre-vetted vendors and products through a centralized platform.

This streamlines purchasing, eliminates the need for individual negotiations, and reduces administrative burdens associated with managing multiple contracts.

Consistency and Standardization

Improved Consistency and Standardization

Custom contracts help achieve consistency and standardization across all restaurant locations.

By establishing uniform terms and conditions, operators can ensure that products, pricing, and service levels are consistent across their entire portfolio.

This enhances brand consistency and customer experience.

Support and Negotiation

Expert Support and Negotiation

Consolidated Concepts provides expert support in contract negotiation, leveraging their industry knowledge and supplier relationships.

Our team can guide multi-unit operators through the negotiation process. This helps secure favorable terms and resolves any contract-related issues that may arise.

Data Analytics

Data Analytics and Reporting

Custom contracts, coupled with our technology, offers multi-unit operators access to data analytics and reporting capabilities.

Operators can gain insights into purchasing patterns, product performance, and cost-saving opportunities.

This data-driven approach facilitates informed decision-making and allows for ongoing optimization of procurement strategies.

Tailor Success with Consolidated Concepts

As we mentioned above, custom contracts for multi-unit operators like you offer tailored pricing, vendor selection, flexibility, streamlined procurement processes, improved consistency, expert support, and data-driven insights.

These advantages contribute to cost savings, operational efficiency, vendor management, and overall success in the foodservice industry.

Become a member of Consolidated Concepts today.

Foodservice Savings

7 Common Areas You Can Find Foodservice Savings

Foodservice savings refer to cost reductions or financial benefits achieved within the foodservice industry. This term encompasses various strategies, practices, and initiatives implemented by businesses in the foodservice sector to minimize expenses while maintaining or improving the quality of their products and services.

The goal of foodservice savings is to increase profitability and efficiency by identifying opportunities to save money in areas such as procurement, operations, and waste reduction. They offer flexibility and adaptability, empowering businesses to allocate resources strategically, respond to market changes, and explore new ventures.

Here are some common areas where foodservice savings can be realized:

Common Areas You Can Find Food Service Savings

  1. Procurement: Negotiate better prices with suppliers, establishing contracts, bulk purchasing, and sourcing ingredients from local or sustainable suppliers can result in cost savings.
  2. Menu Engineering: Analyze the profitability and popularity of menu items to optimize pricing, portion sizes, and ingredient usage. This ensures that high-cost items are balanced by more profitable options and reduces waste.
  3. Inventory Management: Implement efficient inventory control systems, accurately forecasting demand, reducing overstocking and food spoilage, and minimizing storage costs.
  4. Operational Efficiency: Streamline kitchen operations, optimizing staff scheduling, minimizing energy consumption, and utilizing technology or automation to improve productivity and reduce labor costs.
  5. Waste Reduction: Implement waste management strategies such as composting, recycling, and food donation programs to minimize food waste, which directly reduces costs associated with purchasing and disposal.
  6. Training and Education: Provide staff with proper training on food handling, portion control, and efficient practices that can minimize food waste and ensure the optimal use of ingredients.
  7. Equipment and Technology: Invest in energy-efficient equipment, using automated systems for inventory tracking and ordering, and leveraging technology to streamline processes, reducing manual labor and costs.

By focusing on these areas and implementing effective cost-saving measures, foodservice operators can enhance their financial performance, increase profitability, and remain competitive in the industry.

At Consolidated Concepts, we’re experts in helping multi-unit restaurant operators achieve foodservice savings through various strategies and solutions, such as:

Foodservice Savings Strategies and Solutions

Foodservice Savings Strategies and Solutions

  • Group Purchasing: Consolidated Concepts leverages the collective purchasing power of multi-unit restaurants to negotiate better prices with suppliers. By joining their group purchasing program, restaurant operators can access cost savings on a wide range of food and beverage products, kitchen supplies, equipment, and services.
  • Menu Analysis and Optimization: Consolidated Concepts offers menu engineering services, where they analyze the profitability and popularity of menu items. By identifying high-cost, low-margin items and suggesting alternatives or portion adjustments, they help optimize menus for increased profitability and reduced food costs.
  • Supplier Management: The company assists restaurant operators in managing their supplier relationships. They conduct supplier audits, negotiate contracts, and provide ongoing support to ensure operators receive the best pricing and service from their suppliers.
  • Data Analytics and Reporting: Consolidated Concepts provides advanced data analytics tools and reporting systems to help restaurant operators gain insights into their purchasing patterns, cost trends, and areas of potential savings. This information enables operators to make data-driven decisions and identify opportunities for cost reduction.
  • Training and Education: The company offers training programs and educational resources to restaurant operators and their staff. These programs focus on best practices for food purchasing, inventory management, portion control, waste reduction, and other areas related to foodservice savings.
  • Technology Solutions: Consolidated Concepts provides access to technology platforms and tools designed to streamline restaurant operations and enhance efficiency. These solutions include inventory management systems, automated ordering platforms, and cost control software, which can help operators optimize their processes and reduce expenses.

Leveraging foodservice savings is of paramount importance as they contribute to the financial stability, competitiveness, and growth potential of your foodservice businesses. They enable businesses to optimize costs, improve profitability, adapt to market changes, and reinvest in their operations.

By embracing foodservice savings, businesses can operate more efficiently, provide value to customers, and align with sustainability and social responsibility principles.

When a restaurant operator joins Consolidated Concepts, they benefit from years of industry expertise, purchasing power, and foodservice saving strategies to improve financial performance and increase profitability.

supply chain management

6 Ways Supply Chain Management Technology Can Help Your Restaurant Brand

You’ve spent the last year adding a tech stack of solutions to your operation in hopes of getting a better look into the health of your brand.

The most important piece of technology you should be investing in is supply chain management technology. It’s impossible to navigate the chaos that is the supply chain and technology can be a huge asset to your brand success.

Supply chain management technology can bring a wide range of benefits to restaurants, helping them to streamline their operations, reduce costs, and improve the overall customer experience.

How Supply Chain Management Technology Can Help Your Restaurant:

improved efficiency

Improved Efficiency

By automating various supply chain processes, such as ordering, invoicing, and payment, restaurants can save time and reduce the risk of errors. This can help to free up staff to focus on other tasks, such as customer service and food preparation.

inventory management

Better Inventory Management

Supply chain management technology can help restaurants to keep track of their inventory in real-time, allowing them to know exactly what they have on hand at any given moment. This can help them to avoid running out of key ingredients, which can be frustrating for customers and lead to lost sales.

enhanced forecasting

Enhanced Forecasting

By analyzing data on past sales and customer demand, supply chain management technology can help restaurants to better forecast future demand and adjust their ordering accordingly. This can help them to avoid overstocking, which can be costly, and ensure that they have enough product on hand to meet customer demand.

better supplier relationships

Better Supplier Relationships

Supply chain management technology can help restaurants to establish better relationships with their suppliers by streamlining communication and making it easier to place orders and track deliveries. This can help to ensure that restaurants receive the products they need in a timely and cost-effective manner.

reduced costs

Reduced Costs

By automating various supply chain processes and improving inventory management, restaurants can reduce their overall costs. This can help them to boost their bottom line and remain competitive in an increasingly challenging market.

enhanced customer experience

Enhanced Customer Experience

By ensuring that they have the products they need on hand and reducing the risk of errors and delays, supply chain management technology can help restaurants to improve the overall customer experience. This can help to drive repeat business and positive word-of-mouth, which can be crucial for success in the restaurant industry.

Overall, it is clear that supply chain management technology can bring a wide range of benefits to restaurants. By streamlining operations, improving inventory management, and reducing costs, restaurants can improve their efficiency, boost their bottom line, and enhance the customer experience. As such, it is worth considering the adoption of supply chain management technology for any restaurant looking to stay competitive and succeed in today’s market.

At Consolidated Concepts, we have supply chain technology to support your purchasing team with strong contract management and actionable information to help optimize procurement and increase your margins. Not yet a member? No problem! Sign up today for free!

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.

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!

 

 

 

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!

Contract Management

Streamline Contract Management with the Help of Technology

When you own more than one restaurant location, you’re bound to wear more than one hat. Think of all the contracts that go along with managing each of those locations. From Master Distribution Agreements and Manufacturer Contracts – the art of negotiating and managing these documents is truly one in its own.

It’s 2021 and its time to welcome a new player to your team – technology.

This team player is great at multitasking. They don’t complain, they don’t require a weekly paycheck, and they don’t need hand holding or constant reminders about what they’re supposed to be doing. Their results are instant, actionable and profitable.

No More Doing it the Hard Way

By using technology for things like contract approval workflows, edits, audits and signatures, implementation becomes easier and less time consuming. Businesses who adopt contract management technology are able to streamline the contract lifecycle into an automated workflow minimizing errors and maximizing profits.

Having to manually manage each contract step by step leaves room for errors or inaccuracies. Using technology ensures contracts are routed to the correct person and increases visibility and accountability. Contract management technology allows stakeholders more insight into the performance of a contract so they can make quicker more accurate business decisions.  

Secure Your Contracts in One Centralized Location

No more filing cabinets organized alphabetically. This isn’t the library, and you don’t have the time to go searching A through Z. Having your contracts securely centralized in one location helps you stay in control of contract chaos and allows for a more efficient contract management process.

The goal is to stay in control of each of your locations bottom line. Technology allows you to store all you contracts safely in one place and minimizes risk that goes along with contract management.

Contract Management Technology Solutions

At Consolidated Concepts, we can help multi-unit restaurants like yours save money on your contracts such as your MDA – your most important contract. We have former Presidents from distribution houses on our staff who lend their expertise to analyze your contracts, find areas where there may be new places for savings and help renegotiate your contract with your distributors. We do everything we can to make your contracts work in your favor.

It’s time to optimize your savings and limit the amount of increases in costs and changes in structure which ultimately result in more profitability for your business. You can even put our experts to the test by sending over your current contracts and having them analyzed.

Ready to streamline the contract management process and go from manual to automated? Contact us today!

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