The hospitality industry can be very challenging, especially when you consider the types of customers that come through your doors. The slightest failure on your part as the restaurant owner can create poor reviews that eventually impact turnover and profits. For this reason, it’s best to acquire high-quality restaurant equipment for your business, maintaining all the necessary tools to satisfy customer demands.
Some business owners may not know exactly where to turn in their search for a reliable restaurant supply store. Your first stop should be The FED, where it’s faster and easier to procure professional foodservice equipment. Wondering how to establish whether you’re acquiring dependable restaurant equipment? We’ll explain what you need to look out for to sustain your operation.
Consider Your Space
Whether you’re building a new kitchen or renovating your old one, any large-scale project requires significant thought and financial investment. At the start, consider your existing space, including any plans to extend or expand. The appliances you need immediately may not be what you will need six months or a year down the line, and you don’t want to be forced to upgrade your equipment frequently.
Identify Your Vision and Menu
Consider your plans for growth and identify machines that match your vision. List your current needs with future plans alongside them to make the process easier. Put thought into your menu: it will be fruitless to purchase equipment that won’t be useful to you, so let your food and beverage offerings guide your shopping process.
Stick to a Budget
You must have a budget that you can stick to strictly. Finding the balance between high-quality equipment and affordability is key. Modern appliances will help produce better food while lasting longer and delivering more efficiency in the kitchen. Still, it’s crucial to weigh all your options according to your budget.
Operating Costs
While it may be tempting to choose the cheapest piece of equipment when you’re shopping for restaurant kitchen equipment, you must evaluate the initial costs as well as the operational costs of the machine. If your operation runs every day, you want an energy-efficient model that won’t put a strain on your utility bill at the end of the month.
In this case, find products with the ENERGY STAR® label, which is an indication that it meets the standards of the Environmental Protection Agency and is suitable for a commercial kitchen to produce safe food.
Warranties and Service
While it’s easy for modern restaurant appliances to entice you with gadgets and features, always read the fine print to protect yourself and your business before you make a decision. Research the available warranties for each restaurant appliance that you’re about to acquire. Find out how long the warranty lasts, the process to follow when you need to repair a machine under guarantee, and what circumstances may render the warranty null and void.
Also, ensure that parts are readily available in North America. Some Restaurant Supply stores do not offer any parts for the equipment they sell. When it breaks or needs repair, you must replace the entire piece of restaurant equipment. Find out if technicians are available to service the equipment at your place of business or if you need to bring the equipment to their service centre.
Trust Us for All Your Restaurant Equipment Needs
Following these steps will help you protect your business’s best interests when shopping for restaurant equipment. You can start the process by exploring our restaurant supply store online, from which you can have your products delivered to your door. Contact us at The FED for more information about our catalogue of products and how they can meet your needs.
