Posted on February 28, 2010.
Choosing the right fruit and vegetable supplier is good for business Choosing the right provider for your needs in fruits and vegetables is more important than ever that the fight for survival in today's companies is difficult economic climate. Restaurants, hotels, cafes and other food stores in the United Kingdom currently account for a staggering 1.9 million tonnes of food waste per year from a total of 6.7 million tonnes for the country - equivalent to complete Wembley stadium eight times.
With fruits and vegetables is a whopping 40% of this mountain of waste, it makes sense for retail food businesses to consider ways of reducing the burden of costs in a sector that is under market pressures margins.
The area for the obvious emphasis is the supply chain. While the food preparation industry is proud of its ability to manage products and once acquired the site, an essential element of the equation can often be neglected in consideration of the offer discounted and last minute where the availability to buy fruit and vegetables.
A robust sourcing strategy is essential to ensure that the product arrives in the best possible conditions for both preparation and service and also, potentially, additional storage on the site.
To minimize the debris, companies must ensure that their fruit and vegetable supplier is focused on providing products in optimum condition. In support of this, you need to develop an understanding of their business practices in three major areas:
Strength of relationship with the producers as suppliers of fresh food with a strong relationship with producer / producer will generally be able to attract attention to quality directly from the field. While large buyers can request the quality and price pressure, those who invest their time in building relationships and reap the rewards very naturally be able to pass the benefits to you, their customer.
Depth of Product Knowledge: The depth of knowledge across the full range of products and supply conditions is a key factor in assessing the capacity of your fruit and vegetable supplier. The growth conditions, local or remote seasonal variations, transport and logistics issues can help reduce the useful life of the product once it arrives at its destination. With a clear understanding of these factors, a good supplier is able to make informed choices when planning and executing the purchases on your behalf with the freshness of the product and the economy both in mind
Storage and Distribution Practices: The last link in the supply chain, where storage and transportation and improper practices are even more important as the food supplier in the final phase and the product becomes more vulnerable to malpractice. This area may be easier to verify. Spend time with your provider, experience and understand their capabilities and practices and make comments - a good dealer will be happy to accept and act upon it.
Choosing the right provider for your needs in fruits and vegetables and put the spotlight on freshness and longevity of the product will reduce waste due to spoilage and ultimately affect your bottom line. Similarly, you will also make better decisions given a clear understanding of the history and the price of your fruits and vegetables.
