Insights Archives

Foodservice Purchasing: A Comprehensive Guide for Success

Running a food service business has never been harder. Operators are always under pressure to do more with less because of things like labor shortages, problems with the supply chain, and changing consumer tastes and ingredient prices. Foodservice purchasing is a key part of these problems. Buying ingredients is only one aspect of purchasing in the foodservice sector. It’s the strategy that ensures the right products are available when customers arrive, maintains quality, and increases profitability. When implemented properly, it strengthens relationships with suppliers, reduces costs, and enhances menu consistency. When done poorly, it leads to waste, higher food costs, and unhappy workers. This guide takes a deep dive into the strategies, tools, and practical tips operators can use to get a handle on foodservice purchasing and set their businesses up for lasting success. Why Foodservice Purchasing Matters Food and drink costs usually make up 28–35% of a restaurant or

10 Key Stages of the Procurement Sourcing Process for Foodservice Operators

A robust procurement sourcing process is more than just a back-office function; it’s your competitive advantage as foodservice costs rise and supply chains change. For restaurant groups, hotels, senior living facilities, and retail foodservice operators, procurement directly impacts profitability, quality, and guest experience. Procurement, however, can be complicated. It is easier to understand and optimize when it is divided into the ten essential sourcing stages. Let’s go over each step and how Buyers Edge Platform helps operators make the process more efficient. What is Procurement in Foodservice? The process of finding, acquiring, and buying everything you need to operate your business, from equipment and linens to fresh ingredients and cleaning supplies, is known as procurement in the foodservice industry. When procurement is done correctly, it guarantees: Availability of products Reasonably priced and trustworthy On-time delivery that keeps your kitchens functional Long-term, solid supplier relationships An effective procurement sourcing process

Why Manufacturers Can’t Afford to Miss the Buyers Edge Platform Summit

From Connections to Contracts: How the Buyers Edge Platform Summit Drives Manufacturer Growth

Looking for the fastest way to drive manufacturer growth in today’s competitive foodservice market? For foodservice manufacturers and suppliers, growth isn’t just about producing great products; it’s about getting them in front of the right operators, at the right time, with the right data to back up your value. That’s exactly the kind of environment the Buyers Edge Platform Summit delivers. Every year, the Buyers Edge Platform Summit brings together leading operators, suppliers, manufacturers, and industry experts for three days of networking, collaboration, and forward-thinking conversations about the future of foodservice. But for manufacturers, the Summit is more than a calendar date; it’s a unique opportunity to meet highly qualified buyers and decision-makers, showcase innovations, and build relationships that lead to measurable business growth. Here’s why attending the Summit, sponsoring our events, and partnering with Buyers Edge Platform can be a game-changer for your brand. The Summit Stands Apart The

How Buyers Edge Platform Delivers Savings, Stability, and Strategy

How Buyers Edge Platform Foodservice Solutions Deliver Savings, Stability, and Strategy

It’s not easy running a foodservice business. Between fluctuating prices, labor challenges, supply chain disruptions, and a tech stack that never seems to talk to itself, staying profitable can feel like a juggling act with knives. That’s where Buyers Edge Platform foodservice solutions comes in. We don’t just tackle one area of your buying process. We help operators save money, keep quality high, and get their time back through four expert divisions: These divisions give operators the tools, insights, and partnerships they need to cut costs, protect quality, and reclaim their time. Why an All-in-One Solution Is Important Many operators work with more than one vendor or service provider for procurement, supply chain, and technology and while each might do their job well, managing them all can feel like herding cats. You’re stuck in endless email chains, toggling between platforms, and negotiating different contracts for different needs. The result? Missed

Turn Purchases into Profit with 350+ Manufacturer CashBack Partners

Looking for a CashBack program for foodservice operators that puts money back in your pocket? What if your everyday purchases could put money back into your business without changing how you order? Spoiler: They can. In today’s foodservice landscape, operators are facing pressure from every angle—rising food costs, labor shortages, supply chain volatility, and shrinking margins. Whether you run a single restaurant, manage a hospitality group, operate within senior living, or oversee procurement at a K-12 district, the goal is the same: keep costs down without sacrificing quality or performance. That’s where a CashBack program comes in—a simple way to recover money on the items you already buy, from the suppliers you already use. Why a CashBack Program Matters Let’s face it: every invoice feels heavier lately. According to the National Restaurant Association, 95% of operators say food costs are a top challenge. And it’s not just restaurants. From boutique

A Complete Guide to Restaurant Accounting

You already know that having good food and a full dining room isn’t enough to run a restaurant. Smart restaurant operators know that having a clear understanding of the numbers and the data is the most important part. Without the correct data, it’s hard to make informed choices and plan for growth. Whether you’re tracking cash flow, managing payroll, or keeping up with inventory costs, your accounting process holds the key to long-term stability. In this guide, we’ll walk through the fundamentals of restaurant accounting, why it’s important, and how the right systems can help you turn your back office into a more efficient, profitable part of your business. How to Understand Restaurant Accounting Keeping track of all the money that comes in and out of your restaurant is part of restaurant accounting. This includes everything from daily sales and labor costs to vendor payments and inventory counts. But it’s

Maximize Your Budget with Group Purchasing Power

Discover how to maximize your budget with group purchasing power. In today’s foodservice world, operators are expected to stretch every dollar further than ever before. Ingredient prices are rising. Packaging costs are unpredictable. And let’s not forget supply chain delays and shifting customer demands. Whether you’re running a single independent restaurant or a multi-unit operation, controlling spend without sacrificing quality is the name of the game. That’s where group purchasing power steps in—and changes everything. What Does “Group Purchasing Power” Mean? Imagine if you are part of a much larger group of foodservice operators that are all trying to get the best prices. When you buy a lot of things with other people, you can receive deals that are usually only available to big businesses. Prices that are better. Better terms in the contract. And you can choose from a wider range of suppliers. The concept behind group purchasing power

Take Advantage of Manufacturer Switch Opportunities

Maybe your napkins are mysteriously backordered, or your gloves have jumped in price again. Sound familiar? Whether you’re operating a restaurant, hotel, or senior living facility, these hiccups can pile up fast—and eat away at your margins. But they don’t have to. That’s where Manufacturer Switch Opportunities from Buyers Edge Platform come in. Instead of scrambling for last-minute substitutions or overpaying just to stay in stock, our platform pinpoints cost-effective, high-quality product alternatives that meet your specs—and often unlock rebate dollars in the process. What Are Manufacturer Switch Opportunities? Manufacturer Switch Opportunities help you replace the products you’re buying today with smart, strategic alternatives from our network of vetted suppliers. From disposable gloves and fryer oil to paper products and cleaning supplies, these swaps are driven by real-time purchasing data, not guesswork. Using our proprietary technology, we match your current purchases to high-performing equivalents that: Maintain or exceed product quality

Regional Sourcing: The Shortcut to Fresher Food and Fewer Headaches

What if regional sourcing could be the key to fresher food, lower costs, and fewer supply chain headaches? Picture this: service starts in forty-five minutes, and you’ve just discovered the shrimp order never made it off the truck. You can improvise or you can tap into a network that fixes the problem before the first ticket prints. That network is a regional supplier program through Buyers Edge Platform, and it’s changing the way smart operators stock their walk-ins. What Is a Regional Supplier Program, Exactly? Think of it as a single doorway to dozens of close-by producers (such as ranches, farms, dairies, and bakeries) already vetted for safety and consistency. You reach out to Buyers Edge Platform and learn which of the many local vendors in your area participate in our program and get connected to the vendors that make sense for your operation. Why Partner with Regional Suppliers? A

Fighting Food Costs with Sustainability: 3 Smart Actions You Can Take This Month

Written by: Christy Cook, Partner, 4xi Global Consulting In today’s food and beverage world—across restaurants, healthcare, hospitality, and campus dining—operators face relentless pressure: rising food costs, labor shortages, and shifting customer expectations. Sustainability might sound like “one more thing,” but done right, it becomes a business tool—one that reduces costs, boosts efficiency, and builds a more resilient brand. Here are three practical, no-fluff actions you can take this month to make sustainability work for your bottom line—without adding complexity or headcount. 1. Cut Food Waste Where It Hurts Most—Your Bottom Line Food waste is the most overlooked—and most obvious—problem to tackle. It’s not just about environmental impact; it’s about money, morale, and performance. Let’s walk through a real example: This isn’t about shortchanging your guests. It’s about aligning portions with what’s actually eaten and enjoyed. “Do you have portion specs? Are your team members trained on them? Are portions being

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