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Why Do Restaurants Fail? 10 Reasons & How Operators Can Turn It Around

There are always problems in the restaurant business. Before the pandemic, profit margins were very small, it was hard to find and keep staff, and consumer trends changed faster than menus could be changed. These pressures haven’t gone away in 2025; they’ve changed. Many restaurants are on the edge of survival and success because of rising food and labor costs, complicated supply chains, and customers who don’t always act the way they expect. But failure isn’t always going to happen. The first step to making a restaurant profitable in the long run is to understand why they fail and how to deal with these problems before they happen. Below, we look at ten common reasons why restaurants fail and how the best ones today are using data, technology, and smart buying to stay ahead. 1. Rising Costs Outpace Revenue Inflation has reshaped foodservice economics. From proteins and produce to rent

An Ultimate Guide to Restaurant Inventory Management

It takes balance to run a restaurant. The inventory comes after the food, service, employees, and visitors. Although it may not be the most glamorous aspect of the company, it is one of the most crucial. Overordering, theft, waste, and lost opportunities are all silent ways that poor inventory control can reduce profits. Conversely, effective inventory control reduces expenses, increases ordering precision, and provides the information you need to make more informed business decisions. We’ll go over the procedures, resources, and best practices in this guide to help operators manage their inventory, cut waste, and increase long-term profitability. What is Restaurant Inventory Management? The continuous process of monitoring all the food, drinks, and supplies in your establishment, from the time they are ordered until they are used, is known as restaurant inventory management. To ensure you always know exactly what’s on hand, it entails ordering, receiving, storing, counting, and reconciling

Buyers Edge Platform and Chowly Partner to Help Independent Restaurants

Buyers Edge Platform and Chowly Partner to Help Independent Restaurant Operators Get More Orders and Profit

Waltham, MA – October 6, 2025 – Buyers Edge Platform, the leading digital procurement network for the foodservice industry, has teamed up with the Chowly Platform, the go-to solution for unifying digital storefronts, to bring local restaurants what they need most: more sales, stronger margins, and tools that just work. Through this partnership, independents now have access to the full Chowly Platform—10+ connected tools built to cut third-party fees, run smarter marketing, and turn guests into loyal regulars. Features include: Marketing Website, Online Ordering, Google Business Profile, Paid Ads, 3rd Party Integration, Email Marketing, Mobile App, Dynamic Pricing, Customer Surveys, Loyalty Program, and more. “Independent restaurant operators are the heartbeat of this industry. They deserve technology that’s practical, powerful, and built with their challenges in mind,” said Stephen Larkin, Sr. Director, Beyond Broadline at Buyers Edge Platform. “Together with the Chowly Platform, we’re delivering exactly that—profit-driven tools that help operators

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

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