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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

How to Make Foodservice Rebates Work for You

Are you paying full price on products your competitors are getting cash back for? If you’re not taking advantage of foodservice rebates, you might be. Every day, operators are earning money back on the same ingredients, packaging, and supplies you’re already buying. But without a clear strategy or the right tools in place, it’s easy to miss those opportunities—and that means leaving profit behind. Let’s break down what rebates really are, how they work, and how Buyers Edge Platform can help you start putting that money back where it belongs: in your business. What Are Foodservice Rebates? Foodservice rebates are cash-back incentives offered by manufacturers when operators purchase qualifying products. Unlike discounts that happen upfront, rebates are paid after the purchase, usually once proof of purchase is submitted and verified. For example, let’s say a supplier offers a $2 per case rebate on a specific brand of cheese. If you

A Comprehensive Guide to Restaurant Management

Running a restaurant in 2025 isn’t just about great food anymore—it’s a balancing act of cost control, razor-thin margins, labor shortages, sky-high diner expectations, and nonstop technology shifts. Whether you’re overseeing a single neighborhood bistro or a multistate concept, today’s operators wear more hats than ever: supply-chain analyst, marketing strategist, data wonk, culture builder, and—oh yes—host. Navigating that complexity can feel overwhelming, but it also opens the door to unprecedented opportunity. This guide distills the hard-won lessons, missteps, and breakthroughs we’ve observed while supporting thousands of kitchens through the Buyers Edge Platform’s data-driven purchasing and rebate programs. You’ll find practical frameworks, real-world examples, and field-tested tips to help you master the ten pillars of modern restaurant management—from inventory to guest loyalty—while sidestepping common pitfalls that drain profit. Use it as a roadmap, a refresher, or a sanity check whenever the daily grind starts to blur the bigger picture. Ready to

Supply Chain Insights Every Foodservice Operator Should Use

In today’s foodservice industry, change is the only constant. Ingredient prices swing without warning, availability shifts week to week, and market trends evolve faster than your last menu update. To keep pace—and stay profitable—you need more than hustle. You need real-time visibility into the supply chain. That’s where the Buyers Edge Platform Foodservice Operator Support Center comes in. This free resource hub was built specifically for foodservice professionals. It puts essential data, market updates, and expert analysis right at your fingertips—so you can make faster, smarter, and more informed decisions every day. What Are Foodservice Supply Chain Insights? Supply chain insights are the data points, trends, and analysis that help operators understand what’s happening behind the scenes of their food and supply purchasing. These insights can include: Commodity price fluctuations Vendor and distribution shifts Seasonality of fresh products Inflation and labor cost trends Consumer behavior and menu demand By staying

52 Ways to Unlock Foodservice Value with Buyers Edge Platform

Rising costs, labor issues, and changing expectations are putting more pressure on operators to do more with less. That’s why uncovering true foodservice value isn’t just helpful—it’s essential to staying competitive and profitable. For example, 95% of restaurants said food costs were a significant issue, 96% cited labor costs, and 79% struggled to attract new customers. The numbers are clear: operators are searching for smarter, more sustainable ways to run their business. That’s where Buyers Edge Platform comes in. Buyers Edge Platform helps operators unlock foodservice value across purchasing, supply chain, accounting, and analytics through a digital procurement network. Whether you’re battling rising prices or juggling multiple locations, our solutions help you reduce costs, improve efficiency, and fuel growth. With Buyers Edge Platform, you gain access to a comprehensive suite of tools and services designed to simplify your operations and maximize profitability. Specifically, these include: Digital Procurement Network Fresh Solutions

What Is Real ROI of Tip Management Software and How Does It Save Time?

If your managers are still spending hours a week buried in spreadsheets, double-checking calculations, or troubleshooting tip disputes, it’s time to rethink your approach to tip management. Manual tip processes are not only time-consuming and error-prone, they also carry significant compliance risks and often lead to inconsistent payouts that frustrate staff. In a labor market where retention and efficiency matter more than ever, automating your tip distribution isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a strategic business decision. And while many restaurants view automation as a future goal, the reality is this: the ROI of tip management software is already here, and it’s measurable. Let’s dive into how the right tool such as fully automated tip management software created by our partners at TipHaus, can save time, reduce risk, and build a more motivated team, and why restaurants of all sizes are seeing big returns by making the switch. Say Goodbye to

Hard Truths from the Booth: 11 Real Challenges Operators Shared at NRA

11 Challenges Operators Shared at the 2025 National Restaurant Show

If you walked the floor of the 2025 National Restaurant Association Show, you likely heard a lot of buzz about innovation, flavor trends, and new tech. But behind the booths and brand activations, the real story came straight from operators—sharing the hard truths of what’s weighing them down in today’s foodservice industry. At Buyers Edge Platform, we had honest conversations with restaurant leaders and operators from every segment—and they weren’t shy about what’s keeping them up at night. These candid discussions gave us a direct line to the everyday obstacles operators are up against. It wasn’t about theory or speculation; it was about the operational stressors they face right now, and the real consequences of not having the right support in place. Here’s what we heard: Difficulty attracting and retaining staff: The labor crisis isn’t over. Operators continue to struggle to hire and keep reliable workers, which puts pressure on

Key Takeaways from the 2025 National Restaurant Association Show

If you’ve ever been to the National Restaurant Association Show (NRA), you know it can be a bit of sensory overload. This year was no exception—and as I walked the floor, one thing became clear: innovation is everywhere, but so is the pressure to make the right choice for your operation. From tech to sustainability to booth theatrics that rival Broadway sets, here are some of the top trends that caught my attention—and what they mean for foodservice operators looking to level up. Booth Bragging Rights: From Sauce Taphouses to Shoe Stores Some booths didn’t just show off products—they created full-blown brand worlds. Kraft Heinz built a multi-window restaurant experience where attendees could walk up and order dishes featuring different sauces, all served from their “sauce taphouse.” It was an immersive (and delicious) way to showcase how their products shine across menu applications. Hormel brought the same energy with a

How Buyers Edge Platform Can Help Operators Navigate Tariffs

With a new wave of tariffs taking effect, foodservice operators across the country are faced with a tough decision: raise menu prices or absorb rising costs. Either option creates operational challenges—but the real question is, how can you get ahead of the impact before it hits your bottom line? At Buyers Edge Platform, we believe that cost volatility doesn’t have to dictate your margins. With the right data, supplier relationships, and procurement tools, you can build a smarter, more resilient strategy—even during tariff uncertainty. What Are the New Tariffs—and Who Do They Affect? On April 2, 2025, President Donald Trump announced a sweeping set of tariffs, including: A 10% baseline tariff on all imported goods, effective April 5, 2025 (White House). Increased “reciprocal” tariffs ranging from 11% to 50% on imports from 57 countries identified as having nonreciprocal or discriminatory trading practices, effective April 9, 2025. For instance, imports

On the Menu: Top 5 Growing Ingredients Operators Should Know About

On the Menu: From the back-of-house to the customer’s plate, growing ingredients can tell us a lot about what’s driving operational decisions and consumer preferences. Whether it’s to reduce prep time, meet flavor expectations, or streamline ordering, smart operators keep a pulse on what’s gaining traction. Based on recent data pulled from Buyers Edge Platform, here are the five growing ingredients that saw the most growth within our member operators at the end of 2024—along with tips on how you can make them work harder in your kitchen. 1. Westminster Oyster Crackers 📈 +16% in Concepts | +7% in Locations These classic crackers are making a comeback—likely thanks to seasonal menus featuring soups, chowders, and bisques. They’re cost-effective, easy to portion, and add to that nostalgic crunch guests crave. This item is a perfect example of growing ingredients being driven by seasonal demand and comfort food trends. How to Use

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