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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 Strengthens Club Market Leadership with NGCRA Acquisition

WALTHAM, Mass., Oct. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Buyers Edge Platform, the leading digital procurement network for the foodservice industry, announced the acquisition of the National Golf Course Restaurant Association (NGCRA), strengthening its portfolio with a dedicated presence in the golf, country club, and private club segments. Under this acquisition, NGCRA will continue operating under its existing name and structure, ensuring continuity for its members while gaining access to the technology, partnerships, and supply chain expertise of Buyers Edge Platform. “This is a natural evolution of our relationship,” said John Davie, CEO at Buyers Edge Platform. “NGCRA has always been committed to helping club operators get the best pricing without sacrificing quality or service. By joining Buyers Edge Platform, they can now amplify that mission with the power of our digital procurement network, cutting-edge technology, and world-class supply chain management.” A Mission Built on Value for Clubs Country clubs, yacht clubs, city clubs—any type of club with

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

Buyers Edge Platform Appoints Rohini Shankar as Chief People Officer

LAKE WORTH, Fla., Oct. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Buyers Edge Platform (BEP), the leading foodservice procurement and analytics platform, today announced the appointment of Rohini Shankar as its new Chief People Officer. In this role, Shankar will lead the company’s global people strategy, continuing to build on the company’s strong foundation of innovation, inclusion, and performance while supporting its phase of growth. Shankar is an accomplished human resources executive with more than 20 years of experience driving organizational transformation and building high-performing cultures across healthcare, financial services, and technology. She has held senior leadership positions in global organizations, including over two decades at GE, where she led HR strategy and operations across the U.S., India, and Hong Kong. In addition to her corporate leadership experience, Shankar is a certified executive coach and an active member of the Forbes HR Council, contributing thought leadership on workforce development and organizational design. “Rohini’s expertise in building dynamic, people-first organizations will

Buyers Edge Platform Announces Agreement to Acquire Dinova, a Leader in Business Dining Rewards

Adds over 24,000 restaurants, ~600 enterprise/government partners, and $18B in spend visibility – expands Buyers Edge Platform’s offering into business‑dining rewards WALTHAM, Mass., Oct. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Buyers Edge Platform (“Buyers Edge”), a leading digital procurement network and solutions provider for the foodservice industry, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Dinova, Inc. a portfolio company of Frontier Growth. Dinova is a market leader in preferred business dining programs that deliver spend visibility and savings for corporations while driving customer acquisition and sales growth for restaurants. This strategic acquisition, once completed, will combine Dinova’s network of over 24,000 restaurants, nearly 600 blue‑chip corporate and government partners and $18 billion in spend visibility, with Buyers Edge’s vast network, technology, and rewards offering. Benefits for Dinova’s Partners With the reach and resources of Buyers Edge’s ecosystem, the acquisition is expected to benefit all Dinova stakeholders. Restaurant partners will gain expanded access

Buyers Edge Platform Expands Dutch Footprint with Acquisition of Real Result

WALTHAM, Mass., Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Buyers Edge Platform, the leading software and analytics company providing data-driven insights and technology to the foodservice industry, announces its acquisition of Real Result, a Netherlands-based Group Purchasing Organization (GPO). This strategic move marks Buyers Edge Platform’s second investment in the Netherlands, reinforcing its commitment to building the largest Digital Procurement Network in the Netherlands and across the wider European region. John Davie, CEO of Buyers Edge Platform, expressed his excitement about the acquisition, stating, “We’re seeking the best and most powerful GPOs in each country in Europe and Real Result enables us to grow further in the Netherlands, as we continue our mission to revolutionize procurement practices and empower businesses across the continent.” Jan Vugts, Director of Real Result, commented on the acquisition: “For Real Result, the trusted procurement experts for the foodservice and hospitality industry for many years, joining the Buyers Edge Platform marks a crucial

How Source1 and Dining Alliance Turn Spend into Strategy

If you run a hotel, resort, casino, country club, or restaurant, you’re juggling rising costs, labor pressure, and the constant “do more with less” drumbeat. The good news: you don’t have to white-knuckle procurement alone. Two Buyers Edge Platform brands, Source1 and Dining Alliance, help operators convert day-to-day purchasing into measurable gains in margin, time, and consistency. This guide started as a recap of what operators asked us for at the Hotel, Motel & Restaurant Supply Show. We’ve expanded it into an evergreen playbook you can use all year to benchmark your operation, tighten purchasing, and find quick wins. Why This Matters Right Now Visibility drives margin. When line items, contracts, and rebates are scattered, money is left on the table. Standardization lowers chaos. Fewer SKUs and better compliance shrink waste and speed up training. Data beats guesswork. Category trends and real invoice data help you negotiate confidently and act

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

Edge Public Launches as a National Cooperative Procurement Leader

LAKE WORTH, Fla., Sept. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Edge Public, a Buyers Edge Platform brand, announced its official launch as a cooperative purchasing powerhouse in the public sector. Headquartered in Lake Worth, Florida, Edge Public is already setting a new standard for how public entities access critical goods and services they need. The company combines trusted cooperative contracts, advanced technology, and the scale of the nation’s leading digital procurement network. Leveraging the proven Lead Public Agency (LPA) model, Edge Public partners with respected LPAs, including the Alliance for Innovation, the Central Indiana Educational Service Center (CIESC), and the University of North Texas System (UNTS). These partnerships have already produced more than 25 cooperative contracts that are either awarded or in progress across a wide range of essential spend categories. Serving the Full Spectrum of the Public Sector Edge Public provides access to competitively solicited contracts designed to for: K-12 school districts City and county governments Higher education institutions

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