Like any other committed business owner, those who deal in commercial restaurant supplies would agree that staying informed of the latest news and trends in the volatile restaurant industry is key to any supplier's long-term success. Not only does consumer demand, which drives the market, change rapidly, but so also do government regulations that impact the kinds of supplies and equipment restaurant owners depend on.

Sources for restaurant supply news and trends are just as varied as the products they concern. If you prefer detailed market analyses forecasting sales among restaurant suppliers, then your best bet is to access press releases from business associations and online news agencies. You can also learn first hand about restaurant suppliers’ news by attending trade shows in your area. Choose the source of restaurant equipment news that best suits your needs.

1. Attend restaurant suppliers’ tradeshows for the latest product and systems news.

2. Find out what the leading restaurant suppliers business associations say about upcoming events and pressing issues.

3. Consider press releases by online news agencies devoted to reporting the latest stories affecting restaurant supply stores.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Follow news and trends reported at recent commercial restaurant equipment tradeshows

You'll find that product literature handed out at industry trade shows frequently report on the latest in product development, foodservice systems and the newest restaurant supply stores.

I recommend: Restaurant supplier San Jamar provides food safety and washroom products for the foodservice industry. Check its website for the latest news about upcoming trade shows highlighting their food management products. Restaurant News Source provides the dates and locations for commercial equipment trade shows worldwide and even gives contact information for those interested in attending.

Use restaurant business association websites for timely news releases about restaurant supplies

Find out which companies are sponsoring equipment expositions and conferences. You'll also learn about government regulations in certain areas and other news affecting the restaurant supply industry as a whole.

I recommend: Read press releases published by the Texas Restaurant Association and the National Restaurant Association. These press releases report on sales trends among leading restaurateurs. Check the Prime Equipment Auction & Realty website to find out about sales of used restaurant equipment and upcoming auctions. The Nevada Restaurant Association is one of the state restaurant associations that provide news and trends on local commercial restaurant supplies companies.

Scan websites of reputable news agencies for events affecting restaurant suppliers

Among the varied articles reported by these online news services are in depth market studies that reveal consumer trends in the commercial restaurant equipment industry.

I recommend: Smart Brief is an online news service reporting on trends in the food service and restaurant suppliers industry. Its up to date articles focus on sales activities reported by top companies in the wholesale restaurant supplies market. Restaurant & Institutions Magazine tracks all the news stories restaurant suppliers should know so they can remain competitive in the industry.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Sign up to receive newsletters about restaurant supply news and trends delivered to your email inbox on a periodic basis.

As a restaurant owner, your checklist for supplies and inventory can leave your head spinning. If you're not careful, you may end up spending all of your time managing your supply chain and neglect other areas of your business. These simple steps will help you find the supplies you need to open and run your business:

1. Create a detailed checklist of every item you will need to run your business.
2. Use software that helps track inventory and purchasing costs.
3. Find a point-of-sale (POS) system that will best fit with your restaurant's processes.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get organized

In the beginning, your restaurant supply list may seem never-ending. But the more organized you are about supplies, the easier managing them will be over time.

I recommend: Use the Restaurant Resource Group's startup checklist to better manage your supply list.

Use software created for restaurants

There are a variety of software products that can help keep your inventory and costs in check. Save money and time by investing in a software solution that best meets your needs.

I recommend: Use Cost Genie or ChefTec to help track inventory and food supplies, as well as audit menu item prices and food and beverage costs.

Find discounted restaurant supplies online

Many sites offer discounted new and used supplies, including paper products and linens. The first items you will need to find are essentials like kitchen equipment, tables, chairs and barstools.

I recommend: Find kitchen and restaurant supplies at ACityDiscount, Tundra Specialties, Food Service Direct or the National Restaurant Association's Equipment Directory.

Choose POS software

Your point-of-sale software may be one of the most important technology decisions you make as a restaurant owner. You want something that's easy to use, easy to teach other people to use and fits into your operational processes.

I recommend: Find POS systems in the DMOZ Restaurant POS Software or PowerSourcing directories. You also can get POS systems from TA Technologies, Denver Research Software Development or POSGuys.com.

Find food and alcohol distributors

Once you have your start-up supplies, it's time to determine who will be your ongoing food and alcohol distributors. This is the most important vendor relationship you will have, so choose it wisely.

I recommend: Use the National Restaurant Association's food and beverage directories to find your distributor.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you're short on start-up cash, look into leasing restaurant equipment.
• •  Establishing a good relationship with your vendors is a top priority in the restaurant business — they keep you operating.
• •  Pay attention to waste prevention processes to help increase profit margins without shortchanging your customer.

Starting a restaurant requires you to understand some restaurant supply key terms that are standard in the food service industry, the same terms that restaurant suppliers use in their product catalogs. These terms will help you identify the food service tools and other commercial restaurant supplies that your particular operation will depend on.

Luckily, online restaurant supply stores group their products according to certain main categories. This product categorization makes it easier to find the tools you need. First, consider what foods your restaurant will prepare from scratch and then decide which wholesale restaurant suppliers can offer you the best deals.

1. Know what kind of cookware and bakeware food service tools your kitchen will use.

2. Understand what restaurant suppliers regard as necessary kitchen equipment.

3. Identify standard restaurant supplies terms, like flatware and glassware.

4. Learn which products commercial restaurant suppliers regard as necessary smallwares.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Identify commercial restaurant equipment cookware and bakeware

Cookware refers to the heavy duty sauté pans, fry pans and stock pots that commercial cooks use to prepare entrees, soups, sauces and side dishes. Bakeware refers to cake and bread pans, baking molds, cookie sheets, muffin pans, cake rings and mixing bowls.

I recommend: Lions Restaurant & Foodservice Equipment offers a wide selection of stove top cookware and professional bakeware. Its stockpots range in size from 12 to 80 quarts. In business for almost 30 years, Central Restaurant carries woks, braziers and pasta cookers in its line of stovetop cookware. Brooklyn's Kerekes Bakery & Restaurant Equipment sells a complete line of professional grade products for bakers who prefer either traditional or new flexible silicone pans.

Know the terms describing heavy duty restaurant equipment

Cooking and storage equipment refers to the heavy duty ranges, fryers, refrigerators and freezers, steam tables, holding cabinets and merchandisers that take up most of the space in any commercial kitchen.

I recommend: Ohio-based Henny Penny offers a complete line of open and pressure deep fryers. The company distributes these products worldwide. For more than 30 years, American Range has been supplying commercial kitchens with professional ranges and ovens in sizes from 24 to 72 inches. Get refrigerators, freezers and cold storage island merchandisers by contacting family-owned ivgStores.

Identify the terms describing restaurant tools, like flatware and glassware

Commercial flatware includes dinner plates, bowls and utensils. Glassware used in restaurants means the coffee cups, juice and soda glasses you find in diners and cafes. Use beer mugs, shooters, shot and wine glasses that bars depend on and even glass dessertware that fine restaurants use.

I recommend: Access the product database on the Able Kitchen website to search for glassware items used in restaurants. Restaurant Source carries hundreds of flatware products made by top manufacturers in the field.

Consider what commercial restaurant equipment suppliers mean by smallwares

Smallwares is a catch-all phrase that refers to restaurant tools, such as processors, blenders, coffee machines and cooking tools, that make any restaurant employee's job easier and more efficient.

I recommend: For decades as an industry leader in manufacturing small kitchen appliances for home and commercial use, Hamilton Beach makes professional food processors in 6 to 14-cup sizes. Bunn is a trusted name in the foodservice business and provides coffee equipment to retailers in the United States and abroad. Tundra Specialties has a complete line of commercial cooking utensils.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Cut start up and operating costs when you buy used restaurant equipment.

Saving money on restaurant supply products and equipment is vital to making your business profitable. As every restaurant owner knows, the food industry is a highly competitive field, with great numbers of restaurants failing each year. One way to ensure your business succeeds is to cut costs whenever possible—without sacrificing quality. Fortunately, there are options for saving significantly on some of your most expensive costs—restaurant equipment.

The worst way to save money on commercial restaurant supplies is to buy inferior products from restaurant supply stores. These will only waste your time and money. Instead, take the time to research exactly what products you need from restaurant suppliers, then consider the following possibilities:

1. Purchase industrial restaurant supplies, from large appliances to tabletop items, at auctions.

2. Save on start-up costs by leasing restaurant equipment.

3. Think long-term by purchasing energy efficient restaurant tools.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Consider auctions for used restaurant supply products

When a restaurant fails, often its most expensive equipment goes up for auction. Although local auctions are a terrific place to find quality used restaurant equipment, consider national auctions like eBay. You'll have to pay shipping, but you may get such a good deal on the equipment that you still end up saving money.

I recommend: Food Service Warehouse gives tips on buying used restaurant equipment at auction, including ideas on what to look for and how to successfully bid. For more information on going to restaurant equipment auctions, see Food and Beverage Underground.

Lease food service tools with short lives

Leasing expensive restaurant equipment can save you money by giving you more start-up cash. You'll need to borrow less because you can get the equipment you need initially for a lower investment, and if repairs are needed, you won't have to fork over extra money to get your equipment in working order again. Items like dishwashers and coolers aren't worth buying new because they have a short life, so consider leasing them first.

I recommend: Dummies.com has a great article on ways to obtain restaurant equipment, including leasing. Scroll down to "Look at leasing" for more information. Ryan Capital lists the many benefits of leasing equipment.

Use only energy efficient wholesale restaurant equipment

Buying energy efficient equipment now will save you added money down the road. Each month you'll save on electricity, water and fuel--as much as 80 percent with Energy Star labeled commercial restaurant equipment, according to EcoFriend. In particular, look for Energy Star labels on these energy-guzzling items: fryers, dishwashers, hot food cabinets, freezers, refrigerators, ice machines and steam cookers.

I recommend: The EPA offers excellent information on what to look for and where to buy Energy Star commercial kitchen equipment. Green Restaurant Equipment touts the benefits of energy-efficient restaurant equipment.