Disorganized storage is the #1 cause of food waste
30% of food waste in restaurants happens in storage — expired, poorly stored or forgotten products. An average restaurant wastes 5-8% of food purchases due to poor stock management. On €120,000 annual purchases, that's €6,000-9,600 thrown away.
The FIFO method
First In, First Out. Product that arrived first goes out first. Implementation: label everything with receipt date, new stock goes behind old stock, create a "use today" zone for near-expiry items, weekly inspection.
Minimum stock and reorder points
Minimum stock = Daily consumption × Supplier delivery time. Reorder point = Minimum stock + (Daily consumption × Safety margin).
Example: 2kg mozzarella/day, 2-day delivery → minimum stock 4kg, reorder at 6kg. BiteBase calculates these automatically from consumption history.
Efficient stocktaking
Monthly full inventory, weekly partial (high-value items). Organize by category, use templates, weigh don't estimate, same day/time every month, two people (one counts, one records). Target: 45-90 minutes.
Storage organization
- Cold storage 0-4°C: meat, fish, dairy, fresh vegetables
- Freezer -18°C: frozen goods
- Dry storage 15-20°C: pasta, flour, canned goods, oil, spices
- Rules: everything off floor (15cm minimum), raw separate from cooked, labels facing out, weekly shelf cleaning
Waste reduction strategies
- Plan daily menu based on current stock
- Batch prep for 2 days, freeze the rest
- Standardize portions — weigh everything
- Track waste daily by category to find patterns
- Creative reuse: yesterday's bread becomes breadcrumbs, meat trimmings become ragù
The cost of waste
On €120,000 annual purchases: poor management (7% waste) = €8,400 lost. Excellent management (2%) = €2,400 lost. Difference: €6,000/year.
FAQ
How often should I do inventory? Full: monthly. Partial (expensive items): weekly.
How do I handle near-expiry products? "Use today" zone, integrate into daily specials, donate to food banks.
Do I need software for inventory? For 50+ products, yes. BiteBase tracks stock, expiry, minimums and generates automatic orders.