Many restaurant owners are so busy managing the day-to-day business of their restaurant that they don’t always have time for the details. At some time – whether it is because profits are failing, costs are inflating or time is short – most restaurant owners will feel the need to bring in a food consultant. You may think from the name that these experts are just focused on menu creation, but in fact they can advise on issues such as food costings, sourcing, interior design or even financial assistance, giving restaurants the help they need, when they most need it.
However, as with any service you will have to pay for a food consultant so make sure the person or company you are hiring has the right expertise and a proven track record of success. Here are some of the points to bear in mind when beginning your search:
Do your research: Identify the area in which you most need help, and what you hope the outcome to be. Some food consultants will specialise in certain areas, so if you are, for example, looking to reduce costs on your food sourcing you may want to look for a company with particular success or contacts in this area. You may find several companies who meet your criteria. If so, the first thing to do for each of these is look into their background and check out their references.
Make a shortlist: Make a list of the best consultants your research has uncovered, and then make an appointment to discuss your needs with each one. It’s important to do this, as a one-on-one conversation is a great way to find out whether a potential consultant really understands your business and what you hope to achieve.
Written proposal: Before making your decision, you should also ask for a written proposal from each candidate so you can go away and carefully consider which suggested strategy would work best for you. The best food consultant is one who will understand that every restaurant is unique and will tailor their strategy accordingly, rather than presenting you with a one-size-fits-all proposal.
What can you afford? A food consultant will either charge at a fixed cost or by the hours taken to complete the service. Working out with your consultant beforehand how long the work is likely to take will help you keep costs to a minimum. But don’t hire somebody solely because they are cheap – remember that an experienced and reputable service provider is justified in charging a little more for what you get in return. The idea is to keep your spend as low as possible without compromising on quality.
However, as with any service you will have to pay for a food consultant so make sure the person or company you are hiring has the right expertise and a proven track record of success. Here are some of the points to bear in mind when beginning your search:
Do your research: Identify the area in which you most need help, and what you hope the outcome to be. Some food consultants will specialise in certain areas, so if you are, for example, looking to reduce costs on your food sourcing you may want to look for a company with particular success or contacts in this area. You may find several companies who meet your criteria. If so, the first thing to do for each of these is look into their background and check out their references.
Make a shortlist: Make a list of the best consultants your research has uncovered, and then make an appointment to discuss your needs with each one. It’s important to do this, as a one-on-one conversation is a great way to find out whether a potential consultant really understands your business and what you hope to achieve.
Written proposal: Before making your decision, you should also ask for a written proposal from each candidate so you can go away and carefully consider which suggested strategy would work best for you. The best food consultant is one who will understand that every restaurant is unique and will tailor their strategy accordingly, rather than presenting you with a one-size-fits-all proposal.
What can you afford? A food consultant will either charge at a fixed cost or by the hours taken to complete the service. Working out with your consultant beforehand how long the work is likely to take will help you keep costs to a minimum. But don’t hire somebody solely because they are cheap – remember that an experienced and reputable service provider is justified in charging a little more for what you get in return. The idea is to keep your spend as low as possible without compromising on quality.
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