Where Can You Buy Catering Equipment for Your Business?

Catering equipment is essential to starting your own catering business or hosting a major event. Whether you are purchasing commercial catering equipment or just looking to show people a good time, it is important you get a good deal. Within this article, you are going to find useful tips on where you should look for catering equipment.

The Restaurant Supply Store

Your first option is to visit a restaurant supply store. This is the place where the majority of people buy new kitchen equipment. The vast majority have a good reputation for quality, which makes it an ideal place for the first-time buyer to begin.

Suppliers of catering equipment do have different policies on who they sell to. Some of them will only supply established businesses. You would have to prove which company you come from to shop here. Others are open to the public. It is best to call ahead to make sure you are not wasting your time.

Most of these stores sell new equipment, but you can find ones that sell second-hand equipment, as well.

It is best to go online to see if you can compare prices first. Many of them have online catalogues you can browse without having to visit their depots. This will save you both time and stress.

Go to the Auction Sites and the Classified Ads

You do not have to buy directly from the experts. There is the option of visiting an online auction website like eBay for your catering needs. Catering equipment suppliers will sometimes sell bundles of supplies they want to get rid of quickly on here.

Classified ads also provide the same service. Craig’s List is by far the most popular site for this, but Gumtree continues to be a popular place to buy and sell.

The same rules apply when deciding whom to buy from. Make sure they have a good reputation and do not part with any money until you can see they are legitimate. They must show you the equipment first;otherwise,you are taking an enormous risk. Many of these sites cannot do anything if the person takes the money and runs.

Occasionally, you will find auctions happening in the real world. Defunct businesses may be selling off their old equipment. In the event you hear about one of these auctions, it is always worth visiting to see if you can snag something on the cheap.

What about Renting?

You do have the option of renting. For events, this is ideal because you do not have to bear the costs of storage and purchasing the items in the first place. Renting is also a good idea if you also need to employ trained staff to operate the equipment.

It is easy to find a list of caterers who rent supplies online. A simple Google search will bring up a list of the individuals and businesses in your area that are renting equipment.

Again, make sure they have a reputation for reliability and quality. You do not want to hand your money over to a business that will not do its best by you. Always inspect the small print prior to signing any form of agreement.

What are the Three Main Areas of Catering Equipment at a Wedding ?

Weddings are always hectic occasions. For the happy couple, they have to go through all the trouble of catering. They have to determine the menus, what their guests are going to expect, and how to execute the plan from start to finish. Whether you need bakery equipment or bar equipment, you are going to have to negotiate the three mains stages of wedding catering.

In this article, we are going to go through each aspect of it, so you know exactly what you can anticipate.

The Staging

Catering does not begin with the moment someone puts a fork into his or her mouths. It starts with the moment the guests see the dining area. This is the staging area and it sets the tone for the entire event.

Your caterers will need to decide on what tables and chairs work best. It is not just in the décor. It can be a logistical nightmare if they do not have fixed numbers on the number of adults and children who will be attending.

It is your job to take into account both the décor of the venue and the sort of message you want to transmit to your guests. Are you looking for something overly casual or fashionably elegant? You have to decide on all this before you even get to the food!

The Serving

How are you going to serve the food?

It sounds like an obvious question, but this can be a tricky area to negotiate. The first question will be whether you are going to be employing servers or whether this is going to be a buffet dinner. If you do employ servers, you are going to have to direct them in their duties, which add a completely new dimension of complexity.

You also have to take into account aspects like the napkins, the plates, and the glasses. As well as catering for the adults, you will need to decide on a separate serving arrangement for the kids. This could involve swapping glass for plastic and removing many of the fancier serving details you would encounter at the adult’s table.

The Food

You should have already come to a decision on the food before the event. If you have, you need to have the catering equipment in place to maintain this food. Remember, hot food is often cooked long before it is actually on the table ready to eat. In this case, you would need to have warming equipment to stop it from going cold. The same principle applies for cold desserts and drinks.

How Much Are You Responsible For?

It depends entirely on your arrangement with the catering company. You may be lucky enough to have a catering manager who can handle all the catering for you and you only have to turn up. If you are deciding to take it on yourself, you will have to plan each stage of the catering process well in advance.

Overall, catering can be broken down into three individual stages. This makes the process more manageable and enables you to see exactly what part of the process you are at.

The Ultimate Guide to Hiring Commercial Catering Equipment

Hiring commercial catering equipment is not an easy task for anyone to take on. You need to get it right the first time or it could mean wasting a huge chunk of money. It requires careful planning and a full understanding of what you actually need. This is what you will learn by reading through this short guide.

The Menu Strategy

Your menu strategy encompasses aspects of the process like plating. You have to consider things like whether plating a fancy salmon platter with the most expensive plates you can find is really worth the risk. Remember, you will be responsible for any breakages that happen on your watch.

The menu strategy largely depends on what food you intend on serving, as well. You need to write down your menu from the beginning. Determine what you will need to make and how many alternative options you will be having. Do not make the mistake of hiring a series of commercial kitchen equipment first.

The Capacity

How many people are likely to be in the premises at the same time?

Consider the worst-case scenario not the best-case scenario. Look to the extremes. You must be able to cope with full capacity and the lowest capacity. Of course, it is likely the actual attendance will fall somewhere in the middle, but it is important to be prepared.

This is quite easy if you stipulate the number of people who will be coming before you begin the hiring process.

Added Extras

Standard kitchen equipment is relatively easy to hire. You also need to decide whether you will be having any added extras. Some venues decide to hire commercial coffee machines to offer an additional choice. Are you willing to do this?

The Company

Once you have decided what you need to hire, you need to decide on whom you will hire it from. Look online for some recommendations for companies that serve your local area. First of all, visit their websites to see if they suit your needs. Once you have a list of caterers who have everything you need, interview them.

Some of them will serve things like plates and cups in a variety of different styles. Determine whether these will suit the décor of your venue. You also need to consider whether their service packages are flexible. Think about whether they will be able to react in the right way should something change later on.

Make sure you have a list of your requirements when going into an interview. A reputable company will ask to see these so they can judge whether they will be able to fulfil them. They will tell you honestly if you would be better off looking elsewhere.

Always read the agreement and check the small print. You need to be clear on when the equipment needs to be returned and what you are responsible for. The last thing you want is to be stung by any unexpected expenses at the end of it all. These can easily add hundreds of pounds to the cost of your overall bill.

How Should You Go about Setting up Children's Catering at a Wedding?

Catering for children is always a tricky subject to tackle at a wedding. The problem is many catering equipment suppliers do not have the facilities to support children. It leaves the couple paying for an adult plate for every child. When paying for catering supplies UK, it can mean paying more than you expected. Some couples request children are left alone, as a result. This is not an ideal scenario to be in.

If you are worried about how you're going to resolve the catering situation at a wedding, here are some useful tips.

Start with an Interview

Catering equipment UK is not always supplied to the same specifications. Do not expect every caterer to have the capacity to deal with children. Furthermore, many will not have any experience in dealing with children.

Always interview a selection of catering companies before settling on your decision. They should have a strong track record and references to show their good work. At the same time, do not put all your efforts into finding a good caterer for children. You still need to have great catering for adults, as well!

What Will You Serve?

The menu for children can be trickier than the one for adults. Most adults will grin and bear a meal they do not feel particularly enthused about. With children, the exact opposite happens. If you are not giving them their favourite foods, you are going to hear about it from them.

Always opt for the safe option of fast food. Things like burgers and pizzas are ideal. You do not have to worry about having anything overly formal because the kids will usually have separate places to eat, anyway.

If you want to save money, you could even get a caterer to go out to get a takeaway. This has worked in the past. A caterer recommended going out to a local McDonald's for the kids. It might not be the sort of wedding etiquette you would usually expect, but it keeps the kids quiet!

What about the Server?
One area of catering couples often forget is the server. It isill advised to have especially young children serving themselves – plus this is bad manners and you want to make the right impression. Instead, you need to decide whether you want your catering company to supply a server or have a parent step in to serve the kids.

The latter option is cheaper, but you need to ensure you have someone who is willing to do this. Do not just force this upon someone.

Prepare a Budget

You have seen the options in this article. What you need to decide on before making any of these decisions is the budget. Write down what you can spare for catering and see what fits in. With catering, you can run into so many unexpected expenses.

A good caterer will ask to see your budget and come up with a plan to help you best fulfil your needs. Take note, it could mean you have to make sacrifices, but preparing earlier will take away the stress of getting the catering just right.

Hiring Commercial Kitchen Equipment - What to Look for in the Fine Print

Whenever you decide to hire kitchen equipment for your next event, you have to make sure you choose the right company. Choose the wrong one and you could find yourself getting the service you do not deserve. The devil is always in the detail. Make sure you read the fine print before you commit yourself to any agreement.

This short article is designed to show you what you need to be looking at when you hire kitchen supplies from a third party.

The Agreement

Whenever you decide to commit to a service package, you will be presented with a large stack of papers filled with what you can and cannot do. Too many people make the mistake of not reading it through. When the time comes to actually return the items, they find they have breached the agreement and have to pay a fixed penalty.

Always take the time to read it through and, if you do not understand it, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification.

The Return Date

It sounds patronising, but always check the return date for the equipment. You’d be surprised at how many people fail to keep track of this date and subsequently fail to bring the equipment back. This is a serious offense and can lead to hundreds of pounds in fines. What you have to remember is the catering company may well have already hired the same equipment out to someone else soon after this return date.

This is why they are so strict when it comes to when you need to bring everything back.

What about Cleaning?

Depending on the catering company, you could be responsible for cleaning the equipment up before you bring it back. You may or may not have the option of paying a small fee to have the equipment professionally cleaned by the supplier. If this is your responsibility, though, there will be a long section on the condition they expect the supplies to be in when they get it back.

The Food

If you are using specialist equipment, there is a good chance there are certain foods and substances you are not allowed to put in them. Although most of this section will be nothing more than common sense, it’s wise to spend time reading it anyway. You do not want to accidentally break the equipment;otherwise,you will be the one having to cover the repair costs.

Additional Services
Most kitchen suppliers also offer other services. They may provide you with trained staff to help you operate the equipment. In this case, you must also read sections on staffing and their responsibilities. Although the employees of the supplier are operating on behalf of the company, you are responsible for their management. Make sure you check what they can and cannot do, as well as the responsibilities they have to take on.

Overall, it can take time to read the boring small print, but it will only benefit you in the long run. If you have your own staff, make sure they understand this agreement before they get to work.