How to React When Catering Equipment Breaks on the Job

There's nothing worse than working with a piece of equipment and it breaks in the middle of a job. Think of what could happen if your bakery equipment decided to breakdown whilst you are dealing with a large order. How would you deal with the situation?

The mark of a good business is in how they deal with adversity. Should you find yourself in a situation like this, you have to react in the right way. Luckily, anyone can do it and it is not as hard as you think. In this article, you are going to learn how to react when your catering equipment switches off at the worst possible time.

Assessing the Immediate Damage

Instead of worrying about what is going to happen next, take a deep breath, and survey the situation from an objective point of view. Focus on the short-term right now.

For example, let us say you are working with bar equipment and one of the nozzles becomes damaged. The right way to react is to acknowledge that you need a new delivery system. Ask yourself can you get an immediate replacement. If the answer is no, you should look into an alternative delivery system. You should also inform the client that something has gone wrong and you are looking into alternatives.

The last part about telling the client is the most important part of the process. Even if you cannot resolve the situation immediately, the fact you informed your client at the first opportunity instantly gives your business credibility.

Time Issues

How quickly can you get a replacement? How soon do you need said replacement?

These are two calculations you should attempt to make. They do not have to be accurate. If your depot is an hour away from the catering venue and the event starts in two hours, you already know you have enough time to source the replacement. This means you do not have to look at alternative solutions to the problem.

Also, take into account how sourcing said replacement impacts on timings for other aspects of the catering process. Remember, you have to spare a member of staff to solve the problem. How is the rest of your team going to step in and pick up the slack?

In the Aftermath

Whether you manage to replace the broken item or not, the aftermath of the event is just as important as what happens during the event.

If you have sullied the catering experience for your client, think about how you can repay said client for the trouble. An offer of a one-time discount or a simple public apology can be enough to repair your reputation in the eyes of the client. It is the fact that you made a gesture of apology that counts here.

Now you need to focus on either repairing the broken item or finding catering equipment suppliers who can replace the item. Make sure you address the issue at the earliest possible opportunity. By doing so, you can make sure the same problem does not happen again next time.