How to Choose the Right Hospitality Equipment & Supplies

Selecting good quality and appropriate products, equipment & accessories is crucial to the success of your restaurant, catering or hospitality business. If you have the right catering equipment, your business will thank you; you’ll process orders faster and more efficiently, making your operation that much smoother all around. 

Mismanagement and lack of appropriate care and attention are common mistakes restaurants and hotels make when purchasing hospitality equipment. Here’s how to avoid common blunders and set your business up for success. Without further ado, here’s how to do it right!

Setting up your workspace

If you’re just starting out, you’ll need to begin by planning your kitchen’s layout. When you do, make sure you think in detail through your menu and associated workflow – as well as food preparation, storage, and health and safety impacts when all things play out in the heat of operation. The key here is to avoid crossing paths with kitchen staff movements, as well as cross-contamination of food in the process.

If you are working within the framework of an existing kitchen, take a look at the floor plan and where different pieces of equipment are currently located.  The placement of your kitchen equipment can have a make or break impact on the functionality of your food preparation.

Not sure what’s the best kitchen layout for your café or restaurant? Do a mock preparation role-play with each item on your menu, thinking through your designated staff so you can see what will work for you and what will need to be reconfigured.

Systematically think through the types of equipment you will need to suit the nature of your particular hospitality business. For example, the necessary products and equipment for a cocktail bar will be different than the hospitality supplies for a hotel lobby. 

List any non-negotiable requirements (think refrigeration for restaurants, coffee makers for cafes, barware for bars and pubs, etc.) before looking at the equipment on offer from catering suppliers. Consider what benchtop appliances you will need and remember to keep an eye out for space-saving mechanisms, which can be a godsend if you’re tight on space.

Sourcing hospitality suppliers

Not all hospitality supply companies are created equally. When choosing a hospitality supplier in Perth to suit your business’s needs, consider the following questions:

1. Do they stock reliable, premium quality products?
2. Are they able to listen to your specific needs and give advice on solutions?
3. What do you need for your café/restaurant/bar? Ceramic crockery, stainless steel cutlery, crystal glassware, cooking pans, chef uniforms? Do they carry an extensive range of equipment and products for everything you need for your business?
4. Can they offer top quality products for your specific needs?

Do your own research on the supplier and the equipment they sell and don’t be afraid to phone ahead to ask questions. If you’re after a substantial quantity of goods look into wholesale catering suppliers. Good wholesalers will carry a wide range of commercial kitchen and serving supplies, and at more competitive prices.

Another important thing to look for in a hospitality supplier is after-sales support; ensure they operate near enough your premises in case something goes wrong.  You will also want to check that they keep an extensive supply of genuine spare parts on hand or have a trusted contact for any service needs. 

Non-catering hospitality supplies and seasonal demand

Of course, seasonal demand affects food supplies. If your hospitality business has other ongoing equipment needs in addition to catering supplies, it helps to keep seasons of increased demand in mind when planning your procurement calendar; be sure to give various suppliers adequate notice and where you can and plan your purchases out of season to avoid higher costs.

When you are set to go with a smartly organised procurement calendar, you are far less likely to be caught without stock.

The most important key to successful hospitality and catering supplies selection is planning.  

The more thoroughly you think through your events calendar, layout, menu and staff particulars, the better prepared you will be and the more surefire choices you will make in choosing the right hospitality equipment every time.

Need reliable hospitality supplies and equipment for your business? Browse our selection or check out Stanlee Hospitality’s showroom in Osborne Park, Western Australia for all things hospitality.