Looking to spice up your menu or restock your pantry? Believe it or not, your neighbor might just have all the ingredients your restaurant has been looking for. The practice of buying from local vendors and farmers near you has all kinds of game-changing benefits for your business. Now more than ever, restaurants are making the switch from shopping with regional distributors to local producers.
Buying locally is great for the environment, customers, and your wallet. Local produce isn’t limited to fruits and vegetables either, you can find dairy, meats, and even spices, ingredient mixes, or wines sold locally. A great way to find local producers or vendors in your area is by attending farmer’s markets or taking a look at local publications. If your restaurant opts to buy locally, you’ll be able to reap the benefits of a locally stocked pantry, a difference both your customers and your business will notice.
Benefits Of Buying Locally For Your Restaurant’s Kitchen
Shopping for ingredients locally creates a shorter
supply chain, which helps reduce distance and travel times for foods.
Keeping your commercial kitchen stocked with fresh ingredients is easy
when you purchase from local vendors. Stocking your restaurant’s pantry
with locally-sourced ingredients provides heaps of benefits for your
kitchen.
Freshness & Quality
When you buy local, you buy fresh. Due to extended travel times, purchasing bulk ingredients from regional distributors often means that foods won’t be as fresh as they would be if they were bought locally. Locally grown ingredients benefit from the environment around you, and the care of your local vendors. You’ll instantly notice the change in both quality and freshness when you buy locally, and so will your customers. Consider buying the majority of your ingredients from local farmers to constantly keep fresh stock in your pantry, while enhancing the rich and bold flavors in your meals.
Increased Food Variety
Buying from regional distributors or vendors means that you
have limited access to the kinds of ingredients available for purchase.
When purchasing from local farmers and vendors, you’ll quickly notice
the difference in variety and ingredients. Local farmers will have a
selection of unique ingredients and food items apart from traditional
ingredients. If you’re looking to change up your menu, start with the
ingredients used in your dishes. Buying locally means you’ll be able to
take advantage of seasonal ingredients and flavors, which customers will
love. Consider creating seasonal meals inspired by your local
ingredients as a way to reinspire your menu with new and enticing
flavors.
Produces Less Waste
Keeping ingredient shopping local is a great way to minimize the waste your restaurant’s kitchen produces. Buying bulk from long-distance suppliers or regional distributors can mean that a portion of your ingredients will go bad before you are able to use them, due to extended travel times and larger qualities, resulting in a loss for your business’s budget. The practice of buying ingredients locally will help eliminate food waste at your restaurant. When buying from local vendors, you’ll be able to buy the exact amount of ingredients your kitchen needs and receive your ingredients quickly.
Benefits Of Buying Locally For Your Restaurant
The benefits of buying locally sourced ingredients aren’t just limited
to your restaurant’s kitchen. When you shop locally for your restaurant,
you’re making a statement to customers on your business values. Local
customers will love to see the initiative your restaurant is taking to
support their community while visiting tourists will enjoy the use of
local and seasonal flavors in their meals. Below are some advantages of
buying ingredients locally for your restaurant.
Budget-Friendly
Buying locally is great for your wallet. When purchasing ingredients through large distributors, you might run into additional shipping fees, which could add up over time. You might also find that distributor prices are similar to local vendors, but you lose out on the freshness, flavors, and other benefits of locally-sourced ingredients. Either way, there isn’t a financial risk in making the switch to purchasing from local vendors, in fact, you might find that your business could save money by eliminating additional fees and reducing food waste when buying locally grown ingredients.
Supports Local Economy
Keeping your ingredient purchases local isn’t just great for your establishment, but great for the businesses near you. By buying locally, you’ll be able to boost the economy around you while creating lasting relationships with fellow business owners. Contributing to the local economy allows you to keep your money local and help invest in your community over time. Your customers will take note of the steps your restaurant is taking to support small businesses, which will attract other potential customers and boost sales at your establishment. If you’re unsure of how to start purchasing locally, consider taking a look at local newspapers or farmer’s markets for recommendations on where to shop for ingredients.
Reduces Your Carbon Footprint
Going green at your restaurant is as easy as changing the way you stock your kitchen pantry. By buying locally grown ingredients, you’ll eliminate much of the non-renewable energy wasted to deliver your purchases and lessen your environmental impact. Purchasing locally eliminates the need for excessive transportation which minimizes your restaurant’s carbon footprint. Larger farms use harvesting and breeding techniques that waste more energy, while smaller farms conduct daily operations in a less wasteful manner. By simply switching to locally-sourced ingredients, your restaurant’s impact on the planet will be drastically reduced.
