Kitchens will never lose the need for speed

For all the changes the foodservice industry has undergone over the years, one thing has never gone away – the need for speed.

Getting food to consumers quickly is no longer the preserve of fast food outlets. Today’s consumer is largely time-poor and quality-focused, as they don’t want to spend their increasingly stretched budgets on subpar culinary experiences. Overcoming this challenge is dependent on efficiency in the kitchen, as it is the heart of any foodservice business.

However, accomplishing that level of efficiency can be easier said than done, particularly when looking at the other challenges faced by the industry – extreme levels of staff turnover, price rises, and looming regulations on single-use plastic items, to name just three. These can affect speedy service. Often, the solution to these problems is having the right tools available in a kitchen – this can provide a solid foundation upon which a quick and quality foodservice business can be built.

Promoting efficiency

Of course, having the right equipment cannot solve the high level of staff turnover that is affecting the industry today. But it can facilitate a happier, lower-stress kitchen while also making it easier to train any new staff should existing employees leave.

A study by Zupa found that inadequate training was the number one reason for low staff morale in a foodservice business. The stress caused by being short-staffed was second, while the frustration of working in a disorganised, disjointed team was third. These issues are not mutually exclusive, and in working to solve one, the solution to the others can fall into your lap.

Ensuring that kitchen equipment is efficient, effective, and intuitive minimises the disruption caused by staff turnover as new employees are easier to train properly, and ensures the kitchen is easier to organise. With better morale comes better rates of staff retention, which helps promote a settled team and an efficient way of working.

Every second counts

Naturally, the quality of the cooking equipment – oven, microwave, range and so on – is integral to creating a harmonious, productive kitchen. Regular routine maintenance is key to their reliability. The same applies to refrigeration solutions. Instead, foodservice businesses can look to save time by identifying areas of their business that can be enhanced and further optimised.

Food wrapping and storage is an essential area of any foodservice business that can become unnecessarily time-consuming during a shift. If done by hand, repeatedly having to wrap and store ingredients in film or delivery orders in foil can create a bottleneck in the kitchen that gets in the way of other processes.

A professional-grade film or foil dispenser represents an inexpensive way to boost efficiency in a kitchen. That is why we developed the Prowrap range of Speedwrap dispensers. Designed to be ergonomic and intuitive to use, the Speedwrap cuts precise lengths of foil, cling film, or baking parchment with a single press. This offers a much more reliable, repeatable cutting process when compared to using the serrated edges of a box, shaving seconds off every order.

This may not sound like much, but that time adds up quickly.

Meeting the need for speed doesn’t always require the largest, best-trained staff or the most expensive cooking equipment. Instead, it is possible to improve efficiency with carefully planned business enhancements and intuitive technology.

To learn more about Prowrap’s range of professional-grade cling films, foils, baking parchments, and dispensers, visit www.wrapex.com.