How an independent takeaway can save money on bills

Running an independent food establishment can be difficult for a number of reasons, including small networks and limited suppliers. Big chains also have a more trusted reputation among customers.

With these challenges already there, things can become more difficult when your bills are high, more specifically higher than they need to be.

You can be frugal without compromising on food quality.

Use efficient methods to cut back on unnecessary costs that ramp up the total of your bills at the end of the month.

Keep an Eye on Water Usage

Remember that leaving the tap running for a few seconds between tasks all adds up.

Explain to your team that you’re making a conscious effort to reduce unnecessary water waste. Encourage them to always turn the tap off when they’re not using it.

If your dishwasher is low quality, you may need to give plates a good scrub before they can go in to wash.

Upgrading to a high-end, efficient, and modern dishwasher will come at a high up front cost, but will put an end to the excessive scrubbing of plates, therefore saving water.

On top of that, an efficient option will use less water than a regular one as it is.

Tracking water usage massively helps with reducing waste and costs. A business water efficiency audit will provide a comprehensive overview and help you create a strategy to limit usage.

Photo credit: Unsplash.

Use Sustainable Lighting

Lighting is essential for a takeaway, and if you’re open for long periods of time, you are going to be using lots of it.

We know that turning on the lights will cost money, but it may not need to cost anywhere near the amount that you’re paying at the moment.

An incandescent light bulb can be purchased for £1, whereas LED bulbs might cost up to £10. However, in the long run, this is a no brainer when it comes to reducing bills.

LED bulbs use between 60-80% less energy than incandescent bulbs, and have a lifespan of 25,000-50,000 hours, compared to the incandescent’s 1,000 hours.

By this calculation, a takeaway that opens for 80 hours a week would need to replace an incandescent bulb every 12.5 weeks, but might not need to replace an LED bulb for over a decade.

So, while they may seem expensive, LEDs are more cost efficient and convenient in the long run.

Supplier Negotiation

As we mentioned at the top, forming good supplier relationships can be tricky as an independent establishment.

Identify potential suppliers:

●      Wholesalers in the local area

●      Markets

●      Farms

●      Online food suppliers

Get quotes from different suppliers to compare prices and try to negotiate deals for bulk or consistent orders.

You can go on to develop a cordial relationship with suppliers by making regular purchases and always paying promptly. This could give them more incentive to offer you deals, further reducing your food bills.

Efficient Cooking Equipment

Efficient and modern cooking equipment tends to use less gas than its predecessors.

Up-to-date pans are often made of materials like copper and aluminium, which provide much more efficient heat conduction than steel and iron pans.

Non-stick pans require less oil and food can cook at a lower heat.

Modern ovens typically have better insulation than previous models, and offer better distribution of heat.

With modern options, you can use less gas by cooking faster, and use less heat with efficient insulation.

Final Thoughts

Due to the cost-of-living crisis, things are becoming increasingly difficult for independent businesses. However, there are useful methods you can implement to limit outgoing costs.

Start using our methods today to save money and keep your profits as high as possible.