5 Effective Strategies for Restaurants to Reduce Food Costs While Maintaining Quality

For restaurant and tavern owners, profit margins are always tight. Rising food costs, staffing shortages, and unpredictable demand make it harder than ever to stay ahead.

The good news? With the right strategies — and the right distribution partner — you can keep costs down without sacrificing quality or customer satisfaction.

Here are five practical ways to reduce expenses while keeping your menu strong.

1. Order in Bulk for Staples

Items like cooking oils, grains, frozen goods, and beverages are perfect for bulk purchasing. Not only do you save money per unit, but you also reduce the number of orders you need to place each week.

💡 Pro Tip: Somerset Foods offers bulk pricing on a wide range of tavern and restaurant staples, including Coca-Cola products, making it easy to stock up on the essentials.

2. Reduce Food Waste with Smarter Portions

Food waste is one of the biggest hidden costs in restaurants. Tracking plate returns can help you identify which dishes are oversized or consistently unfinished. Adjusting portion sizes saves money and often improves customer satisfaction.

💡 Pro Tip: Offer two portion sizes (regular and large) — customers appreciate the choice, and you control costs.

3. Use Versatile Ingredients

Building your menu around versatile items allows you to create multiple dishes without overloading your storage. For example, grilled chicken can be used in wraps, salads, sandwiches, and entrées.

💡 Pro Tip: Somerset Foods supplies a variety of proteins, grains, and snacks that can easily be used across multiple menu items.

4. Simplify Your Ordering System

Every minute your managers spend dealing with complicated ordering systems is a cost. A streamlined distributor platform helps you track invoices, reorder common items, and adjust quickly when business shifts.

💡 Pro Tip: Somerset Foods offers simple, reliable ordering systems designed for busy restaurant and tavern operators.

5. Partner With a Distributor Who Understands Your Business

Not all distributors are created equal. Choosing a partner who values reliability, communication, and flexibility can save you money in the long run — not just on food, but also on time and labor.

💡 Pro Tip: Somerset Foods focuses on local businesses in NJ, NY, PA, and CT, offering personalized service and consistent deliveries that national distributors often can’t match.

FAQs

Q: How often should I order in bulk?

A: Weekly bulk orders for staples work well, while fresh items can be ordered more frequently to reduce spoilage.

Q: What’s the easiest way to identify food waste in my tavern or restaurant?

A: Monitor plate waste and inventory shrinkage — these are clear signals that adjustments are needed.

Q: How does Somerset Foods help with cost control?

A: By offering bulk pricing, streamlined ordering, and reliable deliveries that keep you from making expensive last-minute fixes.

Conclusion

Cutting costs doesn’t mean cutting corners. By focusing on bulk staples, smarter portions, versatile ingredients, and efficient ordering, restaurants and taverns can protect their margins while still serving meals that keep customers coming back.

At Somerset Foods, we make it simple. With dependable deliveries, bulk pricing, and flexible service, we help local restaurants and taverns save money and stay profitable — without the headaches.

Somerset Foods. Meals made simple.