Articles & Interviews

Sustainability in Foodservice, how does it benefit you? 

With insights in which advantages there are for your organization.

March 15, 2022

Sustainability in Foodservice, how does it benefit you? 

In our previous article about sustainability, we discussed which buttons you can push to maximize your impact. This article will inform you about how the Sustainable Food Route benefit you. Many organizations view sustainability as a large investment which gives little results at the forefront, which is why we want to give you insights in which benefits there are for your organization and how and when a sustainable choice will show its returns. Over a longer period of time, it will show that its value goes beyond the financial picture. 

 

Penny Profit

Sustainability is often associated with a higher food cost. Indeed, you may be going backwards on some products, but overall you are going forward. This has everything to do with penny profit. This is the selling price minus the food cost. It is possible that by using other products your food cost will be higher, but there is a good chance that the price can also go up, which will increase your penny profit. As a result, you’ll earn more.

 

Room to invest 

There are great purchasing fluctuations, these will only become more uncertain. Results can be booked in cost reduction and forecasting by focusing on plant based, local sourcing and minimization of food waste. The money that is gained through savings on menu items combined with development based on our sustainability pillars, including new menu items, allows to invest in higher quality of resources and high-quality processing by kitchen staff.

 

Customer loyalty 

Generating loyalty and gaining trust from the new generations by clear communication of the promises, mission, and vision. The current revenue is related to a changing target audience, how can you maintain this revenue level? There will be no surprises and fluctuations in your revenue with F&B development based on our sustainability pillars, you will enter the market with a long- term vision, which won’t go unnoticed. 

Clients are more inclined to support sustainable organizations and can identify themselves more with an organization that actively communicates its sustainable values. Identification contributes to customer loyalty and word-of-mouth promotion.

 

Role model 

A human being is a herd animal with the basic intent to always do good. Our focus is to support making the right decision and to make this as easy as possible. The choice for people, planet, profit does not have to be a niche if you associate yourself with the positive belief and prove that your product range and taste character are convincing. A scientific base for making your products more sustainable is essential for the long term and gives more long-term confidence.

 

Certification and network 

While obtaining certification can be a costly process, a certification will pay its dues in brand value and reaching new target groups. Additionally, it is important to have a pragmatic approach to obtaining a certification. Certifications such as ISO communicate a promise towards the client, certifications like B-corp can offer a beneficial network of companies with a similar vision on sustainability. With SFR, we fixate the concrete, practical steps in the organization and, more importantly, in the recipes. Adjustments on high impact components can support the fast-paced process of auditing and certification. Your teams will be ready for change by using our scan and sustainability pillars, which will save you much human effort, readjustment, and disappointment with future audits. 

Communicating the SFR project and obtaining a certification to your clients and suppliers will show that you are a trustworthy partner in the long run, which is very valuable in the present time. 

 

Profits in different areas of your organization 

Adjustments in recipes are of high importance to secure sustainability in your organization. This will yield returns as the focus is not only on purchasing sustainable ingredients and goods; we also focus on the recipes and adjusting the recipe composition. These fundamental principles will be secured in future developments within your organization. It is important that future decisions are made based on the right principles to prevent relapse. Working from the basis of SFR benefits long-term results and you are on the right side of progress and innovation. Being less dependent on long procurement chains, processed products, animal protein and its increasingly fragile chains, transparent declarations, clear nutritional values, healthy dishes and standards, being prepared against the effects of international conflicts on your margins and purchasing; everything will make your product range future proof and delicious. There will be more room to control local procurement chains, circularity, and input of your own staff on your menu. Knowledge and skill combined with a scientific base provides good communication towards the guests around the table. 

 

“Change before you have to” Jack Welch

 

And now?  

Now you know what the Sustainable Food Route yields, but how can you pragmatically implement this in your organization? Together with We Design Food, we developed the Sustainable Food Route for exactly this reason. The Sustainable Food Route is a concrete roadmap that can support you in holistically, responsibly, and pragmatically making your F&B more sustainable. Additionally, the Sustainable Food Route gives you the chance to profile your company and differentiate from the competition. Join the Sustainable Food Route today and together we can walk the road towards sustainability. 

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