Tips to switch to a farm-to-table approach
Just like many people, we like to know where our food comes from, right? There has been a strong social movement to promote local economic and environmental benefits up to the point that it has grown into a cultural phenomenon: farm-to-table restaurants.
In the recent study A Gen Z Purpose, Cone shows how 90% of Gen-Z consumers expect businesses to tackle social and environmental issues. The passion for a more ethical and eco-friendly way to source food is very real! The study also shows that 75% of younger consumers will actively research how companies follow through on their promises.
But, switching to a farm-to-table approach comes with its challenges.
Adapt to seasonal ingredients
With locally-sourced products, your restaurant is more likely to be at the mercy of changing seasons. It implies that you'll need to adapt your menu accordingly, which might become a nightmare for you. Our advice? Keep it simple: offer a smaller list of daily options alongside a regular menu. Also, make sure you clearly state where your products come from: it'll help your client choose sustainable dishes.
Keep track of the costs
Organic farm and artisans food products don't come cheap: you might be afraid your farm-to-table menu will increase your costs. It won't change the habits of some diners, but it will definitely be a changing factor for others. Consider the more pricey products, like meat, to evaluate the potential impact on your costs.
Watch out for supply chain gaps
Multiplying local suppliers will certainly increase complexity in your supply chain. When an artisan experiences issues in their workshop or farm, crucial ingredients or hard-to-find products might go undelivered. You'll probably end up sourcing more suppliers to be sure you always get the products you need. It'll mechanically increase the number of invoices to track. That's where Libeo comes in: we give you back up to ten hours a week by helping you automatically collect, approve and pay in one click all supplier invoices.
It feels a bit daunting? It might not be as hard as it sounds, with the help of tech solutions specifically designed to tackle this challenge.
For instance, the restaurant software Tried & Supplied offers to fo the tedious work of sourcing sustainable suppliers. You'll get locally-sourced products that taste great and are sustainably grown, without the burden of doing it manually on your own!
And for your supplier invoices, you can rely on Libeo
Today, dealing with B2B payments implies a lot of manual and admin tasks. That's why we've designed an intuitive payment platform to ease the experience for you and your suppliers! Libeo helps you track all transactions: automated workflows will facilitate the collection of invoices, making approval swift. Then, pay your suppliers immediately, at due date or the date of your choosing, without logging several times into your online banking or chasing bank accounts details.
To learn more, request a demo.
