Key considerations when setting up an F&B business

Blog Layout

You are preparing to start up your own F&B business where you can be your own boss, make your own decisions and do what you love. This is a dream come true for many F&B entrepreneurs. However, there are some aspects of setting up an F&B business that you need to take into consideration before jumping in head first. Here are some.

Suppliers

Your ingredient quality directly influences the taste of your food. However, as an F&B business, getting only top grade ingredients is not a feasible solution, unless your target market is the big spenders. Hence, it is important to source for suppliers that are able to provide you with fresh ingredients of average or above quality at a lower price consistently.

Also, you should keep multiple suppliers in your contact in case your go-to ingredient supplier does not have sufficient stock or is raising their prices. By doing so, you will be able to keep your food quality and pricing consistent and also ensure that your ingredients are always in stock.

Takeover or Start Up

While most F&B entrepreneurs choose to start up their own business, taking over of F&B business is another way you could own an F&B business. Taking over an F&B business means that you buy over the entire business, including the name, branding, equipment, licences and the physical shop of the F&B business.

While many may think that a business owner willing to sell his/her F&B business means that there is something amiss, it is often not the case. Their decision to sell off their business could also mean that they may not have the passion in the industry anymore, want to move on to the next phase in life or work on another project etc.

It may initially seem costly to takeover an F&B business, however, it is already a working business model which you just need to manage and make improvements on. Often, setting up your own F&B business means lots of learning things the hard way which often incurs costs.

Hence, you should weigh the pros and cons of taking over an F&B business or starting up one on your own.

Location

Where you set up shop is crucial to your F&B business success. Simply put, if less people see your F&B outlet, your customer base will be small. Hence, you should do some surveying of potential shop outlets and look out for the following:

Is human traffic high during peak hours?
What are the peak hours and days
What are the demographics of people who frequent the area? Are they your target market?
Are there any of your direct competitors in the shop’s vicinity

Service Style

What is your F&B business service style? Would it be full service dine in, casual dining, or a quick takeaway food kiosk? Before setting up your F&B business, you should have your ideal service style in mind.

Service style is an essential building block of your F&B branding, menu, target demographics, the type of shop you have to rent, manpower resources and many more. Hence, give your F&B business service type a deeper though as it would be an integral part of your business.

Manpower

Manpower is what powers your F&B business but is also often the biggest expense of a restaurant. Before setting up shop you should have a good idea of how much manpower is needed for each role, and how much your budget for manpower should be.

The F&B industry is one of the toughest to be in with long working hours, mostly standing, and little to no public holidays. Hence, you should hire staff that have a passion for working in the food industry. Often, it is the passion of being in the food industry which drives your staff to do their best even during the tough times.

Consider adopting digital solutions

Digital solutions like QR ordering systems and self ordering kiosks not only significantly help to reduce your dependency on manpower, but also increase your F&B business’s productivity by seamlessly linking up back and front of the house operations.

Though it may require an initial investment, there is long term savings to be gained among many other benefits brought about by digital ordering solutions, which is why they are becoming increasingly popular.

If you are looking for digital ordering solutions to lower your operating cost and increase productivity, drop iMakan your contact details below and we will be happy to arrange a free demo with you!

< Older Post Newer Post >

7 Tips to Optimize Operations at Your Takeaway Food Kiosk in Singapore

By Liang Wei Liaw • 09 May, 2024

Takeaway food kiosks in Singapore generally serve the demographics of Singaporeans that are looking for quick, convenient and tasty meal options. Hence, optimizing operations at your takeaway food kiosk is essential for delivering exceptional service and maximizing profitability. With the increasing demand for quick and convenient dining options, implementing strategies to streamline processes and enhance efficiency can set your kiosk apart from the competition. Here are seven tips to help you optimize operations at your takeaway food kiosk in Singapore, leveraging self-ordering technologies and online platforms to meet customer demands and drive success. Embrace Self-Ordering Solutions Invest in self-ordering kiosks or QR code ordering systems to empower customers to place their orders independently. By offering self-service options, you can reduce wait times, minimize order errors, and improve overall efficiency at your kiosk. Emphasize user-friendly interfaces and intuitive navigation to ensure a seamless ordering experience for customers. Implement Online Ordering Platforms Extend your reach and cater to digital-savvy customers by implementing online ordering platforms for takeaway and delivery. Utilize mobile apps or web-based ordering systems to enable customers to place orders remotely and schedule pickup times at your kiosk. Provide incentives such as exclusive discounts or loyalty rewards for online orders to encourage adoption and drive sales. Optimize Menu Selection and Layout Streamline your menu selection to focus on popular and high-margin items, reducing complexity and speeding up order processing. Organize your menu layout logically, grouping similar items together and highlighting best-sellers or promotional offerings. Utilize digital menu boards or signage to display menu options clearly and attractively, guiding customers towards their desired selections. Invest in Efficient Kitchen Equipment Equip your takeaway food kiosk with efficient kitchen equipment and tools to expedite food preparation and assembly. Invest in high-quality appliances, such as commercial-grade grills, fryers, and ovens, to ensure consistent quality and timely service. Implement workflow optimizations and station layouts to minimize bottlenecks and optimize throughput during peak hours. Streamline Order Fulfillment Processes Develop streamlined order fulfillment processes to ensure orders are prepared and delivered promptly. Implement order tracking systems or digital ticketing solutions to monitor order status in real-time and prioritize tasks accordingly. Train your staff to work efficiently and communicate effectively to minimize wait times and maintain customer satisfaction. Prioritize Hygiene and Safety Measures Uphold stringent hygiene and safety protocols to ensure a clean and safe environment for both customers and staff. Implement regular cleaning and sanitation routines for all surfaces, equipment, and utensils to minimize the risk of contamination. Provide hand sanitizer stations and encourage proper hand hygiene practices among your team members. Monitor Performance and Seek Feedback Continuously monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) such as order processing times, customer satisfaction scores, and sales metrics to identify areas for improvement. Solicit feedback from customers through surveys, comment cards, or online reviews to gain insights into their experience and preferences. Use this feedback to iterate on your operations and enhance the overall customer experience at your takeaway food kiosk. By implementing these seven tips, you can optimize operations at your takeaway food kiosk in Singapore, delivering fast, convenient, and high-quality service to your customers. By embracing self-ordering technologies, leveraging online platforms, and prioritizing efficiency and hygiene, you can position your kiosk for success in the competitive F&B landscape. iMakan Apart from looking to value add F&B owners in Singapore through information sharing articles, iMakan also provides self ordering solutions such as self ordering kiosks, qr ordering, and online ordering solutions for F&B businesses. If you are looking for such self ordering solutions, WhatsApp us or click here to drop us an enquiry.