The style and ambience the restaurant hopes to achieve should be considered when selecting tableware.
Q: WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS RESTAURANTS SHOULD CONSIDER WHEN PURCHASING TABLEWARE?
Birch: With four different elements to consider (crockery, cutlery, glassware and linen), it’s essential that each element complements the others, creating visual balance and harmony on the table and ensuring that gastronomic creations are showcased to their very best advantage.
When selecting tableware, identify who your target market is and the needs and expectations of that market — pick styles that are appealing and will be perceived as being of high quality by customers. Plan your selection strategically; think carefully about how you will use each item of tableware and look for products that multi-task, thereby making cost savings.
Hamberger: The most important factor is to consider the marketing objectives of the property. Who is the target market? What experience are you trying to create for them? How will the tableware help accomplish these marketing objectives? Taking these marketing objectives into account, the next questions pertain to operational practicality while considering the financial objectives.
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Given the pricing structure, have you selected tableware that will be cost effective? Are you comfortable with the anticipated costs from a financial perspective? Schoffel: Item design should complement and enhance the restaurant concept.
Get the quantities right for service — don’t over-use the product and make sure the brand or shape has continuity to keep up with replacements.
Fuchs: The style and ambience to be achieved for each restaurant, and whether the selected range has different shapes and sizes available to select from is key. Considerations also need to be made on whether the selected line offers various cup sizes, as coffee and tea are becoming increasingly important for restaurant sales, and each coffee and tea variation requires its own appropriate vessel.
Another consideration is the durability of the selected line. If gold or platinum rims are applied ensure that the rims are not around the plate’s edge, as the plate corners are the first to fade.
Lamprecht: One should ensure that the collection meets the specific needs of a restaurant such as grades of porcelain with lead-free glazes, and stackable forms that are dishwasher, salamander and microwave-safe for use in a restaurant. The special quality of this material makes porcelain extremely durable for the mechanical strains of everyday use.
The occasions you are using your tableware for are crucial: big buffet arrangements require a wider range of items than an individual dinner setting. Visual effects play another decisive role for high-end restaurants and hotels, providing that all-important first impression.
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