Now that Christmas is approaching, restaurants need to make a few critical preparations to cater for Christmas dinner and Christmas meal events - and it might seem like a lot to think about! You'll need to stock your restaurant for the holiday season and ensure it has everything it needs for catering Christmas gatherings.
But how can you prepare for Christmas catering success? What's the best way to stock your restaurant?
Our tips and list of essential items you're going to need can help with this. Check our article and read until the end to find out how to stock your restaurant for the holiday season and prepare for a well-catered Christmas!
Christmas Catering Stock List: Key Items Your Restaurant Needs
We've put together a comprehensive Christmas catering stock list so that there's nothing missing from your inventory when it's time to host your diners. Whether you're a chain restaurant or a small, local restaurant, you'll find all the catering stock recommendations below to help you serve your guests efficiently after completing the cooking process.
#1 Food Service Towels
Food service towels such as the Wypall X80 Antimicrobial solutions are just perfect for general food-service cleaning. When your customers come to celebrate this holiday, versatile food service towels can work well for hygienic purposes, and many options are compatible with machine washing or have antimicrobial solutions within them that inhibit odor-causing bacteria.
Customers will really appreciate having food service towels they can soak in hand sanitizer to clean away any food residue when tucking into your tasty morsels. They'll want strong options that are also soft, non-abrasive, and able to clean away any dirt. This is what the Wypall X80 food service towels can help with, since they feature a Kimfresh antimicrobial solution.
#2 Food Containers
When it comes to taking excess morsels away after dining in your restaurant, customers are going to want food containers that are secure and leak-free, like the Bio-Plus Earth Microwavable Container . High-grade food containers can be ideal for serving up tasty sauces that you lovingly create during the holiday season. They can also retain the heat of the food so that each morsel is ready to eat when required.
A family of diners at your restaurant will be grateful for a food container that locks securely and is easy to seal. They'll also be looking for a solution that vents the steam, which is exactly what the Bio-Plus Earth Microwavable Food Container offers. Its locking closure offers a tight seal, and customers don't need a separate lid to close the container.
#3 Napkin Dispensers
When Christmas comes, and your catering business or restaurant's staff places tempting dishes in front of your customers, diners will not be able to resist; they'll dig in straight away! In the event any morsels of food fall onto the table, or onto their clothes, customers will need quick access to napkin solutions, which is what a napkin dispenser like the Valay Table Napkin Dispenser is designed for.
With a napkin dispenser, diners can access plenty of napkins quickly, without requesting them from waiters, which is more convenient for both your staff and your customers. Such solutions truly elevate the dining experience, meaning the Christmas dining event will be a memorable one for customers and easier to navigate for employees.
#4 Placemats
The purpose of a placemat is to ensure table surfaces remain protected from any spillages; such solutions can help the Christmas catering and food service process since waiters can clean tables with more efficiency and less time.
But what they also do is to enhance the look of the table and elevate the quality of the dining experience, and options such as the Hoffmaster Straight Edge Placemats are one example of options that are practical and aesthetically pleasing.
Placemats like these can work for table preparation and can minimize the chances of table surface germs making contact with plates, knives or forks.
#5 Table Covers
The aesthetically pleasing and practical function of table covers can make Christmas catering easier for your restaurant. Their main purpose is to protect the surface of tables from stains or spills, but they can also elevate the dining experience with excellent dining setting decoration. For instance the Iceberg Stretch-Fabric Table Cover is smooth and comfortable and can work well for customers who visit your restaurant to eat at Christmas time.
They're the perfect option for special occasions and make the dining experience extra classy during this holiday season.
#6 Water Filters & Decanters
Beverage service for Christmas catering shouldn't be overlooked; guests and groups of friends who visit will want to wash down tasty warm food with refreshing beverages such as water. This is where water filters and decanters can be ideal, which you can add to the table and allow customers to access their own beverages when needed.
Options such as the Brita Classic Water Filter Pitcher will remove the chlorine taste or odor and deliver water that tastes pure and fresh. It's easy to use and will also allow customers to refill their glass as often as they like.
How to Stock Your Restaurant for the Holiday Season: Key Tips
The demand for food service equipment is increasing, according to Statista , with this market predicted to reach $53.78bn by 2030. If your restaurant needs to restock some of the key items above and is one of the eateries contributing to the increasing demand for food service equipment, check out the following three key tips to make restocking your restaurant for Christmas catering easier .
Check Your Inventory
It begins by checking your inventory and considering how busy your restaurant is going to be during the Christmas period. You don't want to overstock or understock, so checking your inventory will help you know which products you're going to need to order.
Make Sure You Count Inventory Strategically
Part of checking your inventory involves counting the items each time you need to restock. But there's a strategy required here. Ensure you're counting the inventory on the same day of the week and the same time of day. This will help you understand how many products you have gone through between each count.
You'll then want to make a list after the count, which you can do with the help of the items listed above, and jot down the quantities you will need to order by aligning this with the number of customers you're likely to receive.
Purchase Inventory from Reliable Restaurant Service Product Suppliers
The most reliable restaurant service product suppliers will make the purchasing process easier and offer a few perks, so it's always ideal to pick reputable suppliers such as BuyDirect when restocking for Christmas catering.
When you purchase your inventory items, you'll find that free delivery comes with the best suppliers, who will also make it easy to bulk buy in preparation for this holiday season. You'll also find that rebates may be available, so check with the supplier for more information on this.
Stock Up Your Restaurant for Your Christmas Catering Needs
Christmas isn't far away, so if you need to stock up for your Christmas catering needs, now's the time to make a start. Whether you need napkins, dispensers or placemats, make sure you place your order before the holiday season arrives!
You'll find these items at BuyDirect, so start browsing today. Stock up your restaurant for your Christmas catering needs with BuyDirect!
FAQs
For further information on Christmas catering restocking, go to the FAQs just below!
How Many People Will a Full Catering Tray Feed?
This can be between 15 people and 20 people and when looking at an example, we advise that a half tray of chicken thighs will serve approximately 15 people. Yet, this will depend on the specific tray you choose. A full tray, for instance, can potentially serve up to 30 people.
What is the Rule of Thumb for Catering?
This involves considering the amount of servings for appetizers and main courses. For instance, you'll need to serve 1.5 servings for each guest for appetizers and one serving for side dishes. You'll also need to serve an average of 7 ounces of protein for your customers' main course.
What Type of Containers Should be Used to Transport Food Correctly?
They need to be high-quality and exceptionally clean. They also need to be food-grade or at least made of high-density polyethylene. You might also want to ensure the containers do not produce mold and ensure the food remains at a stable temperature, which is where our food containers can be ideal.