Managing a catering business or a restaurant is no easy feat. There are a lot of factors that you need to consider to steer your enterprise into success. There are plenty of things to consider when setting up a restaurant such as location, menu, and even the staff. However, one of the often under-looked aspects of managing a catering business or a restaurant is storage.
Space will always be a problem for you. The bigger your business becomes the more space that you will need for kitchen equipment, tools, ingredients, and even walking room. It can be tough to navigate through your kitchen when it’s filled to the brim with items.
Regardless of whether you are a simple home cook or a professional chef working in a Michelin star restaurant, you want a kitchen that is as clean and spacious as possible. Cooking in a cluttered space will hinder not only your speed but also efficiency. It can even be considered as a work hazard.
Take note that the kitchen is filled with dangerous items such as gas pipes, open flames, and knives. A simple slip or bump could quickly turn into a big disaster with huge damages, both to your property and staff.
To run a restaurant, there are thousands of items that you need to have: table settings, tables, chairs, pots, pans, cutlery, knives, chopping boards, whisks. The list goes on. On average, a 40-seat restaurant will need a 200 sq ft kitchen to keep its customers satisfied. Unfortunately, with all the supplies, ingredients, and equipment that a kitchen needs to be fully operational, this does not suffice. If your business also offers a catering service, then you would also need space for the extra tables, silverware, plates, decorations, and tablecloths.
This is where storage units come in. Storage facilities offer both individuals and commercial establishments additional space where they can store items until they are ready to use them.
I have listed down below some of the best self-storage tips for restaurants and caterers.
Create An Inventory List
The first thing that you should do when you decide to store your items is to create an inventory list. This way, you know what items are inside of your storage unit. Make it a habit to update your list every time that you take stuff out. An inventory list will also allow you to determine just how big of a storage unit you should get. Don’t make the rookie mistake of renting a space that’s too big for you as that would be considered as an unnecessary expense.
Organise Your Storage Unit
Just because you have a storage unit does not automatically mean that you can store everything without caring on how you place them. Put everything in boxes and label them to guarantee that similar items are together. When taking them out, it would be easier for you to determine which is which. You don’t want to be stuck one day having to rifle through all the boxes looking for seasonal decorations, do you?
Also, make the most of your storage unit by adding shelves. By doing this, you can store more items. When it comes to storage, height is your friend. Designate one shelf for each category: Silverware, Kitchen Pans, Tools, Knives, Plates, etc.
Choose A Convenient Location
Running a restaurant can get pretty hectic. Don’t add to your hassle by choosing a storage unit that is miles away from your restaurant. Pick a convenient location. If your restaurant is based in London, for instance, we recommend booking with Henfield Self Storage. Not only are their prices one of the lowest in the market, but also they have storage units right in the heart of London, making it easy for you to store your items.
Date Your Perishables
Before storing your perishables, double-check first with the site manager if they allow food to be stored. While most sites don’t allow food inside storage units for the reason that they spoil quickly and can attract vermin, some storage facilities allow if they’re properly sealed.
When given the green light, take the time to date all the perishables with their Best Before date to ensure that none of the food that you store goes to waste. It also goes without saying that if you plan to store perishables, you should opt for a storage unit with climate control. Climate Control allows its users to strictly monitor and regulate the temperature inside the storage unit, as well as the moisture and humidity of the air.
Storing supplies inside a storage unit with no climate control will lower its quality, thereby affecting its flavour. Food also spoils faster when stored at the wrong temperature. Moisture from changing temperatures can also be the cause for bacteria and mould growth which is a big no-no, especially in the food industry.
Stack Tables & Chairs
Tables and chairs will take up most of the space if you’re in the catering business. Instead of just letting them lie around your unit, disassemble the tables and stack your chairs. Storage facilities recommend disassembling all furniture, not only as a way to save space, but also to prevent any accidents and damage from occurring.
Storage units are convenient solutions to your storage problems. There’s no need to be scared of them as they exist to ease your worries. Equipped with surveillance systems, climate control, and thick walls, your items will surely be safe from any danger.
