| Catering is now an important aspect of nearly | | | | equipment will be quite minimal. Obviously, plates |
| every business in the hospitality industry. No | | | | and cutlery are going to be important as are |
| longer can pubs and bars just rely on the revenue | | | | condiment containers. But think of what will be |
| from beers, wines and spirits; with smoking bans, | | | | needed in the kitchen: chopping boards, knives, |
| global recessions and rising alcohol duties, more | | | | pans and utensils – speak to your cook who |
| and more establishments are offering food to | | | | will be able to work out everything they need for |
| stay afloat. | | | | each menu item. |
| But catering can be a daunting experience for | | | | Choosing the equipment |
| those business owners that are unused to serving | | | | Practicality is by far the most important aspect to |
| food. Catering is a totally different animal to the | | | | catering equipment. Must equipment for business |
| drinks business and there is much to think about | | | | is larger and more durable than the sort of |
| from the health and hygiene certificates to | | | | utensils and kitchen equipment you use at home. |
| sourcing the food. | | | | It also has to be easy to clean so look for |
| | | | stainless steel wherever possible and avoid any |
| Stainless steel is by far the best solution | | | | complicated gadgets and kitchen devices that are |
| One area especially, that can be extremely | | | | not only expensive and space consuming but |
| difficult is buying catering accessories. First, you | | | | often there are simpler and easier solutions to the |
| have to establish the equipment you need and not | | | | problem. |
| fall into the trap of buying catering accessories | | | | Finding a catering equipment supplier |
| that will just sit on a cupboard and not be used. | | | | Fortunately, thanks to the internet finding a good |
| You then have to find a good catering equipment | | | | catering equipment and accessory supplier |
| supplier and choose from what can be often a | | | | shouldn't be hard to find. Check a few different |
| daunting range of different types of catering gear. | | | | websites and establish where they are based and |
| Working out what equipment you need | | | | if they are contactable by telephone or email |
| You need to establish the type of food you are | | | | – often important if you need advice. |
| offering. For short order/grills. The basic | | | | |