The innovative solutions you can leverage in your hospitality business

Q&A with Entegra Global CEO Damien Calderini

Competing for the hearts and minds of customers is a constant challenge for hospitality operators. How do you stand out, especially with the headwinds of inflation and labor shortages cutting into profits?

From updates on culinary trends and inflation to streamlining your digital procurement process, Entegra CEO Damien Calderini shared his ideas on key differentiators the world’s largest food GPO brings to the table.

Q: How does Entegra provide updates on inflation and its impact on hospitality businesses?

A: We’ve all been challenged by supply and labor costs. That’s why we’ve assembled a team of experts to keep the industry updated on macro-economic trends and the impact of inflation on procurement. A good procurement partner will become a part of your team, providing insights to enable better forecasting and budgeting.

Our hope is that you can use this information to adapt and adjust your buying strategy where possible to impact your bottom line.

Q: How can Entegra help businesses with sustainable sourcing, conserving energy and reducing food waste?

A: From free-range eggs to hydroponic lettuce to local produce, there are so many ways to make a commitment to sustainability that is both environmentally responsible and financially beneficial.

As consumers grow increasingly aware of the environmental, social, and economic impacts behind their purchasing decisions, they’re also looking to businesses for more transparency about where the things they buy come from. They want to know:

• Who made it?
• Were the workers treated well?
• How much were they paid?
• How was the product produced?
• What ingredients or materials were used?
• Were the animals treated ethically and humanely?

Working with our supply partners, we can help answer those questions for you.

Answering these questions can be time-consuming and challenging, especially while managing rising costs, labor issues, geopolitical uncertainties and other fluctuations or risks in your supply chain.

At Entegra, we put the full scale of our resources and insights to work for you – to help you build transparency within your supply chain while saving money and preserving quality.

Did you know that up to two-thirds of the average company’s environment, social and governance footprint lies with suppliers? It isn’t enough to focus solely on internal operational efficiencies and waste reductions; procurement clearly plays a crucial role in determining the strength of your organization’s ESG performance. Partnering with a GPO can help your business add transparency and visibility into its supply chain.

Whether your commitment aims to address environmental impacts or social and economic inequities, we can help you source organic, non-GMO, clean label, or otherwise certified products that best align with your strategy. We also help support clients who adhere to third-party models for sustainability, like Green Restaurant Association, Health Care Without Harm, Cool Food Pledge and the Good Food Purchasing Program. Of course, these are just a few examples.

Q: What is the Entegra Performance Kitchen and how can operators leverage its capabilities to improve their food service?

A: The Entegra Performance Kitchen is our state-of-the-art innovation space where our team of culinarians work to bring more innovative and cost-effective solutions to your kitchens.

The challenges we face in our industry, from inflation to labor shortages, only heighten the need for flawless implementation, putting pressure on every facet of your business. Entegra’s Culinary Services can help you become more strategic and competitive, including how to train and inspire your teams to deliver impeccable hospitality and unforgettable experiences to your guests and understand how trends are essential to your success and how to stay on brand when deploying them.

Q: In what ways is Entegra planning to bring more digital solutions to impact the procurement process?

A: Digital procurement helps businesses control costs by eliminating inefficiencies, preventing errors and reducing manual work. Another important benefit is that it brings transparency to what can be an overwhelming and opaque process, especially when you need more support in your procurement department. And that’s where Entegra comes in as a resource.

We’re always improving on the digital solutions and tools we are providing and have some really exciting plans in the pipeline that we can't wait to bring to market. Our plan is to make the procurement process a seamless digital experience that streamlines what you’re doing and makes your team feel bigger and more supported.

Are you ready to leverage innovative technologies and solutions to propel your food service? Let’s talk!

Call us at 833-955-1490 or contact us to get more information about putting Entegra’s purchasing power to work for you.