6 ways a food GPO boosts your restaurant’s performance... and profits

Running a restaurant isn’t easy. You have rising food costs, labor shortages, fierce competition and changing customer preferences to contend with.

As the world’s largest food GPO, Entegra leverages its $36 billion in purchasing power to negotiate cost savings on nearly everything you need to run your business.

But Entegra is more than just a GPO. Entegra is a full-service solution provider that helps you go beyond purchasing.

Here are six surprising ways Entegra can improve your restaurant’s performance.

1. Culinary support
   How do you enhance your menu? Stretch your ingredients across dayparts? Cut food waste?
   Entegra can help you create and execute a winning menu strategy with its culinary support services at the Entegra Performance Kitchen, a culinary agency and test kitchen, including:
   • Menu cost analysis that helps you optimize your food costs and margins.
   • Operations evaluations that help you improve your kitchen efficiency and productivity.
   • Time and motion studies that help you streamline your workflows and processes.
   • Videography/photography that help you showcase your dishes and attract more customers.
   • Recipe development and testing that help you innovate and introduce new menu items.
   • Menu engineering and design that help you optimize your menu layout, presentation and profitability.
2. Custom contracting and local sourcing
   Source customized or unique food and supplies for your restaurant. We can help you find new products, even if we don’t have a contract. Let our supply team do the negotiating for you to offer the right items at a lower price.
   Looking for local suppliers? Jersey tomatoes, Georgia peaches, New York bagels... whatever your need. Entegra can help you source these items through its Custom Contracting services. Entegra can help you:
   • Identify and evaluate suppliers.
   • Negotiate lower prices and terms for your custom contracts.
   • Manage and monitor your custom contracts and supplier performance.
   • Ensure quality, consistency and availability of your custom products and provide alternatives if there are supply issues.
     
     See what local sourcing can add to your restaurant.
      
3. Training and workforce support
   With the cost of labor – and the difficulty finding workers – it's time to get inventive to solve your labor challenges. From AI robots to workforce training, Entegra can open doors to:
   • ServSafe training and certification, the industry standard for food safety and sanitation.
   • In-house culinary support from Entegra's team of chefs, dietitians and foodservice experts.
   • Temporary labor through Entegra's competitive contracts with staffing agencies.
   • Online culinary learning and development resources for your staff to maintain your specific quality standards.
   • Strategies for employee engagement, retention and recognition.
4. Data and analytics
   At every stage of the procurement process, you’ll have Entegra’s PurchasingIQ platform supporting your team. From purchasing to optimizing to auditing and daily management, with the new Entegra PurchasingIQ you will:
   • Get one-click access to all 1,500+ Entegra suppliers.
   • View your spending by location down to the SKU level.
   • Optimize your savings with Entegra contracted product matches.
   • Uncover distributor pricing discrepancies with Contract Auditor.
5. Energy management
   One of the biggest expenses for any restaurant is energy. Entegra's Energy Management Services can help you:
   • Analyze your current energy usage and identify opportunities for savings.
   • Implement energy-efficient equipment, lighting, HVAC and refrigeration systems.
   • Monitor and optimize your energy performance with smart meters and dashboards.
   • Access rebates, incentives and financing options for energy-saving projects.
   • Reduce your carbon footprint and environmental impact.
6. CSR support and waste management
   Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is not only good for the planet, but also good for your business. Customers today are more conscious of the social and environmental impact of their food choices, and they expect restaurants to share their values and commitments. Entegra can work with you to meet and exceed your CSR goals by helping you to:
   • Reduce food waste
   • Source products from minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned and other diverse businesses.
   • Develop plant-forward menus
   • Track and verify the origin, quality and safety of your food products, adding supply chain traceability improvements.
   • Source sustainable packaging to reduce your waste and use of plastic.
   • Source eco-certified and organic ingredients that meet the highest standards of environmental and social responsibility.

Entegra is more than a GPO; we’re your business improvement partner. Whether you need help with energy management, CSR support, culinary support, custom contracting or training/workforce support, Entegra has the cost-savings and operational solutions to help you maximize your restaurant’s profitability.

Contact us about putting Entegra’s purchasing power and business performance improvement solutions to work for you.