Expert Advice on Hospitality Topics

This article is an excerpt from the Food Service Professional Guide to Controlling Liquor Wine & Beverage Costs, authored by Elizabeth Godsmark, published by Atlantic Publishing Company. This excerpt has been reprinted with permission of the publisher. To purchase this book go to:

Atlantic Publishing Company
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The purchasing department is the linchpin when it comes to reducing costs. It is much easier to control costs in this area than anywhere else in the operation. The bottom line is that astute buying techniques offer the best opportunity for a business to increase its overall profits.

• Monitor market trends. An upsurge in popularity of a certain beverage can lead to increased competition amongst vendors. Play them off against each other occasionally. Negotiate. You have nothing to lose!

• Welcome new ideas. Purchasers should always be on the lookout for new ideas and new ways of reducing costs. Don't close your door to sales rep­resentatives. They may genuinely have something of interest to your establishment. Consider their promotional discounts.

• "Opportunity buys." Don't rule them out. Take a look at items that may soon be discontinued or overstocked merchandise where a supplier has simply miscalculated demand. You could make big savings.

• Cooperative purchasing. Consider "pool" purchasing with other enterprises. It can give you added purchasing power.

• Change purchase unit size. Buy drinks in larger volumes. This can trim costs considerably, particu­larly in the case of liquor purchases where sell-by dates tend to be more generous.

• Place multiple orders. Consider buying your full range of drinks from one wholesaler. It may offer you amazing reductions, especially if it's keen to do business with you on a repeat basis.

A Good Purchasing Security System Can Save You Big Bucks

Build security into your purchasing procedures. The choiceof security system, however, depends a lot upon the size of your operation. If you are the "head cook and bottle washer" of a small establishment, security is a much simpler issue. If, however, you are part of a larger enterprise where a number of personnel are involved in purchasing, then security becomes a major concern. If this is your lot, give the following issues serious consideration:

• Set up a reliable purchasing control system. Whether your chosen system is manually operated or computerized, it must be free from loopholes. 

• Beware of bogus documentation. Make sure that routine purchasing procedures are accurately documented from start to finish. Attention to detail in this area will help alert you to breaches of security. Be constantly on the lookout for
  calculation "errors," deliberate duplication, "incorrect" invoices and bogus credit requests. These are all common ploys used by unscrupulous purchasers and vendors.

• Beware of the possibility of kickbacks. Some buyers have been known to "work" with suppliers in return for benefits such as money or gifts. Unfortunately, it happens all too often. Such "practiced" buyers and sellers are often masters of disguise, so don't be green, be keen!

• Beware of purchaser theft. This can take several forms. Purchasers may order merchandise for their own personal use or they may buy wholesale with the intent to "selling on." A carefully designed purchasing system will take care of most of these problems.