Why is it a good idea for restaurants to source products locally?

It is becoming more common for restaurants to source products from local suppliers. Venues such as nypbarandgrill.com advertise that they use local ingredients in the meals that are served to diners. Many people who go out to eat look for this type of advertisement as local sourcing becomes more and more important in the eating out arena.

So why is local sourcing such a good idea for restaurants? We are going to take a look at that question and come up with some answers in the areas of quality, cost and efficiency.

Is buying locally more expensive?

There has sometimes been a misconception that buying produce from local suppliers is always more expensive for a restaurant; this is not the case. Larger suppliers may be able to offer produce for sale a reduced cost, but transportation costs may be high if the supplier is geographically distant. There is also the opportunity for restaurants to reach agreements with local suppliers so that price deals can be struck. Local sourcing can be just as cost effective as sourcing from further afield; more cost effective in some cases.

The efficiency benefits of sourcing locally

One of the biggest advantages of local sourcing is that it can improve efficiency. If a restaurant runs out of any items that it needs to create meals on its menu then it’s a lot quicker for it to purchase the item from a local supplier. This prevents restaurants from having to keep large stocks of items which it can be difficult to keep fresh. If the restaurant maintains sufficient stocks for normal operating conditions then the management knows additional stocks can quickly be obtained should there be an unexpected period of high demand.

The quality of local produce

If a restaurant sources produce locally its purchasing team has the opportunity of being able to see the items it is buying. This means that the team can establish that produce is high in quality before the purchase is completed. Being local to the source of produce also helps the restaurant to ensure that the items it uses in its recipe are fresh.
This in turn helps to improve the quality of the food that is produced and of the eating experience for the diner. If people are happy with the food that they get to eat they will return and they will spread the word. This helps to improve profits for the restaurant.

Hopefully, we have shown why it makes sense for a restaurant to opt for local sourcing. Buying locally does not have to be any more expensive and can, in fact, be less so. The restaurant can order produce with short delivery times and the items it receives are fresh. If the restaurant uses high quality local produce in the creation of meals then this helps to improve its reputation and, most importantly, its profits.

Jude Plunkett is a native of Liverpool UK who has been writing professionally for the last four years; following a lifelong love affair with words. She enjoys writing on a myriad of topics including the world of hospitality and dining out. Away from writing Jude performs stand-up comedy, takes part in quizzes and unsurprisingly enjoys visiting local restaurants.