Labor costs are a significant expense for restaurants, typically accounting for 30-35% of total revenue (HubWorks, 2023). In a competitive environment with slim profit margins, finding labor-saving strategies without compromising quality or service is crucial for restaurant success. Explore various strategies restaurants can implement to achieve labor savings, drawing on insights from industry experts and established resources like the National Restaurant Association and Restaurant Business Magazine.
Labor-Saving Strategies for Staff Scheduling
Leverage Technology
Restaurant scheduling software can automate tasks like creating schedules, tracking employee hours, and managing time-off requests. This frees up managers’ time and allows for data-driven scheduling that considers factors like sales forecasts and historical customer traffic patterns.
Our tool, Gordon Restaurant Pro, was developed by restaurant operators with firsthand experience running successful operations. With Gordon Restaurant Pro, you can easily integrate POS and accounting systems, compare actual vs. theoretical costs, track food and labor expenses, and much more.
Embrace Auto Scheduling
Auto-scheduling features within restaurant management software can create optimized schedules based on pre-defined parameters, ensuring the right number of staff are on hand during peak hours and minimizing costs due to labor during slower periods. This is an effective and widely used labor-saving strategy that helps streamline operations and improve profitability.
Cross Training
Cross-training employees to handle various tasks, from food prep to serving, increases staff flexibility and allows you to cover shifts more efficiently with a smaller team.
Investing in Restaurant Technology
Self-Service Kiosks and Online Ordering
Self-service kiosks and online ordering systems allow customers to place orders and customize meals without requiring server interaction. This can significantly reduce labor costs in fast-casual and quick-service restaurants.
Kitchen Display System
Kitchen display systems streamline communication between the front-of-house and back-of-house staff. Orders are automatically sent to the kitchen display systems, eliminating the need for manual order-taking and reducing errors.
Inventory Management Systems
Inventory management systems track food and beverage stock levels, helping prevent waste and optimize ordering. This reduces costs by eliminating the need for manual inventory checks and streamlining stock management. As a Gordon Food Service customer, you receive access to valuable tools like the Recipe Calculator and Inventory Worksheet at no additional cost, while many other advanced tools are available to meet specific needs for an additional fee. Explore all our digital solutions and find the best tools for your kitchen here.
Additionally, you can discover a wide range of software partners through Back of House.
Enhancing Kitchen Operations
Standardizing Recipes
Standardizing recipes ensures consistency in dish preparation and reduces prep time, leading to faster service times and lower labor costs. And, with our digital solution, Gordon Culinary Pro, chefs and culinary team members can create and organize their recipes efficiently and train staff quickly.
Elevate Your Recipe Management
Gordon Culinary Pro streamlines your recipe management, reducing costs, speeding up training, and improving consistency.
Invest in Multi-Functional Equipment
Multi-functional equipment can perform multiple tasks, reducing the need for specialized appliances and simplifying kitchen operations to free up staff time and improve overall kitchen efficiency.
Explore Automation Opportunities
While automated equipment for tasks like chopping vegetables, dispensing ingredients, or grilling food may require a significant upfront investment, it can lead to substantial long-term savings by reducing costs, particularly in high-volume restaurants.
Employee Engagement and Retention
Competitive Wages and Benefits
Offering competitive wages, benefits packages, and opportunities for professional development can help attract and retain top talent. A stable and motivated workforce is more efficient and requires less training, ultimately reducing costs.
Positive Work Environment
Creating a positive work environment through open communication, recognition programs, and growth opportunities can improve employee morale and reduce turnover. When employees feel valued and engaged, they are more likely to be productive and deliver outstanding customer service.
Labor Saving Products
In addition to the labor-saving strategies outlined above, restaurants can further optimize costs by embracing sous vide and pre-prepared food solutions.
Pre-Prepared Foods and Sous Vide:
- Pre-cooked proteins: Using pre-cooked proteins, such as sous vide meats, can greatly reduce labor time in the kitchen. These products are typically cooked to perfection and require minimal reheating, enabling chefs to dedicate more time to other essential tasks.
- Pre-cut vegetables: Pre-cut vegetables save valuable prep time and reduce food waste. Ready-Set-Serve by Markon offers a full line of table-ready fresh fruits, vegetables, and juices that are ready-to-use, innovative, and economical.
- Pre-made sauces and dressings: Pre-made sauces and dressings simplify menu preparation and reduce the need for skilled labor. Our brand, Pepper Mill, offers a diverse range of dressings that are the perfect addition to any menu. Whether serving a creamy, peppery Caesar, a deliciously dippable Ranch, or a classic Italian, Pepper Mill dressings are ideal for tossing in salads, drizzling on sandwiches, or serving on the side.
By incorporating these pre-prepared options, restaurants can streamline their operations, improve consistency, and ultimately reduce labor costs.
Leverage Pre-Prepared Foods
Streamline your operations, improve consistency, and reduce labor costs today! Not a customer yet? Sign up below and improve your operation’s spending.
English 
