In today’s catering landscape, controlling food costs isn’t just good practice – it’s essential for business survival. With rising prices across ingredients, utilities, and services, it’s more important than ever to have a clear grip on your menu spend.

Here are some strategic tips to help you stay within budget while still delivering great-tasting meals your residents love:

  • Embrace Seasonal Ingredients

Local, in-season produce often comes with lower costs and better flavour. Choosing ingredients at their peak harvest reduces transport costs and supports local suppliers – while enhancing taste and freshness.

  • Rethink Protein Choices

Meat can be one of the most expensive components of a dish. Consider using lesser-known but flavourful cuts or introduce more plant-based dishes to reduce reliance on costly proteins. These swaps can offer nutritional benefits while cutting your food spend.

  • Reduce Waste with Smarter Planning

Food waste directly hits your bottom line. Track what gets thrown out and regularly assess which ingredients or dishes are being over-prepared or under-utilised. Repurpose excess ingredients into new dishes to keep your kitchen sustainable and cost-efficient.

  • Improve Stock Control

Effective inventory management prevents over-ordering and spoilage. Use your data effectively so you can streamline menus, reduce holding costs, and make smarter purchasing decisions.

  • Order Smarter, Not Harder

Digital ordering platforms, like EF-group’s Freshmarkets, allow teams to buy directly from approved suppliers with built-in budget controls. With clean billing, one invoice a month and live spend tracking, site-level accountability becomes much easier to maintain.

  • Portion with Precision

Serving size matters. Over-serving can eat into profits, especially if portion sizes aren’t being measured. Tools like CaterCloud help teams maintain consistent portion control across sites, boosting profit margins without compromising on quality.

Driving Efficiency with the Right Tools

At EF-group, our mission is to help care home operators save time, save money, and reduce waste. Our integrated systems – Freshmarkets and CaterCloud, are built to give teams control, insight, and efficiency at every stage.

Ready to optimise your procurement and menu management? Reach out to Chris Kirton, Head of Business Development – chriskirton@ef-group.co.uk or call on 07484 521996 to discover how EF-group can help you streamline operations and protect your margins.