In order to get a catering business up and running, one would need food preparation supplies, transportation supplies, and storage supplies, among others. A catering business would need a van or a similar vehicle to move the cooked food from place to place, and that vehicle falls under the transportation supplies category. To keep the food preserved as they are being transported, specialized equipments and tools are used. Frozen foods need to be transported in a different way.
Beverage carriers are also needed. Equal importance is accorded to food preparation and food transportation. You will only end up wasting your time if you won't be able to keep the cooked food at a specific temperature anyway. Some people might also use very large totes for transportation. There is also a need for tableware, including candles, tablecloth, salt and pepper shaker, table napkins and other utensils. Disposable items will also be greatly needed in the course of the business. Serving supplies also play a huge role in the catering business. What are the inclusions in this category? Chafing dishes and serving trays are preferred in buffet services.
These include serving bowls and utensils. Anything used to make the buffet table more appealing, such as fruit stands and display stands, are considered to be part of the supplies. If you wish to decorate the table, there are so many varieties of table cloths and skirting that is available in the market. Sit down meals, however, would be using large serving plates and trays.
Catering a large or grand party would mean you would be in need of more catering supplies. Over-sized pots and pans will be needed. Mixing bowls, knives, ladles, and spoons will also be necessary. Necessary tools also include storage containers and cutting boards. Before any of that, however, you should have commercial stoves and ovens. Other kitchen appliances such as large mixers and food processors are also needed.
How will you go about buying these supplies for your catering business and what are your considerations when purchasing them? The budget should be decided on first. When buying your supplies, the budget will determine the quantity of supplies. Do not go out and start buying without taking stock of what supplies are currently present in your own kitchen. Based on your findings, create a checklist. For instance, you might be having normal skillets and sauce pans. But the saucepans you might need are of a special variety or those with different diameters.
You may find yourself having a hard time finding sources of information regarding catering supplies. This is where the food shows or cooking events comes to play an important role. These shows will have suppliers of catering items displaying their best wares and products. Your eyes will pop out of their sockets once you are presented with very wide selections of utensils, ladles, knives, spoons, food processors, mixers, and others. You can easily compare the advantages and disadvantages of each of these items. These events could also bring you into contact with an item that your local catering shop does not hold for sale. You can buy these items even in the famous restaurant supply shops.