Category: Restaurants

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Expanding Profit Points with a Mobile Bar

It’s already been well established that bar and beverage service is often the most profitable part of any foodservice operation. In fact, estimates vary between 30 and 40 percent of a restaurant’s profits can come from alcohol sales depending on the source, so having the ability to move those points of service can underscore the fact that there’s hidden revenue in a portable bar. But why?

Mobile bars are certainly profitable because they can expand service areas, but the reality is there’s more to it than just mobility. Mobile bars offer a wide range of benefits that can not only improve the bottom line for operators, but they can enhance the guest experience, as well.

Let’s take a look at some of the basics in mobile bar profitability.

PROFIT FROM MORE POINTS OF SERVICE.

This is the easy one. When the actual bar can be moved from point A to point B, that means point B can now be a profit center. Before it was just a small section of the restaurant patio or the far side of the hotel pool deck, now it’s a place where operators can encourage guests to gather and spend.

PROFIT FROM MENU EXPANSION.

Mobile bars also offer the ability to segment the types of beverages being served from one location to the next. Consider a wedding reception, for example. While the full bar might reside inside the ballroom, a mobile bar situated outside on a veranda can be dedicated to champagne service or even a special, signature cocktail from the bride and groom.

PROFIT FROM CROWD CONTROL.

This is similar to benefiting from additional points of service, but there’s another level of thinking as it relates to crowd control. When operators have the ability to space service out of the entire footprint of the service space, crowds can be easily dispersed reducing crowding.

PROFIT FROM SPEED OF SERVICE.

When crowds are more evenly dispersed, it will inevitably lead to reducing wait times at the bar. The bars themselves can also help increase the speed of service. Just like in the back of the house, a bar should operate in a mise en place style where everything is readily accessible, reducing the time it takes to make a particular beverage.

Build the right mobile bar with Lakeside.

Lakeside has a full line of mobile bar solutions that can help take your beer, wine, and cocktails to another level by moving them to another location. Learn more by reviewing our mobile bar series today.

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Is Street-Side Dining Here to Stay?

Over the course of the last two years, the restaurant industry experienced change after change to stay relevant. Many of these challenges resulted in innovative adaptations, and now, some of those adaptations might be here to stay. Of all the changes we saw during the Covid-19 pandemic, though, the one we most enjoyed was a massive shift toward outdoor dining.

In city after city, outdoor dining spaces were set up on parking lots, in street-side parking spaces, on sidewalks, and even in yards. Diners loved it, and many are clamoring for these spaces to be made permanent in a post-Covid world.

Because they are so wildly popular with diners, they’re also enormously popular with restaurant owners and operators. In cities and towns large and small, there’s overwhelming support to make outdoor dining structures permanent, despite pushback from other business types who cite disapproval for the lack of parking spaces and the additional noise. Municipalities are listening to the restaurants and their customers, though, as cities like New York and San Francisco have already voted in favor of making these street-side dining spaces permanent.

Street-Side Dining Comes with Challenges

If street-side dining is no longer just a temporary fix, restaurant operators will need to look for more permanent service solutions to match the permanence of the outdoor dining spaces they serve. As we’ve discovered over the past few years, there are consistent challenges in maximizing labor and making service easier and more efficient for staff, as food and beverage must now be transported over bigger areas. The days of simply running plates from the window to a table two steps away are over for operators who take advantage of street-side dining.

Challenges don’t just involve bringing food and beverage to the customer, of course. There’s also the issue of bussing away dinnerware, flatware, and glassware after service is over. For operators who invest in equipment to make this process easier, the “new norm” will be easier to deliver and take away, making both customers and staff happy because of increased efficiency.

Lakeside has solutions that can help.

Lakeside is one of the leading manufacturers of bussing stations that are designed for mobility and flexibility, benefits that help when bussing tables in street-side dining settings. Units are made using durable stainless steel and come with various finishes to match the aesthetic of the operation. Learn more about bussing stations from Lakeside by viewing the different options from our bussing station range.

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Lakeside Helps Florida Soup Kitchen

Food insecurity impacts more than one out of every ten U.S. households. When you think about it, that’s an alarming number, and it’s something so many great non-profit organizations around the country are trying to reduce.

One of those organizations is Gracie’s Kitchen, a soup kitchen in Yulee, Florida that feeds seniors, veterans, single parents with families, the homeless, and the working poor. Before the Covid pandemic, they were serving more than 40,000 meals every year to those in need in the Yulee area, with additional branches of their organization helping to feed malnourished dogs and cats, as well as their “Socks for Souls” program that provides socks to those in need.

Their main focus is on foodservice, though, with more than $30,000 raised annually to “Nourish the Hungry and Feed Their Spirit.” Here at Lakeside, we admire their commitment to the community, so we offered to help.

Lakeside Helps to Upgrade Gracie’s Kitchen Serving Carts

A team from Lakeside learned about the Gracie’s Kitchen story and quickly discovered their serving cart situation was a challenge at best. Pictures of their existing carts showed they were being held together, quite literally, by duct tape, and that’s when Lakeside decided to step in. By replacing their old plastic carts with new Lakeside 311 series carts, their ability to serve the community in need was drastically enhanced. The Gracie’s Kitchen team could not have been more thankful.

utility cart service

Foodservice utility carts for kitchens are our specialty here at Lakeside, and we’re happy to help contribute to the great works at Gracie’s Kitchen with our 311 serving carts.

The 311 series is the first stainless steel utility cart created at Lakeside, and it was designed to last. It’s made for both front-of-the-house and back-of-the-house applications, and we hope the great crew at Gracie’s Kitchen find their work just a little bit easier with the 311. Based on the duct-taped plastic carts they had before, we can guarantee it.

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What’s the 311 on Stainless Steel Utility Carts?

You’ve come to the right place for information on utility carts, as we’re going to explore one of the classic models in the Lakeside portfolio. From a company with more than 75 years of interesting history, the advent of the 311 is one of the most important milestones in Lakeside history.

Why?

lakeside 311 stainless steel utility cartThe 311 Utility Cart is the very first stainless steel Lakeside utility cart design, and it’s still very popular today. Made for both back-of-the-house and front-of-the-house service, the 311 Utility Cart is ideal for bussing, service set-up, usage as a tray or soiled dish station, and can even serve as a light-duty transport and storage cart over even floor surfaces.

The 311 Utility Cart from Lakeside has other important benefits, as well. Its durability comes from electronically welded, 20-gauge stainless steel legs along with a reinforced, hemmed front on 22-gauge stainless steel shelves to provide added support where it’s needed.

For reduced sound and vibration, deadening panels are added under the shelving to make 311 Utility Cart usage quieter. With bumpers on the legs and handles, walls and furniture are also protected. Finally, the 311 Utility Cart from Lakeside is easy to use.

The Evolution of the Utility Cart

With more than 75 years of experience comes the recognition that one single stainless steel utility cart design will not satisfy every type of need. While we love the 311 design, we realize it’s not the perfect cart for everyone. That said, our first stainless steel utility cart has helped inspire the designs of so many other carts in the Lakeside portfolio.

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The Multifunctionality of Foodservice Utility Carts: What To Know

 

If you work in the foodservice industry, heavy-duty utility carts are a great way to transport a wide variety of items, protect valuable inventory, and is a safe storage space. Regardless of whether you’re moving boxes, retrieving supplies, or getting ready for an upcoming event, you can make life easier by relying on multifunctional utility carts, but what does multifunctional really mean? Why is it important? And what are should operators look for when considering foodservice utility carts?

Transport Supplies Seamlessly From Place to Place

Of course, one of the first ways you can use multifunctional utility carts is to transport supplies easily from place to place. For example, you might have food and beverages that you need to move to a specific room for an upcoming event. Maybe you need to move cups, plates, and napkins. Perhaps you have fragile items that deserve added protection. Heavy-duty utility carts are versatile pieces of equipment that can accommodate all of your transportation requirements.

Keep Your Supplies Organized

If you don’t keep your supplies organized, you might have a hard time efficiently carrying out your daily operations. Utility carts come with a bunch of helpful compartments that allow you to organize inventory, hardware, and other tools. That way, you make life easier for your employees and workers. They can hang their tools on the side, divide items by compartment, and make sure all fragile items have proper protection. You can also save space on storage, as you can keep some items on your utility carts if you use them regularly.

Take Advantage of Customizable Options

Different niches and industries have different needs, so you might want to customize your utility cart depending on your specific line of work. For example, you might want to choose vertical panels that provide added protection or privacy. You might want to hang pegboards on the side of your utility carts for hanging tools. You can also use shelves that have cantilevered type adjustments that create more space or make your cart easier to transport. If you want to increase the efficiency of your operations, take advantage of a personalized, customized heavy-duty utility card.

Handle Heavy Loads

Utility carts have been specifically designed to be strong and durable. If you have heavy loads that you need to transport from place to place, you can use a foodservice utility cart to help you. You do not have to worry about purchasing heavy equipment or asking your employees to manually transport heavy loads from place to place. This can significantly reduce the chances of your employees getting hurt, and you can provide your industrial equipment with the protection it requires. If you need to transport heavy loads from place to place quickly and safely, multifunctional utility carts are the way to go.

Take Advantage of Foodservice Utility Carts from Lakeside

If you work in the foodservice, catering, hospitality, or restaurant industry, you understand the importance of having heavy-duty utility carts you can use regularly. Because your utility carts can serve more than one purpose, you can reduce the equipment required by using this valuable piece of equipment to fulfill multiple roles. Furthermore, you can take advantage of added storage space while making life easier for your staff. If you want to get the most out of your utility carts, count on the foodservice professionals from Lakeside to help you.

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Dishing Out Advice: How to Select a Plate Dispenser

Blog image with blue background and stacks of white plates in foreground

Plate dispensers are a critical component in a wide range of foodservice types. From hospitals and healthcare to hospitality and banquets, providing access to plating and tabletop can keep operations running smoothly for staff members.

So what’s an easy and effective way to distribute plates? A plate dispenser. And what are the most important things to look for and consider when choosing a plate dispenser? Let’s go through those factors one by one.

1.) Where are the plates dispensed?

This is a matter of mobility. Will plates be dispensed from a single location or will there be the need to move the plate dispenser around? For buffet lines in a banquet hall, for example, a mobile unit might be best as the serving line will likely change depending on the service. For cafeteria settings, a countertop stationary unit will likely meet challenges. To move or not to move, that is the first question.

2.) Is there a need for heat?

Hot food shouldn’t be offset by chilled plates. Some plate dispensers include a heating element that keeps plates warm before they’re used in service. This is ideal when hot food is served or when there will be issues with temperature maintenance.

3.) What size plates will the unit hold?

When operators want flexibility with plate dispensing capabilities, it might make sense to consider units that provide for adjustable sizes. For example, if service includes both a salad and an entrée course, a plate dispenser that adjusts for both 7-inch plates and 10-inch plates can help provide much-needed versatility. What if china isn’t purchased yet or there’s a chance it could change in the future? Adjustable sizing can help in these situations, too. Likewise, standard dispensers are ideal when exact diameters are known or when china will remain consistent throughout the life of the unit.

4.) Does size matter?

It certainly does. Check with china manufacturers to determine variance to ensure a proper fit inside the plate dispenser unit. To calculate capacity, stack plates and compare with the capacity of the dispenser.

Looking for more information on plate dispensers to meet your unique challenges? Talk with an expert at Lakeside.

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6 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Foodservice Cart

6 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Foodservice Cart

The right foodservice cart can be a huge asset for any type of foodservice establishment. While different types of operations will certainly have different sets of challenges and solutions, as a general best practice, it’s important to ask a series of questions before determining which cart is right.

Let’s go through them one by one.

What are you serving?

The first question to ask is what’s on the menu? This will have a huge impact on the type and capabilities of the foodservice cart needed to execute successful service. Things to consider are the need for refrigerated merchandising, warming, or even a potential menu board. Will grab-n-go food and beverages be available? What you’re serving will impact how it’s served. Volume is also important. This will potentially impact the size of the serving station and features like shelving and storage. Lakeside has a wide variety of utility carts with different weight capacities that can be used in various operations offering the perfect solution.

Where are you serving it?

A foodservice cart can be stationary, or it can be mobile. If you’re looking for versatility through mobility, a traditional serving line or a permanent kiosk won’t work. Decide whether or not you want to move the point of service around the property or the establishment, and then select serving carts that support those goals. Consider the space and terrain, as well. If the cart will be used in a hilly area with inclines, it might be appropriate to consider a motorized cart with brakes.

Who are you serving it to?

This is where the type of operation enters the equation. Are you serving coffee to staff and guests in a local hospital? Students on a college campus? Sandwiches outside a hotel conference room? No matter how you look at it, the customer will always dictate how food and beverages are distributed, which will impact the selection of a foodservice cart.

What should the cart look like?

Appearance and aesthetics tie into the type of operation and the end customers, too. If a serving solution is located in a fancy ballroom, the expectation is that it should have a certain elevated appeal that matches the décor of space. If it’s a coffee cart in a local high school, it should have a more spirited, durable appearance. Yes, we first eat and drink with our eyes, but in most cases, before we get to look at the food, our first impression is of where the food is being served. With Lakeside’s wide selection of utility carts, you’ll be sure to find the perfect cart for your operations.

While different types of operations will certainly have different sets of challenges and solutions, as a general best practice, it’s important to ask a series of questions before determining which cart is right.

Who is staffing it?

We’re in the midst of a national labor shortage in just about every type of industry. Foodservice has been one of the hardest hit. Now more than ever, when selecting a food and beverage serving cart, it’s also important to consider staff. Questions to ask are: How easy is it to clean a unit? Is maintenance difficult? Is it easy to transport the station across the property? Essentially, usability is a key component when selecting a foodservice cart.

How durable does your foodservice cart need to be?

Every cart should be well-made and durable, but on a deeper level, how rigorous will its usage be? For example, does the type of material matter? Would steel be better than rubber? Should the cart have bumpers because it’s being maneuvered in high-trafficked areas with lots of obstacles. Select a foodservice cart for durability if it will be subjected to severe usage.

Now that you have your answers, what do they mean?

The first step is to consider and compile answers from the questions above, as they will dictate the type of foodservice cart you need. The harder part can be interpreting those answers. That’s where the team at Lakeside and our family of brands can help. Schedule some time with us to go over these six considerations, and we can help you locate the foodservice cart that makes the most sense for your desired goals.

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Casters 101: Everything You Need to Go

Casters 101: Everything You Need to Go And equipment that doesn’t have solid, durable casters might not be capable of reaching those far-off locations to achieve mobile service.

If we all agree that mobility and versatility are desired benefits in a foodservice operation, we can also agree that it’s casters that can help make everything go as it relates to mobile foodservice.

In most cases, whether it’s a mobile serving cart or a tray rack, the casters are the only things that are grounded, so it’s important to make sure the journey is as easy as possible.

Before we get into the details on casters, we need to consider the challenges presented when using mobile foodservice equipment.

Depending on the type of operation, units might need to be moved all the way across a property or even a college campus. There could be a combination of gravel paths, bumpy sidewalks, and even grass to navigate. And equipment that doesn’t have solid, durable casters might not be capable of reaching those far-off locations to achieve mobile service.

Let’s take a look at the different things to consider when looking for mobile foodservice equipment that gains its ability to go from casters.

CASTER COMPOSITION

Casters can be made of different materials, and each has its own unique set of benefits. Some are better for rolling on carpeted surfaces, while others are better for outdoor applications. If the goal is to move serving carts outside on sidewalks or driveways, fully pneumatic casters with treads are the best option. Semi-pneumatic casters are great for carpeted surfaces, while hard rubber casters are great for staying within a kitchen. For the best versatility, polyurethane casters are typically the best option.

CASTER SIZE

The next question is size. How big should casters be? The most common size of foodservice caster is five inches, but as a rule of thumb, the heavier the equipment being moved, the larger the caster. When casters are larger, it makes moving them easier, especially for heavy loads.

BEARINGS

While some smaller foodservice equipment and supplies such as mop buckets might have plastic bearings, heavy-duty equipment like serving stations and tray racks should have heavy-duty, metal ball bearings for adding durability.

ROTATION

For equipment that is being steered across a room or even across the property, it’s highly recommended that at least two of the casters have swivel capabilities to make movement easier. Steering a unit with four fixed wheels is nearly impossible, so using swivel casters makes tight turns a lot easier.

BRAKES

Brakes or stops are a great way to prevent accidents and keep units locked down in a single location. Especially when units are large and heavy, having the ability to slow them down when descending a hill, or being able to lock them in place once service begins, can be a great benefit. Brakes help.

Learn more about casters from an expert at Lakeside.

Book time with one of our representatives today and discover why we use heavy-duty casters on all of our equipment to ensure longevity and durability.

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It’s a Setup: Layouts Where Linenless Equipment Steals the Show

It’s a Setup: Layouts Where Linenless Equipment Steals the Show

We’ve already detailed how linens can create extra costs for foodservice operations. Whether it’s in a hotel banquet room, a restaurant, or even on a college campus, the use of linens – while elevated – can actually bring down an operation’s bottom line.

Once an operator or foodservice division runs the calculations and determines the lifetime costs of linens just aren’t worth it, the next step is to decide how to move away from them. And then once an operator selects the right type of linenless serving solutions to make the lineless transition easier, the final step is to determine where to set up the points of service.

Ideation for Linenless Foodservice

AL FRESCO

Take foodservice outside. This has been the theme for the last 18 months or so, but outside dining opportunities were very popular well before Covid. The problem has always been setting up the points of service, and getting those points of service to the right location. When an operator has a foodservice kiosk with the ability and durability to move it poolside or across campus without the need for linens, it makes outdoor food and beverage options not only attainable but desirable.

LOBBIES

Hotel lobbies are one of the main differentiating advantages over personal home rental services like Airbnb and VRBO, and for hotel foodservice operators looking to increase sales, they can be transformed into points of sale with the right equipment. From a wine cart next to the fire on a warm night to a grab-n-go service for busy business travelers, there are always great ways to transform lobbies into much more than just a hello or goodbye.

HALLWAYS

Whether it’s a long corridor in a convention hall or outside classrooms on a college campus, hallways are a great place to consider service without the need for linens. The one great advantage they have is foot traffic, so why not take advantage of it by providing thoughtful foods and beverages?

AT THE GAME

Speaking of foot traffic, consider the amount of foot traffic seen on a stadium concourse, quad on campus, or any surrounding area to a large event like sports or concerts. With an endless amount of mobile retail opportunities for concessions, merchandise, and souvenirs, or a combination of all three, dirty linens would only hamper point of sale success. All the more reason that operators are big fans of linenless equipment.

Do any of these locations sound like future points of service?

Lakeside and our collection of brands comprise a range of linenless serving solutions that can fit just about every occasion. The trick is finding the right type of unit for current and future needs, and we can help by going through a catalog of considerations. Start your search for linenless foodservice solutions today by talking with one of our experts.

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Bottom Line Booster: Linenless Serving

Bottom Line Booster: Linenless Serving

Americans are quitting their jobs in droves.

In fact, many are calling the current labor shortages The Great Resignation as more and more people are looking to earn their green in greener pastures.

But the reality is labor has been a challenge for much longer than the last few months for hospitality foodservice, restaurants, caterers, and other types of operations.

Even before the pandemic began, staffing was one of the top challenges foodservice operators faced. Now, as we emerge from the pandemic, it’s the top one.

Even in the current climate of rising costs and supply chain issues, three out of four operators say recruitment and retention is their toughest challenge according to the National Restaurant Association’s 2021 State of the Restaurant Industry Mid-Year Update. 

This has many hotel and hospitality foodservice operations looking for answers and solutions. One option is to consider a linen service, which can be even more expensive. The other option is to just pull the tablecloth off the table altogether.

Reduce Staffing Needs and Boost Your Bottom Line

Linens. The bottom line is they’re expensive, and they can impact your bottom line. From staff hours required to prepare and store them to the expensive utility costs that come with cleaning, linens can be a drain on profitability, and when you add up the lifetime cost of linens.

Many operators are looking at linenless alternatives that won’t impact the elevated aesthetics that linens provide, and our team at Lakeside has come up with some great solutions.

Lakeside’s Traveler Series Serving Tables

Create the ideal serving table to match the aesthetic of just about any operation with the Traveler Series. With 12 different laminate finishes and the ability to easily move tables throughout the property, operators can drop the linens while also adding mobility to the point of service.

The Key to Linenless Service…

… is to make sure the units you use will elevate service in the same way a white tablecloth can, without all the overhead that linens require. With solutions from Lakeside, we can help.