How far is “far”? The answer to that question is different for every foodservice operation, and for every cart that carries supplies and equipment. Some utility carts are built to travel across rough surfaces like gravel and uneven pavement while other carts are built to travel long distances across carpet. Depending on what the cart will be used for, there are different durability levels to choose from to make sure the cart will with-stand its tasks and offer functionality for many years. The foodservice industry as a whole, spans across various areas ranging from cafeterias in colleges to restaurants and businesses offering dining and drink services to guests. Lakeside had the opportunity to work with a Northern California winery to create a custom solution that would improve their operational efficiency. Below in this blog we will highlight the impact this custom cart has on this winery’s operations and the design process that led to the final cart.
Going the Distance:
This Northern California winery was looking for a cart to deliver food over the cement trails winding through their many acres of vineyards. They also wanted this cart to be able to then bus and clear dishes once they had finished delivering and serving the food to guests. In order to get both functionalities into a cart, a custom solution was their ideal. Rattling over sidewalks nearly every day of the year will shake a cart to its core. The right construction, material, and casters must come together to ensure your equipment can hold to the use. With the intended use in mind, Lakeside created a design that combined durability, maneuverability, and aesthetics to offer the functionality this winery needed.
Pressing Ahead:
At Lakeside, we analyze cart requirements based on expected load weight, intended distance traveled each day, hours of use, and the terrain the cart will travel over. Combining the winery’s specific needs for the cart ensured our team designed a cart that would withstand the wear and tear the cart would face each and every day. The configurations for this winery were specific. The cart needed to be discrete, carrying food or dirty plates past other guests without being a disturbance, to be able to hold up to its use all while looking nice. We customized the inside and outside of this cart to include the shelving they needed and space for a thermobox for hot food. Finally, we fitted the cart with foam filling and large pneumatic casters to allow it to traverse thresholds and the multiple types of terrain, indoors and outdoors, across the vineyard.
What Can You Do?
It is easy to come up with ideas you want to do with your carts within your foodservice operations. Going from kitchens, to dining rooms, to the outdoors may seem simple enough, however, making the right choice of materials, construction, and design will impact its life span and usability. Lakeside has a team of cart experts to help you design a cart for your exact needs.