Spoiled Food Equals Sunk Costs
Any business owner knows sunk costs are both frustrating and unavoidable. Yet, they can be significantly reduced if well-managed, especially with tools like IoT temperature monitoring.
You see, perishable products received by a restaurant become inventory in the accounting world, intended on being used to create the products sold. If meats, produce, and dairy ingredients are not stored properly, the money spent is simply lost when the food is tossed.
By utilizing IoT to monitor temperatures of goods, restaurants could decrease spoilage waste and breed massive increases in energy efficiency in the restaurant industry.
According to Forbes, Internet of Things is simply explained as “…the concept of basically connecting any device with an on and off switch to the Internet (and/or to each other).”
Essentially, it’s a network that includes electronic devices, but most importantly, a network in which these devices can essentially detect each other and exchange data. With IoT, vital information for monitoring operations can easily be tracked, automated, and updated in real-time.
Skipped Safety Steps or Machine Malfunctions
When spoiled food write-offs are unreasonably high (based on individual restaurants trends and financial statements) or increase suddenly, there are a few potential causes to consider initially:
Employees/Managers are not adequately following food safety and handling protocolSuppliers/Freight not meeting standards during production or transitFridges, coolers, freezers, and other climate control equipment are not functioning as expected
There are numerous potential reasons as to how proper food handling and storage steps get missed. But it’s not difficult to unintentionally expose products to unhealthy conditions.
For example, the United States Food and Drug Administration recommends sticking to the 2-hour max rule for leaving perishables at room temperature and states:
“Never allow meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, or produce or other foods that require refrigeration to sit at room temperature for more than two hours—one hour if the air temperature is above 90° F”.
All it takes is a delay in storing a shipment or misreading a thermostat to create an unsafe food storage environment that can quickly lead do spoiled goods.
Simple Solutions Equal Safety and Savings
With IoT, freezers, fridges, counter coolers, ovens, warmers, and any other appliance with power could connect to the internet and one another, ensuring healthy temperatures are maintained throughout a restaurant. This includes from truck delivery to expo window.
So, this system of continuous monitoring and instant updating could lead to major advances in appliance efficiency for the restaurant industry. Utilizing our EMS (energy management system), we’re able to provide this type of detail-intense monitoring, essentially allowing us to retrofit existing equipment to IoT, meaning major savings without a major appliance renovation.
Regardless of which blend of common situations or circumstances is causing excess spoilage, the best solution points to energy efficiency and leads to clear, measurable results.
At GWT2Energy, we know restaurants, we generate results, and we take on an owner’s perspective. From contract negotiations to corporate energy policy, we are dedicated to delivering energy solutions catered to each restaurant’s problems and needs.
To find out how we can cut your restaurant’s energy costs up to 25%, contact us today.
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