What Equipment Is Required To Open A Restaurant Supply Store?

Opening a restaurant isn't easy, let alone a restaurant supply store. You need to consider many things when opening a restaurant supply store.

To answer the question, "what equipment is required to open a restaurant supply store?" You need to first look at the equipment required to open a restaurant in general. Make sure your restaurant supply store sells cooking, food prep, janitorial, refrigeration, smallwares and storage equipment.

1. Cooking equipment

Your restaurant supply store should sell cooking equipment, including ranges, ovens, charbroilers, fryers, griddles and a salamander or broiler. Restaurants also need grills, toasters, plate warmers and microwaves.

You will also want your restaurant supply store to sell serving line equipment for customers that prefer take-out or drive-thru orders. Serving line equipment includes steamers, hot cases, carts, bowls and bins.

2. Food prep equipment

Restaurant supply stores should also sell food prep equipment like slicers, cutting boards, mixers, food processors, spice grinders, blenders and prep tables.

Food prep equipment is important to a restaurant because it helps prevent the spread of bacteria and other harmful diseases. It also preserves the food's freshness, taste and appearance. Lastly, it eases kitchen work because there is less manual labor involved with using this equipment.

3. Janitorial equipment

In addition to foodservice equipment, restaurant supply stores should also have janitorial supplies, including mops, brooms and buckets and items for cleaning kitchens.

You will find name brands and generic products at a restaurant warehouse store. A restaurant supply store should provide a wide range of chemicals, too. These include floor cleaners, glass washers, oven grease removers and food service sanitizers.

They should also sell other janitorial equipment, such as microfiber cloths and cleaning rags, a three-compartment sink, trash cans and recycling bins, wet floor signs, scrubbers and sponges, restroom supplies, dustpans and cleaning chemical buckets.

These items are crucial to carry because the appearance of a clean kitchen assures patrons their food is prepared in sanitary conditions.

Cleaning supplies help restaurants maintain cleanliness throughout the facility. Your inventory should include chemicals to remove stains from the carpet and cleaning brushes to scrub counters and floors. Your store should also sell trash cans small enough for a pantry closet but large enough to hold a busy kitchen's trash needs during service hours.

There are also some standard equipment and utensils that every restaurant needs to keep on hand, like dish racks, drain boards and soap dispensers. These items help your staff wash dishes and their hands before prepping food for cooking.

4. Refrigeration equipment

Customers should be able to find different types of refrigeration at your restaurant supply store, such as walk-in refrigerators, freezer units, ice machines, beverage dispensers and merchandisers.

In addition to the large appliances, you will need to stock shelves with smaller items such as ice bins, food racks for transporting food from the freezer to the front line and small appliance drawers for holding utensils and other items.

5. Smallwares equipment

Smallwares equipment includes everything from bowls and plates to cooking utensils such as tongs, chef's knives, silverware, skimmers and ladles. Smallwares equipment also includes cutting boards, mixing bowls, pans, pots, whisks, food pans, kitchen spoons and turners.

Your restaurant supply store should also carry wine key openers, can openers, oven mitts and potholders.

Your inventory should include a large selection of these items so cooks can select the right tools for each meal.

6. Storage equipment

Storage equipment that a restaurant supply store should carry includes food storage equipment, such as food storage bins and containers, food pans and pizza racks. Other storage equipment restaurant supply stores carry are shelving for walk-in fridges and freezers, bussing and utility carts, sheet pan racks, drying racks and dunnage racks.

A restaurant supply store should also carry aluminum foil dispensers and scales. Your inventory should also include product displays that hold products on shelves or in baskets to attract customers' attention.

When you’re ready to buy equipment for your restaurant supply store, consider Texas Restaurant Supply.