The catering industry has enjoyed phenomenal growth in recent years, and this growth is showing no signs of slowing down.
The government website shows that the rise in consumer spending continues to climb steeply. Hundreds of new businesses pop up every year all over the country to meet this demand, so if you’re starting – or thinking of starting – your own catering business, you’re in good company!
While you might dream of filling your brand-new kitchen with all the state-of-the-art gadgets and appliances you could ever need, you’ll be fine with a few essentials until you become more established.
Here’s what you’ll need
Catering fridge/freezer
A commercial fridge is essential to allow you to keep your food at a safe temperature and organise your supplies. Make sure you choose something big enough to cope with your requirements, but don’t get something that is so big that half of it lies empty most of the time. Organisation is vital, too. You need a fridge that works for you and makes it easier to complete everyday tasks, not harder. Choosing a reputable retailer such as https://www.fridgefreezerdirect.co.uk/catering-equipment ensures you can ask for advice before you buy.
Commercial stove/oven/hob
If space and budget are factors, you might like to consider a 3-in-1 cooking appliance. This takes up far less space than having separate appliances and can be a great option for a small start-up. Bear in mind that you might need to plan cooking sessions carefully and that you will be limited by the amount of food you can have cooking at any one time.
Commercial display units
Depending on the nature of your business, you might not need display units. If you operate in a premises that is open directly to customers, however, you will need to invest in appropriate display units. Opt for something that’s easy to keep clean, cheap to run and that displays your goods to the best of their advantage.
Dishwasher
If you’re starting out on very small scale, you might prefer to wash up by hand at first. Once the business grows, however, you might find it cheaper to invest in a commercial dishwasher to save on staff hours. You’ll also be able to rest assured that everything will be cleaned thoroughly.
