Outpace the Competition in the New Year

And just like that, it’s 2025, and the new year is off to a running start. 

Ready. Set. Go?

What about taking a brief pause now that the frenzied holiday season is behind us? There’s no better time than now to survey your foodservice operation and do a little fine-tuning that can help keep it running full speed all year long.

Consider these questions as you prepare to outpace the competition in the new year.

Do your kitchen staff have the appropriate prep and cooking tools they need for their tasks?

We’ve all had that thump-yourself-on-the-forehead, “Why didn’t I get this tool or gadget sooner?” moment. Every task is easier with the right tool.

Perfect Grip Utensils by TableCraft have comfortable, ergonomic handles that are also slip-resistant—even with wet hands. 

The Perfect Grip Line includes 24 dishwasher safe prep and cooking essentials like paring knives, peelers, kitchen shears, spatulas, and more. 

Each tool comes equipped with a hole for hanging to keep them organized and accessible.

Mercer Culinary Millennia Colors Knives have color-coded handles for dedicated use applications such as produce, poultry, or meats, to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. These essential prep tools are easy for employees to use and support your food safety system.

Mercer Millennia Colors knives are available in blue, brown, green, purple, red, yellow, and white. The Millennia Cutlery line is also available in black.

Grippy™ Cutting Boards from TableCraft help reduce the risk of cross-contamination and support HACCP guidelines with color coding for dedicated use applications. An integrated handle and corner grips help hold the board in place during use. Boards are made of dishwasher safe, heat, chemical, and warp-resistant polypropylene. 

Available in two sizes, 18" x 12" and 15" x 20," Grippy Cutting Boards are sold in multi-color variety packs of 4 or 6 and separately in white, green, red, yellow, blue, and brown.

Are tools and utensils organized and easy to access?

Out of sight can mean out of mind and hard to find. Getting tools up at eye level can make a noticeable difference when it comes to maintaining harmony and efficiency in your kitchen.

Quantum Foodservice Smart Grid Mounted Systems help you put your empty wall space to work while giving your team plenty of room to do what they do best. 

The Smart Grid system uses wall tracks, grids, wall shelving, hooks, bins, and accessories to keep important items in reach without using up precious workspace.

Perfect for improving organization and efficiency around and above sinks, prep stations, work tables, staging areas, and equipment, Store Grid system kits and components are available in Green and Gray antimicrobial epoxy finishes.

Are knives stored properly and kept in good condition?

Designated knife racks keep knives clean and easy to access, but safely out of the way when not in use.

Edlund Knife Racks each hold 8 chef’s knives, 2 smaller knives, 1 steel, and scissors all in one convenient location. 

Two stainless steel skirted models protect the knives and operators from accidents: model KR-699 has a 12" skirt and open back. KR-700 has a 14" skirt and stainless steel back.

Color Coded Knife Racks by Edlund provide safe, sanitary storage for dedicated-use knives. Fully enclosed with a 12′′ heavy duty stainless steel skirt with a replaceable, high impact thermoplastic insert, this rack is offered with a choice of seven different insert colors. 

Each rack holds 1 cleaver and 4 chef knives, 6 chef knives, 8 slicers, or 12 paring knives and 1 round or diamond steel.

Dull blades slow down prep, damage food, and cause fatigue. 

The Edlund 401 Electric Knife Sharpener has a precision guidance system that makes it easy to maintain like-new knife edges for more efficient and comfortable prep. 

Are ingredients and menu items held at proper temperature and easy to access?

Keeping cold ingredients in a refrigerated chef base makes it easier for employees to access them right as they need them. 

Delfield Refrigerated Undercounters and Worktables^™ with GreenGenius^™ provide refrigeration options that improve workflows and food safety by putting fresh foods where they are needed, saving staff steps and time. 

Choose from doors, drawers, or a combination of the two to maximize your cold storage while keeping enough product at your staff’s finger tips to handle the rush with the freshest and safest foods. Features like 5" casters make cleaning, moving, and maintenance easy. An LED light and glass doors make contents easier to see without opening. 

A drawer warmer (or two or three) tucked beneath the counter of a food prep line enables chefs and staff to quickly grab the hot menu components they need. 

Whether it’s a steaming baked potato, scoop of rice, veggies, fresh nacho chips, a side of tortillas, warm bread, crispy chicken strips, or other menu items, Hatco Warming Drawers offer an easy way to hold a variety of foods hot and fresh for serving, while saving steps and providing faster service. 

Each warming drawer has a food pan, a recessed individual thermostatic control, temperature monitor, adjustable vent slides, and its own power switch. 

Offered in standard and narrow width and a shallower, split-drawer warmer for non-stackable foods, warming drawers are also available in built-in models.

To learn more about these solutions and other ways to keep your foodservice operation at peak performance, contact us.