As we head towards another hospitality festive season, Hunt Management Services has put together our list of 9 Christmas stocktaking top tips to help the licensed trade have a successful trading period.
Christmas and New Year stocktaking top tips
Whether you run a pub, bar, club, restaurant, hotel or festive hospitality, we hope that you will find some stocktaking tips that will work for you.
1. Seasonal drinks.
With the colder weather and the celebratory nature of the festive season it’s a good idea to review your stocks of seasonal drinks, particular favourites for this time of year are:
- Mulled Wine or Mulled Cider are both are popular at this time of year especially on those colder nights.
- Darker Real Ales & Porter styles are a preferred choice at this time of year as opposed to lighter ales that are popular in the Summer.
2. Customer profile
The Christmas and New Year party season may bring a different sort of crowd to what you have seen during the rest of the year, with different tastes and preferences. So it’s worthwhile taking a look at your stock reports from last years festive season, to see what stock was moving quickly and revise your festive orders accordingly.
3. Spread the cost
To spread the cost of purchasing stock for the Christmas period, it is an idea to start building stock of the most popular products by ordering extra in the weeks before Christmas.
4. Protect your profitability
Although turnover is usually good during the festive period, there are periods where trade is quiet. Offering Mini Prosecco and Wine bottles are a good alternative to offering it by the glass as it prevents stock of large bottles going flat and increasing waste.
5. Make the most of discounts and offers
At this time of year many suppliers offer deals and incentives in their Christmas Brochures that could save you money on all your orders – check them out before placing your order.
6. Protect your stock
Stock is one of your most important assets, and over the holiday season you will have more on site than normal and so it is important that it is secure.
- Make sure that the larger December deliveries are properly checked & signed for at outset.
- Ensure that your cellar and anywhere else you hold stock is safe and secure – especially if you are using new spaces because of the extra stock.
- Make sure that in January any dated products are stock rotated properly, especially in the fridges.
7. Don’t forget to record information for your stocktaker
If you are offering a discount by pre-ordering wine for Christmas meals, then make sure the amount of the discount is recorded for your stocktaker. Similarly, make sure any complimentary drinks, for you and your staff, are recorded accurately.
8. Special offer recording
If you are offering a package deal of drink & food then make sure the split between the two categories is recorded.
9. Christmas staffing
Throughout the holidays most establishments are rely on a greater number of casual staff than they have for the rest of the year. Therefore it is important that all those working are clear on the stock and till processes to ensure everything is recorded accurately.
From an owners perspective it is also a time to be extra vigilant on stock, monitoring any till shortages or till surplus. On a busy night some establishments will swap the till drawer & do an x reading on the till & credit card machine.
Expert stocktaking in Bath, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire
Paul Hunt, of Hunt Management Solutions, provides food & beverage stocktaking services for the hospitality industry across Bath, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire. Paul works on a daily basis with pubs, bars, clubs, restaurants, cafes, hotels, theatres, cinemas, student unions and a lot more.
If you need support from an experienced and qualified licensed trade stock auditor please contact Paul on 07917 176 005.
Independent theatre stocktaking and cinema stocktaking services are an essential way to protect your business profits.
With the Summer fast approaching lots of festival, fetes, open days and hospitality events will soon be taking place. However, if you are an organiser, please don’t forget to manage your stock.
Today, Friday 6th May, is National Beverage Day, the perfect excuse to head to a pub or bar this lunchtime especially if you can enjoy the sunny weather in the beer garden.