Sustainability and Profitability in the Independent Restaurant

To be successful, independent restaurants have many factors to consider — having adequate labor, streamlining processes in the kitchen and developing new recipes, to name a few. Maintaining a solid bottom line is, of course, essential. 


With more customers looking for sustainable food options, not only in their own homes, but also when dining out, it begs a question: How can restaurants be environmentally responsible, but also profitable? 

There are several factors that can help meet those goals. 

Source LocallyIn addition to supporting the local economy, purchasing fruits, vegetables, meats and grains from local producers also helps the environment. It eliminates long-distance transportation of goods, reducing fuel consumption and emissions, and it helps preserve local farmlands. The added benefits are produce that is fresh and seasonal and requires minimal processing. Sourcing locally also reduces the need for excess packaging, which also lowers energy consumption. Some…