The Importance of Sustainability in Foodservice

Sustainable practices are an important trend, not just in foodservice but in all industries. Companies realize the financial benefits of using fewer resources. Consumers demand it. And everyone enjoys the positive byproducts of sustainability and environmentally conscious practices and processes.

In foodservice, though, the drive to operate more sustainably is growing at unheard of rates. According to Foodservice Consultants Society International, the Tastewise 2020 database showed that 23 percent of consumers now prioritize sustainability in businesses.

The National Restaurant Association shows similar findings. In their annual What’s Hot Culinary Forecast for 2022, sustainability is the hottest trend in the restaurant industry. From using ingredients that are sourced locally to proteins that are raised or harvested sustainably to the reduction of food waste, sustainability issues will continue to gain momentum in 2022.

This means sustainable resources will be needed to meet the demands of sustainability in business. Let’s walk through three of Middleby’s top sustainability solutions that will help meet those demands.

Use Fewer Resources with Pitco ROV Fryers

From electricity to frying oil, using fewer resources are an important way to satisfy sustainability-minded customers while saving money for the operation. Pitco’s Reduced Oil Volume Fryers, or ROV Fryers, use 30 percent less frying oil than conventional fryers to reduce the frequency of disposing of old oil. Automatic filtration also improves labor efficiency and food quality, an all-around win-win for sustainably-minded operations.

Reduce Food Waste with UVC Technology from Bluezone.

The reality is we waste around one-third to one-half of our food supply in the United States, a daunting figure that not only translates to food inequality for economically-challenged citizens, but also wasted money for restaurant operators. One of the biggest sustainability efforts a restaurant can make is to throw away less food, and with UVC technology from Bluezone, walk-ins become food preservation zones where ultraviolet light converts ethylene gas into water and carbon dioxide, thus removing the one factor that ages produce more than any other. With Bluezone, you can extend the life of strawberries, for example, by as much as 10 days. Such an impact can dramatically reduce the food waste of a single operation.

Save Energy and Enjoy Instant Visibility with Open Kitchen

Technology is one of the leading arms to enhancing sustainability, and the Open Kitchen platform from Powerhouse Dynamics is changing the way operators think about practices and processes. Open Kitchen is an IoT, or Internet of Things, solution that connects just about every aspect of a commercial kitchen regardless of brand. By using real-time data on equipment such as HVAC equipment or warewashers, operators can make decisions that increase efficiency, use fewer resources, and even eliminate potential safety issues.

Open Kitchen was able to save Arby’s over $20 million. Find out how they did it and see how IoT technology can benefit your operation.

Resources:
Tastewise 2020

What’s Hot Culinary Forecast for 2022