The Complete Guide to Surplus Restaurant Supplies and How They are Disrupting the Food Industry

COVID-19 has taken its toll on various business sectors, even the food industry. Nearly 80,000 restaurantsclosed permanently in 2021. The numbers are still high as Omicron threatens the survival of large chains and small businesses alike.

A lot of people might think that this time isn’t the best for restaurant owners. However, there are other ways to keep food businesses afloat. One example is by making the most of surplus restaurant supplies.

What Are Surplus Restaurant Supplies?

Surplus restaurant supplies refer to overstocked or second-generation equipment and tools. Usually, these supplies are sold by food businesses that have too much of the supplies or are no longer in operation. It’s an ideal option for these restaurants to regain a bit of the capital that they spent on the equipment. It also allows them to help other restaurateurs.

Here at RestaurantEquipment.Shop, we serve as a marketplace for close-out restaurant and food-related supplies. Whether you’re looking for glassware, kitchen equipment, or furniture for your restaurant, or are planning to open a food business, we’re your best bet for cutting back on expenses.

How Do Surplus Restaurant Supplies Help Restaurants Save Money?

Surplus restaurant supplies are disrupting the food industry because they offer business owners more bang for their buck. These are some of the reasons overstocked or second-generation equipment and tools can help restaurants save money.

Less Capital

The primary benefit of these supplies is that they cost significantly less than their brand-new counterparts. On average, every piece of equipment or tool featured on our website is priced at 40% below the retail price. This means more savings for new and current restaurant owners, which can be used to purchase more equipment or for other revenue-generating projects.

Reduced Depreciation Effects

You can liken buying restaurant equipment to purchasing a car. Once you’ve driven your brand-new vehicle out of the dealership, its value drops right away. The same thing happens to new restaurant equipment. Use them even once and they depreciate in a snap.

Although the value of second-generation or surplus restaurant supplies still depreciates, you won’t feel the immense impact since the equipment has already changed hands at least a couple of times. You don’t feel the loss because you’re not the original purchaser. As a result, you’re getting more value for your money.

Environment-Friendly

Buying second-hand items is also more eco-friendly. Imagine dumping chunky restaurant equipment in landfills. It won’t be a pretty sight. Not only are you giving new life to second-generation and surplus restaurant supplies but you’re also taking care of the environment by recycling and reusing them.

Solve Urgent Demands

Another key benefit of surplus supplies is that you can solve your urgent operational demands right away. With the ongoing pandemic, businesses have battled with problems in the equipment-manufacturer supply chain, which entailed delays in the shipment of some components.  

If these parts are crucial to your daily tasks, such as fryer and refrigeration components, you should find them as soon as possible to avoid delays and, in turn, profit losses. You may be able to stumble upon the parts that you need on our marketplace and get your equipment to work immediately.

Tax Write-Offs

You can deduct used or surplus restaurant equipment from your taxes, too, which means even more savings. They qualify under the Section 179 deduction, which enables businesses to deduct the full purchase price of equipment. The deductions are applicable in their current tax year, which can help you immensely even though Omicron continues to rage.

What To Consider When Purchasing Surplus Restaurant Supplies

As with any other purchase, you should have a set of criteria for your supplies. Safety is a top priority since the tools and supplies might be used to handle food directly. Here are other factors to consider when purchasing surplus restaurant supplies:

Usefulness

Just like shopping for clothes and other items, you shouldn’t buy restaurant equipment just because it’s on sale. You have to make sure that your business actually needs it and the tool would be a valuable part of your inventory.  

Create a priority list of the equipment that your restaurant needs so that you can purchase them once you see them on our site. This way, you can ensure a return on your investment.  

Years in Service

Check the history of the equipment. Will you be the second owner, or has it been passed down from a lot of different owners? You don’t want to purchase a tool that only has a short lifespan left. Determine how many years it has served its previous owners so that you can assess if it’s worth buying or not.

Another way to evaluate the lifespan of kitchen equipment is by asking whether it was serviced regularly. If it was maintained properly, it’s highly likely that the device is still in pristine condition.

Moreover, check if it still has a warranty. Sometimes, there are equipment and supplies that still have a brand warranty, so you won’t have to worry about repairs and maintenance.  

Brand

You may also want to opt for branded equipment. Most of the time, these manufacturers have gained a reputation for being the best in the industry. Don’t sacrifice quality for the price. Imagine buying non-branded equipment that breaks down after a month. You have to shell out money again to replace it. This can put a large dent in your monthly budget.

Part Availability  

Another advantage of buying branded equipment is that their parts are readily available if you need them. Sometimes, people sell kitchen equipment for very low prices without telling you how challenging it is to repair. If the components are difficult to find, you may have to spend more on them, which voids the deal that you got when you bought it.

Energy Certification

You should also remember to check the energy certification of the equipment that you plan on buying. This rating shows whether the device uses energy efficiently, which has a direct effect on your utility bills. You want a tool that won’t add too much to your restaurant’s energy consumption.

Tips for Buying Surplus Restaurant Supplies

Before you purchase surplus restaurant supplies, make sure to follow these tips:

Do Your Research

Always do your research before buying equipment or tools for your restaurant. Again, you want to make sure that you’re getting a good deal and will be enjoying a high return on the money that you’ll be spending.  

Don’t be afraid to ask your questions and raise your concerns about the item. You don’t want to end up spending more on repairing or, worse, replacing a piece of equipment that you bought for a very low price that had damages you didn’t know about.

Purchase From a Reputable Dealer

Make sure to find reputable dealers and online stores. Visit their websites to look for certifications and licenses to prove their legitimacy. Reviews on their domain and third-party sites can also help you determine if they’re credible.  

RestaurantEquipment.Shop has been around for decades. We started on eBay and also helped move food service equipment in and out of restaurants and supermarkets. Since then, our business has expanded to offering surplus, clearance, and used restaurant and food service equipment, smallwares, and disposables.  

Know What To Buy

Gas ranges, ovens, tableware, fryers, refrigerators, freezers, ice machines, and other small appliances can all be bought used since they usually have a long lifespan.

Takeaway

Surplus restaurant supplies are equipment and tools that are overstocked or no longer being used. They can help food business owners save on operating costs because purchasing them entails lower prices than brand-new equipment.

If you’re thinking about buying surplus supplies, check out our marketplace for items that will be useful for your restaurant.