The culinary world is as much a science as it is an art, particularly when it comes to the mathematics of managing a successful restaurant. One key concept in the science of culinary management that can make or break a restaurant's profitability is food cost variance. This metric offers crucial insights into the health of a restaurant's finances and efficiencies in kitchen operations.
Understanding food cost variance
Food cost variance represents the percent or dollar amount difference between what a restaurant’s food inventory costs would be if there was zero waste (aka theoretical usage), and actual costs when waste is factored in. Simply put, it's the gap between a perfect world and reality.
Theoretical food costs
Theoretical costs are based on what the food cost ought to be in an ideal situation where everything goes according to plan: the right portions, no waste and no theft. It's calculated by using the cost of ingredients purchased and the amount used based on POS sales data matched with recipes over a given period.
Actual food costs
Actual food costs are calculated using what restaurants actually use combined with the addition of inventory counts during the period you’re looking at.
Use this equation to calculate actual food cost percentage:
(Beginning inventory + purchased inventory – ending inventory) x Product cost = actual cost of goods sold (COGS). COGS divided by the menu price equals the actual food cost percentage.
Knowing the variance between the actual and theoretical costs is essential—not only does it give insight into a restaurant’s financial health, but it also provides a clear picture of operational effectiveness.
Importance of managing food cost variance
Managing food cost variance is fundamentally connected to enhancing profitability. High variance often signals issues such as inventory mismanagement or operational inefficiencies. Having tight control over these variances leads to a well-managed kitchen, optimized processes and ultimately a more profitable restaurant operation.
Common causes of food cost variance
Identifying and understanding the discrepancies between actual and theoretical food costs can be like fitting pieces into a puzzle. Many variables can impact these figures, including:
- Inaccurate portioning and measurements: Serving larger portions than budgeted, or over-pouring on beer, wine or liquor.
- Theft and shrinkage: Food going bad or going home with someone it shouldn't.
- Poor inventory management: Incorrect counts or over-ordering can tie up cash flow and lead to waste through spoilage.
- Pricing discrepancies: Changes in market prices for ingredients can either increase or decrease the actual costs unexpectedly.
To counteract these common causes, restaurant operators often utilize restaurant management systems (RMS) that feature invoice processing automation and inventory management. Such systems help track and adjust for cost fluctuations, assisting in keeping a close eye on both actual and theoretical costs. Having recipes, inventory, invoices and sales data all in one place takes the guesswork out of calculating food costs and speeds up the process considerably.
If a restaurant operator is not ready for an RMS, simple tools like this calculator can help.
Outside of using an RMS, implementing efficient inventory systems (like taking regular counts), preserving excess food (through pickling or canning), using cooking tools such as scales and thermometers for accuracy and investing in staff training can all contribute to reducing the variance.
A successful restaurant strikes a harmony between culinary excellence and savvy financial management, so understanding actual vs. theoretical food cost variance is crucial for restaurant owners and kitchen managers. It's not simply controlling costs but understanding where waste and inefficiency occur. By diligently tracking this variance and making data-driven decisions, restaurants can streamline their operations, reduce waste and increase profitability.
Click here for a free template to start calculating theoretical usage. Or, to learn more about how an RMS can help streamline restaurant operations, check out MarginEdge.
This post is sponsored by MarginEdge