Innovation has always pushed things forward and allowed people to do things that were previously never thought possible. From early Victorian times, having the latest and greatest appliances in your kitchen was hugely important, and while not all of them were practical, they demonstrated the desire to make life easier. Innovation in the catering industry is still pushing things forward, and with it, both customers and staff are able to do more and get a better experience.

Here are some of the innovations that are moving the catering industry forward in many different ways.

For The Customer

Innovation has arguably had a greater effect on the customer recently than anywhere else. Not only have there been many new ways to find food, but there have also been easier ways to get it to the customer.

With the rise of companies such as JustEat and Deliveroo, the catering industry has seen a rise in customers choosing to order their meals online and have them delivered. While this might not sound good for restaurants, the way these companies work has actually made many businesses more popular.

In the past, a business that wanted to set up a delivery service would have needed to recruit, train and pay for the staff and equipment needed. However, with the emergence of the new wave of delivery companies, businesses now only need to arrange a contract with them and provide the delivery boxes for the food. It means that many high street chains have now embraced these companies to help reach those customers that can’t get to the restaurant.

Mobile Apps

With the mobile phone now becoming a big part of the way people live, it was probably inevitable that eating would also have a part to play. People are increasingly doing more things on their mobile devices including paying for things, and this has led to a new wave of apps from the big restaurant chains.

These new apps can do more than simply show you where the nearest restaurant is. Many of them can now book you a table, show you the menu, and even allow you to pay for your food at your table without needing anyone to help you. It is this convenience that is helping more businesses attract new customers and retain existing ones.

Food Safety Management

Behind the scenes, there is also a lot of innovation going on. The catering industry is of course extremely serious about food safety and ensuring that all the procedures and training are followed.

In the past, this meant keeping paper records of fridge temperatures and cleaning schedules, but this is now changing to make the process easier and more efficient.

There is now a range of software and mobile applications that can help you keep track of food safety records. These apps allow you to input all the readings into one place and keep the information in the cloud. Not only does this streamline the process, but it also means that the information is available whenever it’s needed.

For the larger businesses, it also means they can ensure that all their restaurants are complying without having to physically visit each location as often.

Internet-Connected Appliances

The internet of things (IoT) has not only made the home smarter, but it has also changed the way many restaurants operate. These devices such as fridges can actively monitor the inventory and either alert the manager when stock is low or automatically reorder supplies itself.

There are many benefits to such a system, for example, it will mean fewer occasions when the kitchen run out of certain ingredients and help to eliminate ordering errors. It will also ensure a more cost-effective process as you won’t be ordering something until it’s needed instead of stockpiling.

From a food safety point of view, it also means that foods are less likely to go out of date and there will be less stock to check.

Kitchen Display Systems

The process of ordering the meal and sending it to the kitchen has evolved a lot over the years. There are now fast electronic kitchen display systems that can allow servers to take the order on a PDA device and send it directly to the kitchen screens. This cuts down on the waiting time and is also more efficient.

There are also other benefits to this system, it will help managers understand which meals on the menu are the most popular and also gauge preparation times to help manage the staff in the kitchen.

Kitchen Appliances

Along with smart fridges and internet-connected appliances, there are also many new innovations in other areas of the kitchen. These are designed to help increase the efficiency of food preparation, and also ensure that food is kept at the correct temperature.

Friulinox HiChef

This appliance has made a huge difference in the commercial kitchen because it can carry out many of the functions that would otherwise need to be done separately. Imagine cooking and chilling all in one cabinet! It is now a reality with the Friulinox HiChef. It has five functions that include:

• Blast Chilling
• Blast Freezing
• Thawing
• Leavening Retarder
• Slow Cooking

It allows the kitchen to become more efficient and helps with food safety management. These appliances can be supplied by www.freezerdirect.co.uk, just get in touch with the team for more information.

Cook and Hold Oven

This type of oven is ideal for smaller kitchens that don’t have a lot of staff. The idea is that you can set the temperature and time for the food to cook, and it will then lower the temperature once the cooking time is over. This will keep the food warm until it is ready to be served.

This can not only cut down on energy costs as these appliances use radiant heat, but they can also be space-saving as they don’t need ventilation or a hood.

Innovation in the commercial kitchen is already making the job easier and more efficient, and new ideas in the future will mean even better use of space and time.