Requirements for opening a new restaurant: Essential pre-opening preparation checklist
The opening of a new restaurant begins long before receiving its first customer.
In addition to choosing the location, preparing the menu, equipping the kitchen and designing the space, there is an equally important operational aspect: providing the supplies that the restaurant needs daily to take orders and manage the customer experience smoothly.
Purchasing these supplies may seem simple at first, but with the variety of products and the different uses, the purchasing process can become disorganized if you do not have a clear list that specifies what the project needs, what should be purchased in larger quantities, and which products will need to be reordered continuously.
Therefore, before opening a new restaurant, it is best to divide the project's needs into clear categories, linking each category to the method of operation, the expected number of orders, and the type of service the restaurant provides.
In this guide, we review the most important categories that can be included in the list of requirements for opening a new restaurant , along with a set of practical points that will help you organize the purchasing process and manage inventory from the beginning.
What do you need when setting up a new restaurant?
There is no single menu that suits all restaurants, because the needs of a fast-food restaurant differ from those of a restaurant that relies on in-restaurant service, and the needs of a restaurant that relies on takeout and delivery orders also differ.
However, basic necessities can be divided into a number of main categories:
- Food serving supplies
- Beverage supplies
- Packaging and export supplies
- Tissues and paper supplies
- Hygiene and daily necessities
- Products customized with the brand identity
This breakdown helps you build a clearer shopping list, instead of buying products randomly.
1. Food serving supplies
Start with the products that go directly into the process of serving food to the customer.
These requirements vary depending on the type of restaurant and the method of serving meals, but they may include:
- Serving dishes
- tableware
- Spoons, forks, and knives
- Food serving utensils
- Table accessories
- Products used with meals
When preparing the menu, do not rely solely on the number of seats inside the restaurant.
If a large portion of your orders are made through Takeaway or Delivery , your needs will differ from a restaurant that relies primarily on in-house service.
The best approach is to link each product to its actual usage within the restaurant.
2. Cups and beverage accessories
If the restaurant serves coffee or hot and cold drinks, then cups become essential products in the daily operation.
The shopping list could include:
- paper cups
- Cups for cold drinks
- Cup lids
- Beverage serving supplies
Here it is important to determine your needs based on the drinks menu itself.
A project that offers several types of drinks may need more than one type or size of cup, while for another project it may be better to reduce the number of types used to make inventory management easier.
practical advice
Before ordering a large quantity of cups, create a simple table showing:
Drink type → Cup type → Average daily demand → Expected need.
In this way, the purchase decision becomes based on actual operation and not on random estimation.
3. Restaurant packaging supplies
If the restaurant offers takeout or relies on delivery services, packaging should be a key part of the preparation plan.
This category includes products used in order processing and delivery to the customer, such as:
- Food packaging
- cups
- covers
- bags
- Order packaging supplies
- Products used to protect and arrange meal components
Choosing packaging is not just about the appearance.
It is important that the product is suitable for the nature of the food and the way it is served, and that it helps to organize and prepare the order in a practical way.
Before choosing packaging, ask:
What type of food will I serve?
Does it need separate packaging?
Are there any sauces or toppings?
Will the order be consumed inside the restaurant or outside?
Does he need more than one package per order?
Answering these questions will help you determine the products and quantities required more accurately.
4. Tissues and paper supplies
Napkins are among the products used daily in many restaurants and cafes, and therefore they should be included in the list of supplies from the first stage of preparation.
Examples include:
- paper napkins
- Table napkins
- scented wipes
- Napkins used with takeout orders
The quantity required varies depending on the number of orders and the method of service delivery.
Therefore, it is not enough to determine the initial purchase quantity; it is also better to know the expected consumption rate so that you can plan to reorder before the stock runs out.
Banan Al Jazeera already offers various categories of paper products and napkins as part of the supplies for restaurants and cafes.
5. Hygiene and daily necessities
Hygiene is an essential part of the daily operation of any food service establishment, and therefore hygiene supplies should be treated as part of an ongoing supply and not just purchases related to the opening.
When preparing your shopping list, allocate a separate section for these products so that you can easily track and reorder them.
It is also important to identify the products that:
Consumed daily
In contrast to products that:
They are used for a longer period of time.
This division helps the purchasing team identify products that require ongoing monitoring.
6. Supplies bearing the restaurant's logo
Opening a new restaurant is not just about providing the necessary operating products; it also represents an opportunity to build a consistent brand experience.
Some products that customers use daily can carry the restaurant's identity, such as:
- paper cups
- tissues
- scented wipes
Through custom printing , the restaurant's name or logo can be used on appropriate products according to the available printing options.
Banan Al Jazeera provides custom printing services on products including paper cups and napkins, in addition to supplying restaurant and cafe supplies.
Why might custom printing be important?
Because the product is no longer just an operational element.
The cup that the customer carries outside the restaurant, or the napkin that arrives with their order, can be part of the brand's presence in front of them.
Therefore, some everyday necessities become part of the Brand Experience and not just consumer goods.
7. How do you determine the quantities you need?
One of the biggest mistakes a new project can make is buying large quantities of products without a clear estimate of consumption.
Instead, start with the projected running numbers.
Number of daily orders
If you anticipate a certain number of orders per day, use it as a starting point for calculating the consumption of products associated with each order.
Average product consumption
If each order requires a specific product, it becomes easier to estimate the quantity required over a week or month.
Percentage of external orders
The higher the percentage of Takeaway and Delivery, the more important packaging products, cups, bags and other supplies related to takeaway orders become.
reserve stock
Do not rely on stock reaching zero before reordering.
Having an adequate reserve quantity helps reduce the likelihood of shutdowns due to running out of a key product.
8. How do you organize restaurant purchases?
Instead of treating all products the same way, divide your purchases into three groups:
Essential products
These are the products without which the service cannot operate.
Such as some serving and packaging supplies, cups and napkins depending on the nature of the project.
Frequently consumed products
These are products that need to be reordered continuously based on usage rate.
Identity-related products
Such as products that bear the restaurant's logo or design.
This breakdown makes the purchasing and inventory management process clearer, and helps to prioritize when preparing the budget.
9. Is it better to deal with more than one supplier?
When setting up a new restaurant, dealing with a large number of suppliers can increase the time required for research, ordering, and follow-up.
Therefore, it is helpful to compare suppliers based on several factors, not just price.
See:
Product variety
Does the supplier provide more than one category that you need for operation?
Quantities
Are the purchasing options appropriate for the size of your project?
Continuity of supply
Can you reorder the products you consume regularly?
Allocation
Is it possible to print the brand identity on suitable products?
Easy ordering and tracking
Can you easily access and reorder products when needed?
Banan Al Jazeera points to over 20 years of experience in supplying supplies to restaurants, cafes, hotels and companies, in addition to printing services for logos and printed materials.
10. Checklist before opening the restaurant
Before the opening date, review your needs according to the following categories:
Application
- ☐ Serving dishes and accessories
- ☐ Tableware
- ☐ Food serving utensils
- Table accessories
Drinks
- ☐ Cups
- ☐ Covers
- Beverage serving supplies
Packaging
- ☐ Food packaging
- ☐ Bags
- ☐ Supplies for external orders
tissues
- ☐ Paper tissues
- ☐ Table napkins
- Scented wipes
Hygiene and consumption
- ☐ Hygiene supplies
- ☐ Daily consumer products
- ☐ Frequently used supplies
Business identity
- Printed mugs
- Printed tissues
- ☐ Printed scented wipes
How to make your shopping list more efficient?
After identifying all the products, do not proceed directly to purchasing.
Take the list a step further and divide it into:
Product | Usage | Consumption Rate | Quantity Ordered | Reorder Rate
This simple table helps you transform your shopping list from a mere opening list into a basic supply management system .
Over time, you can compare actual consumption with initial estimates and adjust quantities based on real operating data.
Choosing a restaurant supplies supplier
The right supplier is measured not only by the number of products available in the store, but also by the extent to which the available products and services can practically meet the needs of your project.
Therefore, when comparing suppliers of restaurant and cafe supplies, look for a supplier who can help you in more than one aspect:
- Serving supplies
- Beverage supplies
- Packaging
- paper products
- tissues
- consumer goods
- Products printed with the brand identity
This is where the importance of dealing with a supplier who provides several categories of needs from one place comes in, especially when setting up a new project or managing recurring purchases.
Start preparing your restaurant with a clear shopping list.
Setting up a new restaurant doesn't mean buying as many products as possible.
The goal is to find out what your project actually needs, the appropriate quantities for each product, when you need to reorder, and which products can support your brand experience.
Start by dividing your needs into categories, link quantities to expected operating volume, and then compare supply options before making a purchase decision.
If you are looking for wholesale restaurant and cafe supplies in Saudi Arabia , you can explore the available categories at Banan Al Jazeera or contact the team to find out which products are suitable for your project needs.
Banan Al Jazeera — Restaurant and cafe supplies from one supplier.