Food preparation and catering is one of the most lucrative businesses in the UK as well as many other parts of the world. As more people like to eat their food out, there is a growing demand for catering services and, thus, catering equipment. Those entrepreneurs who are planning to tap this business venture should find out more about the basic requirements of this business with regards to the catering equipment.
 
The type of catering depends mainly on the occasion for which the services are required. However, there are some basic ones that can be used whether catering for a birthday party, a simple dinner or a wedding.
 
Utensils and Silverware
Utensils and silverware need to be chosen with care. These do not have to be very fancy but should be rust-proof and durable. This is because these are going to wear out when used frequently. Some caterers also use custom designed silverware.
 
Plates and Bowls
Generally, white plates and transparent bowls are used. These appear neater, cleaner, and more uniform. Transparent bowls look best when serving punch, juice and a variety of other drinks.
 
Ovens
Reliability of the oven is very important for any caterer when making preparation for an occasion. Ovens will be used not just during the preparation but, also during the entire catering service as customers might need some of the food to be re-heated. Durability and size of the oven is very important. The size depends mainly on the average number of people the service needs to cater per event.
 
Refrigerators
These are used extensively before, during as well as after the service. As there can be variations regarding the number of guests, some raw materials and uncooked food might need to be stored. This is why the refrigerator needs to be very reliable.
 
The success of any catering business depends largely on the type of catering business used. Investment in quality catering equipment is important, especially for start-up caterers, to build a good repute in the industry.

There has been a rapid change in customer attitudes towards sustainable and responsible sourcing of seafood. Many people are now seriously concerned over the future of fish stocks, owing much to the awareness created by thought-provoking films, such as The End of The Line. In response to these concerns, the seafood industry is also taking the matter rather seriously.

Britain ranks fourth in Europe and is also among the top fifteen nations of the world to invest in sustainable fishing. The world’s first independent Responsible Fishing Scheme that was sponsored by the industry was also formulated in Britain. These efforts have attained many positive results; for example, an increase in cod stocks by 50% over the past ten years.

As a catering professional, you need to make sure that you only use those sea animals that have been responsibly caught and are being sustained. There are many customers who decide not to eat cod, or any other wild-caught fish simply because they are unsure of the sustainability of these sea creatures.

To make sure your menu consists of more sustainable fish, you can check on any of the Responsible Sourcing Guides. These are available for free and provide information about some of the most popular sea animals that are served in restaurants. You can use this information to find out about the best times to serve various kinds of species, and also get an update on the current stocks of different fish. Another way is to find out from your fish merchant if the fish is obtained from Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified fishery. This information should also be clearly marked on the menu. Information regarding the vessel in which the fish was caught is also important. The vessel must be in the Responsible Fishing Scheme. Customers have also shown their concerns over the method of catching fish and where it comes from. Therefore, it is a good idea to either include this information on the menu or be aware of all the details in order to handle customer queries.

With the new school term approaching, now is the time to get stocked up on any catering equipment you might need for your school kitchen. It’s best to start looking now as buying catering equipment can be a bit of challenge, between deciding what specifications you need and what brand you want you will wonder where the time went. So we advise you to start getting it sorted now as there is nothing worse than having to deal with something like this in the middle of the madness of a new term starting.

We sell a huge range of products so like to consider ourselves your one stop catering equipment shop. Every type of catering equipment you could need in your school we can supply to you:

    - beverage equipment

    - toasters

    - chef clothing

    - cooking equipment

    - cookware

    - trolleys

    - food preparation

    - cutlery

    - crockery

    - chafing sets

    - fly killers

    - refrigeration

    - tables and sinks

That’s pretty much all we can think would be needed for your school kitchen, but if we’ve missed something out then we will probably sell it also.

If you happen to live within a 100 mile radius of Newcastle then you will be glad to know that we will not only personally deliver your equipment to you, but also install it to save you the hassle. We even have our own team of dedicated engineers that carry out the installation, as well as servicing and repairs, so it’s good to know that when you buy from us, you don’t have to look elsewhere for such services. When you buy from us the relationship certainly does not have to end there!

At BuyCatering, we supply a range of public bodies with commercial catering equipment, including police, schools and universities. Remember that if you are a Government body, we can supply equipment to you without requiring payment for 30 days. For more information about the places we supply, please click here.