Finding used catering equipment for sale will save you a lot of money, which you can find from various catering equipment suppliers across the United States. Many of these suppliers will have wholesale catering equipment sales and auctions from time to time that you can take advantage of and save up to 50% retail prices that you would normally pay from catering equipment manufacturers.
From the same suppliers, you can also find used catering equipment parts and various supplies. Many times you can even order the catering supplies and equipment online and have them shipped directly to your home. Buying outdoor and portable catering equipment is also a very important idea to consider, especially if you’re going to have a mobile catering business for weddings, parties and other social gatherings. Stainless steel catering equipment is a great way to purchase if you are considering outdoor catering, since the stainless steel will not rust.
Finding All Your Catering Equipment And Supplies – From A To Z
There are literally dozens of different equipment you can use for catering and supplies to go along with. If you are going to become a professional in the food service business, you’re going to need a complete set of catering equipment world supplies to make life easy. You will need to consider inside catering and outside catering. Some supplies you may consider are;
- Transporting And Holding Supplies And Equipment – Having transporting equipment is the very basics of what you will need to operate a catering business.
- Buffet Warming Carts – This item will be important because most of your customers will probably quest of buffet style dinner, thus requiring you to have a buffet warming cart. Make sure to purchase banquet carts as part of your transport systems required for catering business.
- Mobile Ice Bins – Having multiple mobile ice bins this is essential because most guests will require ice for their beverages. This will go nice with various insulated beverage containers to hold different types of beverages, juice, ice tea and water. You will also need some type of complete ice machine that is sufficient and supplying ice for the amount of guests you have.
- Refrigerators or some type of refrigeration unit will be required for whatever cold foods are being served.
- Make sure to look in to small, portable freezer units to hold ice cream or any other desserts.
- Chocolate Fountain And Accessories – A swirling chocolates often is an essential for dessert purposes and entertainment. Having a dipping cabinet right beside a chocolate fountain to get the different fruits, such as strawberries, apples and any other variety of fruit you may serve, is very important.
- You will need the basic item of tables and chairs. You can either rent this on a customer by customer basis or you can purchase them out right and own them. This is up to you, but make sure you get wholesale prices on both folding tables and folding chairs if you decide for your business to purchase them.
- A Beverage Service Cart – A service cart for various beverages is another essential item. You will need mobile ice dispensers to go with the beverage service cart, which will allow frozen beverages to be served.
- A Manual Convection Oven – Purchasing this piece of commercial kitchen equipment is essential in cooking many different types of food. The size of commercial grade of a new purchase is up to you, all depending on your individual business needs.
- You will need silverware and linens. Table cloths, tabletop supplies and small decorative pieces are required for most conferences or wedding parties for decorative purposes.
- Glassware and flatware are required for all tables. Your guests cannot eat food without proper utensils and dinnerware.
- Holding Cabinets with heat lamps is another essential item to keep food warm. If you’re having a buffet style dinner, make sure to add many portable stove top heat lamps to keep food warm and fresh.
- Salad dispensers could be required if you’re buffet servers are not already handing out or taking orders for salads.
- Carving stations are a must for every catering business. Whether you offer a carving station for chicken, lamb or beef is up to you and what the customer orders. This is a very important part of entertainment for your guests.
- Carving stations go well with display platters and trays as part of the eye appealing decoration you can offer.
- Blenders may be a great addition to offer fruit juices were margaritas to your guests. This will go great with bar equipment and barware for the serve alcohol. Possibly consider purchasing barstools, bar supplies, champagne flutes and glasses, and beverage dispensers when needed. Concession equipment and bar supplies are normally purchased together.
- Pizza ovens should also be considered to offer some type of gourmet food whenever possible.
- Sandwich trays should be considered as well. Concession equipment is a great selection for any restaurant or vending business. The ability to offer deli sandwiches is very popular.
- Small gas grills, ovens and fryers should be purchased whenever needed.
- Portable shelving should be considered for the preparation area. Buying the right type of shelves will help your business go smooth and easy.
- Food pans, plate covers, food carriers, no can beverage coolers, and other various kitchen supplies should also be on your list whenever needed.
- You will need dishwashers. This can be done manually by hiring someone or you could buy portable dishwasher machines to take with you.
- Janitorial Supplies are required for the cleaning of your equipment, catering supplies and the menu that has been rented for whatever dinner or wedding you are hosting.
- Espresso machines, Charlie Bean coffee machines and the ability to make hot tea are also very important for guests.
- If you are going mobile, you will need the ability to supply a buffet catering company on the go with the proper supplies. You will possibly need catering trucks and catering trailers to make the business complete, thus allowing you to do corporate catering for big businesses.
- You can find a catering truck that is fairly old if you are looking to save money when buying used catering equipment.
- Make sure to place food warmers securely when transporting them with your catering truck, so they do not break or get damaged.
- Consider offering a catering contract to your customers. Catering businesses with contracts to do regular, scheduled catering are much more successful in the long term.
- Design your catering menu carefully. You do not want to leave out favorite foods that people love to eat.
Get Started With You Catering Equipment And Supplies Today
Make sure to keep all items of the various catering equipment and supplies you will require whenever operating a catering business. If you can find many of these supplies use or secondhand, this will save the business some money. Finding the supplies for second hand catering equipment can be done at a wholesale food service distributor that has discount commercial wholesale prices for businesses such as yours. Use all your resources to save money and be creative when shopping for new and used restaurant equipment.