Your trusted supplier fails to deliver on time. How will you ensure your kitchen runs smoothly without them?

If you're scrambling the day a supplier drops the ball, it's already too late. This isn’t about reacting—it’s about building a system that doesn’t break under pressure. → Know your inventory like you know your recipes. → Keep local vendors warm, even when you don’t need them. → Cross-train staff so no one job becomes a bottleneck. → Build menus that flex without losing quality. Contingency isn’t a backup plan. It’s part of the plan. Kitchens run on precision—but survive on adaptability.

One thing I have learned as being a travel nurse, is that you must adapt and overcome. Ask for help. Don’t be afraid to speak up. Advocate for your patient. Know your chain of command. Be a leader if you possess the knowledge. And never stop learning.

On-Time, In-Full from your suppliers is essential to your partnership, growth, and revenue. To address security of your inventory, developing a dual supplier model helps address supply chain issues if and when they occur. If the relationship of your trusted supplier is healthy and you are transparent with your goals to remain in-stock always, the trusted supplier should understand and support you.

Regularly assessing your stock is crucial for smooth operations and healthy cash flow. It helps you understand what products are selling, what’s overstocked, and what’s running low. By tracking inventory levels, you can avoid costly stockouts or excess storage fees. Assessing stock also reveals trends and customer preferences, guiding smarter purchasing decisions. Use inventory management tools to get real-time insights, optimize reorder points, and reduce waste. A well-assessed stock keeps your business agile, responsive, and ready to meet demand without tying up unnecessary capital.

First, don’t panic—pivot. Tap into your backup suppliers immediately or lean on local vendors to fill the gap. Simplify the menu if needed, focusing on what’s fresh and available. Keep your team in the loop and adjust prep plans fast. Communicate transparently with customers if changes affect them—it builds trust. Use the moment to review supplier reliability and maybe tighten those contingency plans. When one ingredient’s missing, mix a new recipe—resilience is the real secret sauce.

We always keep at lease two three days advanced stock in kitchen. As our vendor is trusted and he is taking time to deliver the demanded item then we can have option to swap todays menue with future the menu. And if the menu can't be skipped then we must move to local market for new vendor and penalise the old one

Make sure to always have a back up plan if ever plan A fail one day. Its always better to have things waiting at the back of your hand rather than find something on the spot which will take your time instead of using it working on your business.