qUick wins for a smoother kitchen
February is a good time to pause and get back in control. The holiday rush is over, the new year is settling in, and before things ramp up again, there’s a small window to tidy up your systems and set the tone for a smoother 2026.
Here are five simple ways to strengthen your kitchen operations, boost profit, and ease the pressure on your team — without overhauling everything.
1. Get your stock under control
Start with a proper stocktake, not just a glance at the cool room. Look for:
- Slow movers you can cut or repurpose
- Ingredients you keep "just in case" but rarely use
- Products you could cross-utilise better.
Trimming back now helps reduce waste and frees up cash flow.
2. Review menu margins
Your best sellers aren't always your most profitable. Pull your top 10 dishes and check:
- What's changed in ingredient costs if anything?
- Could you swap anything for seasonal or lower-cost alternatives?
- Are portions still in check?
Event small tweaks can bring margins back in line without changing the whole menu.
3. streamline your prep
Over-prepping is one of the biggest (and quietest) profit killers.
- Update your daily prep sheets to reflect current volumes
- Batch smaller and more often where you can
- Rotate roles to prevent boredom and improve accuracy.
Keep your prep tight and flexible as trade levels shift.
4. Talk to your team
Your team sees what's working and what isn't. Now's the time to ask:
- What caused bottlenecks during summer?
- What's slowing down service now?
- Are there ideas they'd like to try?
Even a 15 minute chat can surface easy fixes you wouldn't spot from the pass.
5. Don't forget your people
Roster fatigue builds fast, before the next busy period, look at:
- Hours - are they sustainable?
- Breaks - are people taking them?
- Morale - any small wins you can celebrate?
Simple acknowledgement and smart rostering go a long way toward retention.
make one small change this week
You don't need to do everything. But one smart shift, a stocktake, a team chat, a menu tweak, can set your kitchen up for a smoother, more profitable year.
And if you need help, we've got your back. Explore our recipes for menu inspiration.