Counting the cost – janitorial and catering disposables

Finding the right balance between cost and quality of product has never been more vital as budgets are squeezed across the facilities management sector. Managing director of quality disposables manufacturer and supplier, Herald, Yogesh Patel believes that it’s all about choosing products that are fit for purpose and then making every effort to buy those products direct.

A lot of auxiliary items that are included in the catering and janitorial inventory are easy to overlook for the busy facilities manager when it comes to impact on budget. They’re all relatively small things, the cost of which aren’t considered often, even when belt-tightening exercises are at play.

The problem with these disposable ‘extras’ is that they tend to mount up though – water cups; cups for coffee machines and vending; stirrers and lids; disposable gloves; hats and aprons for those working with food. All these items come at a cost that has to be managed by the facilities operator. This cost can become quite significant when all the products are taken into account collectively. When looked at through this lens, it becomes of far greater importance that the best costs are driven through – which may mean taking a direct approach.

The disposable janitorial goods, catering and cups supplier often falls fall foul of a tendency to squeeze these products, with a constant demand for price reductions from sectors like food to go and catering managers. These individuals are keen to keep their own prices down to ensure that their customers are happy, while also desiring the quality best suited to the food and drink that they’re selling and in keeping with their brand.

It’s the ‘middle man’ who squeezes hard, whether he’s from another sector like vending and catering or he’s the wholesaler, protecting his own margin when pushing along the sales funnel and ensuring a good deal for himself. It doesn’t follow that this deal is always passed on.

The supplier, on the other hand, is likely down to the wire with his own margins as the market for these items is quite strained at the moment – there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the future of plastic and the government has not yet released guidelines or, indeed, any indicators as to which way it will go. The supplier is, effectively, already primed to give the best cost so, without a middle man in place, savvy facilities managers are in a position to benefit if they’re prepared to go direct.

If the supplier or manufacturer is approached direct, it is likely that the facilities managers who take those steps will reap the reward of the best prices and also be able to enjoy the convenience of sourcing all the janitorial and catering disposables that they need from a one-stop shop.

And this is also where quality comes into play. If you are going direct to the supplier, you can choose from that supplier’s full range of cups, for example, selecting the material – paper or plastic – weight and density of product that best caters for your needs.

Don’t overlook the impact of these auxiliary items in your facilities and, by extension, on your brand. Poor quality items, that aren’t fit for purpose, look and feel cheap and can make a bad impression on visitors to a building.

We all work, initially, on face value and we’re attracted by what we can see. Anything too cheap and of obvious poor quality impacts negatively on the senses and provides a poor reflection of the company and its facilities, which isn’t conducive to visitors and staff wanting to spend time in a building.

Finally, no comment on auxiliary products can be left without a nod to the environmental issues that continue to sit front of mind, dominating news headlines and which are now, very much, a part of the collective psyche.

The consumer, your visitor, is highly savvy and may well expect your cups, packaging, stirrers and napkins to come boasting their own green credentials. There is most definitely a place for eco-friendly, auxiliary options.

Although there is a price to pay for taking the sustainable route, if it keeps everyone happy, it’s definitely worth the extra spend. Plus, don’t forget, if you’re going direct for the first time, you may well negate that extra spend altogether.

For further information on Herald and its products, log on to www.heraldplastic.com