As restaurant operators face unprecedented inflationary pressures, the need for cost control has never been greater. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for food increased by 4.8% in February 2022 compared to the same month in the previous year. This is the largest year-over-year increase since 2009. With food costs at an all-time high, restaurants that don’t manage their inventory and associated costs accurately and efficiently risk seriously damaging their profit margins.

To help you optimize your restaurant’s cost of goods sold (CoGS), here are eight steps you can take to keep food costs in check and your restaurant on track.