Food deliveries supply restaurants with what they need to keep operating smoothly. Menus may change or the trends of what’s being ordered can fluctuate for various reasons and receiving produce impacts operations. All these changes contribute to the food list ordered and anticipated for delivery.
So, what do restaurants, schools, hospitals, and other nutritional service providers need to know about receiving their orders? This blog will go into detail about what everyone needs to know when receiving their food orders to ensure a seamless transition between the food delivery trucks and the final food service to those you serve.
Receiving Produce and Other Food Items From Your Distributor
Take note. Here are the most important things all food distributor recipients should know when accepting an order.
Inspect Food Upon Receiving – To maintain the highest quality food products, a facility must properly inspect food items before receiving them. Should any items be wrong, missing, or damaged, it is your responsibility to raise awareness to your food supplier immediately with the necessary corrections.
You’ll also want to double-check requested food items before submitting an order, to prevent mistakes.
When to reject a food item -There are many reasons you’ll want to reject a food item from your supplier. For example, food packages should be rejected anytime they contain tears, holes, or punctures. Frozen foods that are not completely frozen are also not worth accepting. Perhaps instead they are partially frozen or have re-frozen crystals on them, reducing their quality and freshness. Reject damaged can products that have rust or severe dents along with items with broken seals, leaking, or signs of pest damage or infestation.
Have your receiving area prepared and ready— On the day your food order arrives do you have enough space to store your cold items? Is your area in need of cleaning? It’s best to have these important factors lined up before taking in large quantities of food. Lacking capacity could compromise the freshness and quality of the fruits and vegetables received.
Many facilities prep ahead of time by throwing out expired items and cleaning the area in preparation for food deliveries. Having a clean and sanitized food storage area keeps the quality of food received fresh and valuable to the customers.
Maintain Good Team Communication — Anyone responsible for receiving delivery of food orders should be on the same page with regard to health and hygiene. Having a standard receiving procedure that everyone follows, helps keep consistency in what is expected from everyone to uphold the quality of food received and its health in delivery to the customer.
Good team communication also helps avoid misunderstandings on food inventory.
Choosing an Approved Food Supplier for Regular Deliveries
In order for food to be considered safe, it should be obtained from an approved food supplier. An approved food supplier is one that meets all local, state, and federal laws. Approved food sources must abide by proper food safety practices along with all steps of the food supply chain. It is important to have a food supplier you can trust with timely deliveries and quality food items.
Peddler’s Son Delivers Produce and Much More
Peddler’s Son is the go-to farm-fresh food supplier for Arizona restaurants, hospitals, schools, and more. Family-owned and operated since 1988, Peddler’s Son brings you honest pricing, unparalleled customer service, and farm-fresh produce every day.
We believe in quality and that’s what you’ll get when you rely on us to deliver high-value foods for your dishes. Want to have quality fresh foods arrive on schedule? We can help! Contact us today to receive your portal login and get started!