If you’re a restaurant, pub or coffee shop owner, you’ll probably be aware of the negative impact grease can have on your kitchen. Grease management is an ongoing commitment, and is crucial for growing a hospitality business that maintains an impressive reputation over time.
Read on to learn about the key grease-related challenges faced by hospitality business owners and how you can easily overcome them in the future!
3 Reasons Why Grease Management Matters in Hospitality
1. High-Volume Cooking = High Grease Output
The likelihood is that a pub or coffee shop kitchen is going to have to accommodate a lot of cooking activity during its life span. When high volume cooking takes place in a kitchen, a lot of grease is subsequently produced.
It’s for this reason that grease management is so critical for hospitality business owners. Having systems in place to manage the increased amount of grease being produced will ensure that your kitchen thrives in the long run.
2. The Cost of Non-Compliance and Downtime
It’s not just advisable to get your grease management practices in check, in most cases it’s actually a legal duty to do so. In the UK, for example, there are different laws you need to abide by when it comes to grease management and removal.
Simply put, any business that serves hot food from a kitchen is required to have a grease trap installed at their premises. Failure to do so can result in hefty fines, and any business owner found responsible for sewer blockages could face a prison sentence of up to five years.
3. Reputation at Risk: Grease Problems and Guest Experience
Another factor to consider when it comes to grease management is reputation. Grease isn’t a “sexy” topic to discuss, and you don’t want your customers or any future customers finding out that you have grease-related issues.
Hospitality businesses are built on a foundation of trust, so it’s important to instil as much faith in your restaurant or café to ensure that your customers keep coming back.
3 Common Grease Management Challenges Faced by Hotels, Resorts, and Event Venues
So what are some of the common challenges faced by hospitality businesses when it comes to grease management? We’re going to cover the following three:
- Inconsistent maintenance schedules
- Outdated or undersized grease traps
- High staff turnover
1. Inconsistent Maintenance Schedules
The main challenge faced by kitchens when it comes to grease management is having inconsistent maintenance schedules. Grease management duties are often overlooked and not prioritised over other tasks. Over time, this can result in issues with grease traps, potential pipe blockages and more.
Sticking to a weekly, biweekly or monthly maintenance schedule ensures that you keep on top of your grease management duties.
2. Outdated or Undersized Grease Traps
Another problem kitchens run into is having either an outdated or undersized grease trap. This can happen if either:
- Your grease trap hasn’t been replaced in many years;
- The business has grown in popularity and the kitchen has outgrown its current grease trap capabilities.
If either of these statements are true for your business, we recommend installing a new grease trap to be in the best position moving forward.
3. High Staff Turnover
Unfortunately, the nature of hospitality businesses (lower salaries and long hours) means that high staff turnover is a common issue. This can have a negative effect on grease management, as you’ll need to ensure that any new members of staff are trained to manage the requirements of the kitchen in this area.
Hospitality businesses can be chaotic, which makes free time for training hard to come by, however it’s really important to make room for grease management!
5 Strategies to Overcome Grease Management Challenges
You’re probably wondering what can be done to overcome the above grease management challenges? We suggest considering the following:
- Conduct a grease management audit
- Choose the right grease trap or your operation size
- Set up a regular maintenance schedule
- Train staff on proper grease disposal techniques
- Stay up-to-date with local and environmental regulations
1. Conducting a Grease Management Audit
If you’re struggling to stay on top of your duties, we recommend starting off by conducting a grease management audit. This will identify any areas you need to address, helping you to create a priority list of tasks to complete.
2. Choosing the Right Grease Trap for Your Operation Size
Another key consideration is ensuring that you have the right grease trap for your operation size. This could mean that you need to upgrade your current grease trap by working with an expert team.
Companies like Aqua Mundus offer a free grease trap size calculator to help you make this decision.
3. Setting Up a Regular Maintenance Schedule
Once you have a suitable grease trap installed on your premises, it’s time to ensure that you’ve set up a regular maintenance schedule. By doing this, you hold you and your staff accountable to a maintenance schedule that needs to be regularly carried out.
4. Training Staff on Proper Grease Disposal Techniques
As part of setting up your grease management maintenance schedule, you want to ensure that all required members of staff are trained to carry out their duties. It’s all well and good having a schedule, but if the tasks are being incorrectly carried out, all the previous work will have been for nothing.
5. Staying Up to Date with Local and Environmental Regulations
The final strategy to implement if you’re serious about your grease management practices is staying up-to-date with local and environmental regulations. As we explained earlier in this guide, installing a grease trap and removing grease-related waste effectively is required by law in various countries.
By having your ear to the ground around this topic area, you ensure that your business stays compliant, reducing the risk of future fines and reputational damage.
Final Thoughts: A Proactive Approach Pays Off
Grease management is a high priority area of focus for hospitality business owners, and having a proactive approach can prove to be a great policy. By prioritising grease management, you can expect to benefit from:
- Long-term savings through preventative maintenance;
- Protecting your brand and guest experience.
If in doubt, work with grease management experts, who’ll be able to guide you forward.