Ian began by reaching out to Avendra to conduct an audit of the property’s food and beverage expenses and develop a procurement strategy to help reduce costs. Avendra’s Manager of Field Support in the Pacific Northwest Clint Boodoosingh got to work meeting with representatives at the Fairmont Waterfront to do a “deep dive” into the hotel’s food costs. He began by reviewing spend data and visiting the property to examine the storerooms, menus, invoices and staff perspectives.

Thanks in part to his 20+ years of food and beverage experience, Clint found several areas where the hotel was overspending on items it was buying outside of Avendra’s purchasing programs. Clint reached out to Avendra’s contracted regional fresh food suppliers in the area and asked them to provide products that met the necessary specifications. Once he found the right products and verified the savings opportunities, Clint coordinated a meeting for all of the suppliers to present their products to key food and beverage personnel at the Fairmont. Each supplier had done their due diligence and presented cost-competitive products for the Fairmont’s consideration. The meeting was beneficial for both the hotel and the suppliers, as it helped to reestablish connections as well as expectations with regard to quality and service. The group shared best practices to both reduce cost and improve product usage.

Ian was impressed by the findings and began implementing the recommended changes as quickly as possible. Within just seven weeks, he saw food costs reduce by approximately 3-4%. “With Clint’s support we were able to make progress and catch up for a lot of the ground we lost earlier in the year,” said Ian. “Clint has been coming back regularly to review our action plans and ensure we stay on track, he makes himself available to assist us in any way possible.”

Avendra’s ability to provide expertise and leverage supplier relationships helped the Fairmont reduce operational costs and gain control over their spending. Are you ready to find out what Avendra can do for you? Fill out an information request form to learn more.