StockTake Online Blog | Tips for Efficient Restaurant Inventory Management

10 Proven Strategies for Streamlining Hospitality Stock Control in 2025

Written by Team STO | Aug 12, 2025 11:13:22 AM

Running stock control in the hospitality industry has never been more challenging or more important. Rising supplier prices, unpredictable delivery schedules and the growing demand for sustainability mean operators in 2025 are rethinking how they manage the back-of-house.

A hospitality stock control system has moved from being a luxury to an operational necessity. For restaurants, hotels, bars and catering businesses, it is the key to maintaining profit margins without compromising quality or service.

Here are ten proven strategies you can use this year to take tighter control of your inventory and keep your business running smoothly.

 

1. Choose the Best Restaurant Inventory Software UK Operators Rely On

A decade ago, spreadsheets could do the job. Now modern hospitality requires far greater precision.
The best restaurant inventory software UK operators choose delivers:

  • Real-time stock visibility
  • Automated order tracking
  • Mobile access for updates anytime, anywhere

At StockTake Online, our Features include advanced stock tracking designed exclusively for hospitality environments.

 

 

2. Standardise Portions and Recipes

Inconsistent portion sizes cause unpredictable costs and unnecessary waste. Standardising recipes ensures every plate leaving the kitchen is consistent in both quality and cost.

When linked to an inventory management system, recipe and portion control lets you monitor usage in real time and flag variances before they impact profitability.

 

 

3. Enable Real-Time Stock Updates

One of the fastest ways to improve efficiency is to log every stock movement as it happens. This means you can adjust orders immediately, avoid costly last-minute shortages and keep customer service uninterrupted.

 

 

4. Schedule Regular Stock Audits

Whether weekly or fortnightly, regular audits help detect shrinkage, theft and inefficiencies before they escalate. A hospitality stock control system automates much of this process and reduces the disruption of manual counts.

 

 

5. Integrate Your POS and Supplier Systems

A standalone system is good but an integrated one is better. Linking your POS with your supplier ordering platform allows for:

  • Faster, more accurate orders
  • Fewer manual input errors
  • Instant invoice-to-stock reconciliation

Learn how our Services make integration seamless.

 

 

 6. Forecast Demand with Historical Data

Seasonal peaks, supplier lead times and recurring events all influence inventory needs. By analysing historical sales data, your system can recommend optimal stock levels, reducing both overstocking and lost sales.

 

 

 7. Train Staff in Stock Control Best Practice

Technology works best when people know how to use it. Training should cover:

  • Accurate delivery logging
  • Effective waste recording
  • Understanding the profit impact of precision

 8. Track Waste to Reduce Food Loss

Reducing food waste with inventory software benefits both the planet and your profit margins. Categorising waste, whether from spoilage, overproduction or returns, allows you to target problem areas and fix them fast.

 

 

9. Automate Re-Ordering for High-Use Items

For core, non-perishable items, automated re-ordering prevents stockouts without over-ordering. Set minimum quantity thresholds and let the system handle re-orders.

 

 

10. Review and Optimise Weekly

Stock control is a continuous process. A weekly review of ordering, pricing and waste management strategies keeps your processes sharp and your costs under control.

 

 

Final Thoughts

In 2025, stock control is about more than keeping shelves full. It is about making data-driven decisions, minimising waste and protecting margins, all with the help of the right tools.

 

If you are ready to apply these strategies, visit our Homepage or explore our Features to see how StockTake Online can work for your business.

 

 

About StockTake Online

StockTake Online is a leading UK-based hospitality stock control software provider, trusted by restaurants, hotels, bars, and catering businesses in the UK, Europe, GCC, USA, and Canada. Our platform combines AI-powered invoice scanning, real-time inventory tracking, and seamless POS integration to help operators reduce waste, improve accuracy, and maximise profitability. With over 15 years of hospitality technology expertise, we deliver solutions that make back-of-house operations simpler, smarter, and more sustainable.

 

Whether you need to automate stock reordering, integrate supplier data, or track waste for compliance, StockTake Online gives you the tools and insights to run a more profitable business.


Explore our Features, discover our Services, or Request a Demo to see how we can help you transform your operations today.