As we navigate the fiscal landscape of 2026, the hospitality industry faces an unprecedented convergence of operational pressures. Margin erosion, driven by volatile global supply chains and fluctuating labour costs, has rendered traditional, reactive accounting methods obsolete. For a modern Profit and Loss (P&L) statement to be a functional tool rather than a historical post-mortem, it requires a "Single Source of Truth."
2026 Tech Investment: Why STO is the Single Source of Truth
Feb 2, 2026 1:22:17 PM / by Team STO posted in stocktake online, Inventory Management, restaurant operations, hospitality finance, food waste reduction, multi-site management, COGS control, food cost control, menu engineering, AI forecasting
5 Inventory Management Challenges for US and Canada Chains
Jan 30, 2026 12:21:30 PM / by Team STO posted in supply chain, Inventory Management, restaurant technology, restaurant operations, hospitality finance, multi-site management, COGS control, food cost control, US restaurant trends
Navigating Top 5 Inventory Challenges for US/CAN Chains
Jan 29, 2026 12:00:35 PM / by Team STO posted in Inventory Management, Restaurant Supply Chains, restaurant operations, hospitality finance, food waste reduction, multi-site management, COGS control, food cost control, enterprise SaaS, recipe costing
The North American hospitality landscape in 2026 is defined by thin margins and an unforgiving economic climate. For multi-unit chains across the US and Canada, the "gut-feeling" approach to inventory is no longer a viable strategy. As operational pressures mount—driven by fluctuating ingredient costs and complex supply chain logistics—operators are turning toward sophisticated stock control software to maintain financial health. This article explores the five most critical inventory challenges facing large-scale chains and how an integrated, real-time approach to back-of-house management can transform these hurdles into competitive advantages. By leveraging automation and deep analytics, brands can move beyond manual logbooks toward a future of predictive procurement and optimized profitability.
Hidden Costs of Manual Requisitioning & The Switch to Enterprise Systems
Jan 23, 2026 6:18:33 AM / by Team STO posted in supply chain, Inventory Management, restaurant operations, food waste reduction, multi-site management, food cost control, Stocktake Online features, procurement strategy
In the current hospitality climate of 2026, a paradox plagues growing restaurant groups and hotel chains: as revenue and site counts increase, operational control often diminishes. Operations Directors and CFOs frequently find that despite operations running "smoothly" on the surface, Gross Profit (GP) varies wildly between sites, stock-outs become frequent, and margins erode without a clear cause. The issue is rarely a lack of effort or demand; it is almost invariably the result of manual requisitioning.
Solving the Hospitality Staffing Gap with Invisible AI Automation
Jan 23, 2026 6:08:29 AM / by Team STO posted in Inventory Management, restaurant operations, multi-site management, labour efficiency, staff retention, AI forecasting, BOH automation, operational strategy, digital transformation
From Cost to Asset: The ROI of Real-Time Variance Tracking in 2026
Jan 15, 2026 9:29:38 AM / by Team STO posted in supply chain, Inventory Management, Profit Margins in Restaurants, restaurant operations, multi-site management, food cost control, loss prevention, financial reporting, variance analysis
Cloud Kitchen Inventory Management: Scaling Multi-Site Ops in the GCC
Jan 8, 2026 2:35:30 PM / by Team STO posted in supply chain, Inventory Management, restaurant technology, food waste reduction, multi-site management, food cost control, cloud kitchen operations, GCC hospitality, dark kitchen strategy
Stocktake Online Announces Its 2026 Vision to Redefine Hospitality Operational Clarity
Dec 31, 2025 11:35:10 AM / by Team STO posted in Inventory Management, Hospitality Operations, restaurant AI forecasting, hospitality finance, food waste reduction, restaurant software, multi-site management, food cost control, enterprise SaaS
Executive Summary
Hospitality operators are entering 2026 under unprecedented operational pressure. Rising labour shortages, supplier price volatility, tightening margins, and increasingly complex multi-location operations are exposing the limits of traditional restaurant inventory management systems. Manual stocktakes, retrospective reporting, and disconnected tools no longer provide the clarity required to operate profitably at scale.
Year-End Cost Control: Protecting Restaurant Margins After Holidays
Dec 26, 2025 7:13:38 AM / by Team STO posted in Inventory Management, restaurant operations, food cost control software, hospitality finance, food waste reduction, variance tracking, restaurant software, multi-site management, COGS control
Every year, restaurants relearn the same lesson. Profit margins do not erode slowly. They disappear quickly, quietly, and usually during the busiest trading period of the year. December feels profitable on the surface. Sales are strong. Covers are full. Prep volumes are high. But costs accumulate faster than menus can absorb them. By the time January P&L reviews arrive, the damage is already embedded.
