What products do hospitality supply stores usually have?
It’s always good to be particular about the supplies we order for our livelihoods. Understanding or identifying the type of hospitality equipment or supply needed will save you time and resources and help you choose the best options for your business.
When you step into a hospitality shop or visit an online hospitality store, you can expect to see supplies that fall into one or more of the following categories.
Food and Beverage
The food and beverage category (also known as F&B) comprises products or services involved in preparing, producing, and presenting food items, whether for immediate consumption and serving or for temporary storing, such as for delivery. F&B supplies and equipment, such as the Rational combi oven or Robot Coupe stick blenders, are the go-to for businesses like restaurants, bars and clubs, food delivery services, and catering.
F&B supplies aren’t limited strictly to food service businesses. For example, a hospital will need F&B supplies for its kitchen service, which is responsible for cooking meals for confined patients. A school may also need F&B for their cafeteria if they serve hot meals as part of their menu.
If your business serves food or drinks, it will need F&B supplies in its inventory.
Travel and Tourism, Recreation
Though technically two separate categories, there is a good deal of overlap between travel, tourism, and recreation. This is because tourism is often associated with the recreation industry. There is also some overlap with the F&B industry, hence the popularity of such supplies as kitchenware, cookware, and bar tools among these businesses.
For example, tours at landmark locations often receive customers in droves during the summer or warmer months. With a spike in foot traffic comes a rise in patronage among local businesses, and many hospitality businesses may cater to travellers, tourists, and locals on vacation. Popular supplies for these industries include hygiene and washroom hospitality products, single-use packaging and dining supplies.
Eco-friendly options are also available, especially at Reward Hospitality. We’re an active hospitality shop member of the APCO, with a thrust to provide and expand environmentally sustainable commercial packaging options for businesses.
Lodging or Hotel Services
While the two categories may seem interchangeable, there are some critical differences between lodging and hotel services.
Lodging services only provide rooms for their guests and are intended for transients or brief stays. Meanwhile, hotel services (and others like it, such as motels or resorts) include other hospitality services, like in-house restaurants or recreation facilities. Some standard supplies under this category that you’ll find in a hospitality shop include catering equipment and Zuma plates.
Hotels also typically offer food service for certain room types or other accommodations like a stocked mini-bar or kitchenette. While lodges may provide the facilities and some equipment for food preparation, the customer typically needs to buy their personal food items from a separate vendor.
Suppose you’re unsure how to outfit your lodging or hotel business. In that case, Reward Hospitality has a team of both physical store staff and account managers who you may consult on venue design and product or service planning. We also have customised print branding services for supplies like staff uniforms and glassware, with consultations to help keep your brand identity consistent across your supply inventory.
How do I compare different offers from hospitality shops in Australia?
There are three ways to compare one hospitality shop with another: market price, supply quality, and customer service.
‘Market price’ is generally understood as the average price point for any individual supply item or equipment commonly retailed or sold wholesale. For example, suppose the market price for a 1 kg package of industry-standard coffee beans hovers around $30. In that case, a buyer may expect the actual cost to be more or less than $30, depending on the hospitality shop retailing the product.
Meanwhile, supply quality is self-explanatory – this is the known physical value of a supply or equipment, such as the difference between single-use plastic cups and eco-friendlier durable melamine ones.
Customer service is another factor, though it’s no less important than the previous two. Is your chosen supplier known for excellent after-sales service? What are their return policies? Do they offer price matching or consolidated shipping?
It’s good to remember that even though we’re in the business of providing customer service, we also deserve quality service, especially from our supply partners.
How do I choose the right hospitality shop for my needs?
The ideal hospitality shop combines the three criteria mentioned above into a balanced shopping experience.
Reward Hospitality provides this and more. Our team comprises over 500+ staff members across the Asia Pacific, tending to supply needs and demands across and beyond Australia.
With over fifteen warehouses in the country, we can stock and offer a diverse selection of supplies, tools, and equipment. Additionally, our catalogue features over 6,500 individual supply items from well-established brands like Panasonic, Washtech, Crown, Kleenex, and Zuma. We even house exclusive brands like Earth Essentials, Soft Clean, Kleaning Essentials, Choyer, Essentials Collection, Pro.Mundi, and Pro.Cooker.
If your desired supplies are in stock, we can have your orders dispatched in twenty-four to forty-eight hours via consolidated shipping, especially to locations such as Adelaide, Brisbane, or Darwin.
Reward Hospitality offers free in-person consultations at our physical stores for businesses looking for detailed industry supply solutions as part of our commitment to genuine customer support. We believe that quality service starts with good initiative, and we want to be your partner in your journey through the industry – every step.
Reward your business with the quality it deserves. Get your supplies from Reward Hospitality today.