Choosing a cafeteria vendor isn't a one-time purchase decision. It's selecting a daily operational partner.
Evaluate vendors on these factors
- SOP depth: opening/closing, hygiene, complaint closure
- Backup planning: staff absence, equipment failure
- Reporting transparency: daily/weekly KPIs
- Similar-scale experience
- Ownership mindset: proactive fixes, not excuses
What to avoid
- Over-promising without documentation - "We will manage" answers with no process detail - Vendors who resist SLAs
The best vendor reduces your workload, not increases your follow-ups.