Why do Quick Service Restaurants Need Retail Audits?

A retail audit system helps multi-unit retailers achieve store-level compliance with brand standards such as operations, service and merchandising standards. How can retail audits help Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) and why do QSRs need retail audits?

Here are 10 reasons why the QSR industry needs retail audits.

Health and safety

When done, here is content other readers find helpful:

When preparing and serving food, compliance with standards and regulations is not simply a matter of building a positive customer experience; your customers’ health and safety depend on it. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

It shouldn’t take a tragedy to take action. Food poisoning and foodborne illnesses are serious issues and could land you in big trouble. Protect your customers, protect your employees, and protect the brand.

Here is a sample Food Safety Checklist to get you started.

customer retention

Studies have demonstrated it is a lot more expensive to gain or regain a customer than it is to keep an existing customer satisfied. Remember, customers have a way of thanking restaurants that are well run: they come back. Don’t spend money fighting fires. Prevent problems before they happen, nip them in the bud when they do.

Bonus tip: Don’t forget your washrooms, you customers won’t!

The perls of Inconsistent execution

When dealing with a large number of franchisees, some will invariably execute better than others. A retail audit system helps spot repeat unacceptables, execution laggards and downward trends quickly.

You don’t need to spend more

You don’t need to spend more, just differently. Excel-based workflows are needlessly expensive.

Engage franchisees

To motivate your franchisees and operations staff, you need to engage them. The benefits of the retail audit platform should permeate through the entire organization.

Focus on the Business not Technology

Equip your operations team with the best possible tools to manage your operations. Let vendors manage the infrastructure so you can focus on what you do best: running your business.

Complaint IA Change Management in Retail ad

Try before you buy

Try before you buy. Do not pay a setup fee, do not buy hardware or software. Do not make any IT investment. Try for free, with your stores and users…in the field.

Measure what you communicate

First, you can’t manage what you can’t measure. Second, measurement actually breeds compliance.

standards affects the bottom line

Failure to execute on in-store merchandising programs alone has been shown to cost the industry between 1% and 4% of sales. Compliance is not a feel-good initiative. Compliance drives your bottom line.

Training is necessary but not sufficient

Training alone does not guarantee your standards will be upheld. Train your staff on the one hand, systematically measure what you communicate on the other.

OTHER FOOD SERVICE AND RESTAURANT RESOURCES

Refer to the Food Service and Restaurants category for checklists, how-tos and best practices for food service and restaurants.

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