I see it every day. Owners who stay with the same broadline distributor (Sysco/US Foods/PFG) for 10 years because "the rep is a nice guy." Here is the cold, hard truth: That "nice guy" is paid to maximize the margin his company makes off your sweat. If you aren't bid-shopping your top 10 high-volume items (Proteins, Oil, Dairy, Paper) at least once a quarter, you are essentially tipping your distributor 5% of your gross revenue. In this industry, a 5% swing is the difference between taking a paycheck and working for free. Stop being loyal to vendors who aren't loyal to your P&L. Agree or disagree? Let’s fight about it in the comments. 👇

Most restaurant owners are getting robbed by their linen and laundry providers. Between "environmental fees," "inventory replacement charges," and "fuel surcharges," you’re likely paying 15-20% more than you should. I’m giving you the exact script I use to slash these bills. Do not call them—email this to your rep so you have a paper trail. The Script: "Hi [Rep Name], I’m currently auditing our monthly expenses and noticed our recent invoices have spiked due to [Mention specific fee: e.g., 'replacement charges']. I’ve had two other local providers reach out with flat-rate introductory pricing that would save us roughly [Target Amount] per month. I’d prefer to stay with you, but I need you to remove the [Fee Name] and match this rate starting next month. Can you make this happen, or should I schedule a meeting with the other vendors?" The Goal: Use this today. If you save just $30, your membership here is officially FREE for the month. Action Item: Drop a "✅" in the comments once you’ve sent the email. Let’s see how much we can save this group in 24 hours.