Food runs 30–35% of sales, so it's the biggest lever you have — and broadline pricing is negotiated, not posted. Which means it's winnable. On thin restaurant margins, procurement savings drop almost entirely to the bottom line.
Real 2026 benchmarks for your business type — not generic small-business advice.
| Spend area | Typical savings |
|---|---|
| Food & broadline distribution One distributor, no competitive bid or rebate audit. Line-item review plus a second bidder benchmarks lower. | 4–6% |
| Card processing POS-bundled flat rate at ~2.9%. At restaurant volume, interchange-plus benchmarks 2.3–2.7%. | $1,500–5,000/yr |
| POS software Full-service bundle with per-employee fees and unused modules — plus mandatory in-house processing. | 25–35% |
| Liquor & beverage Ordering from posted price lists with no volume tiers applied. | 5–8% |
| Waste & grease trap Auto-renewing contracts with escalators that inflate cost 20–40% over five years. | 20–25% |
| Linen & paper goods Rental contract above market, often billing for items no longer used. | 15–20% |
I built a complete sample report for a ~$1.4M restaurant. It found $43,040 a year. Download it right now — no form, no email, no strings.
Your audit would be priced at $1,800 — and it's free if it doesn't find at least that much.
If my first Spend Audit doesn't identify at least what you paid for it in annual savings, you don't pay.
Book a free spend audit or ask a question. I'll get back to you within one business day.