KTCHNrebel

Business & Growth

The restaurant industry isn’t exactly known for its quiet everyday life—it’s all about sweating, planning, rethinking, and getting things done! From skilled labor shortages to sustainable menus, efficient food management is more important than ever. Whether it’s sustainability, smart cost strategies, or occupational safety, here you’ll find everything you need to take your food business to the next level and grow!

Zwei Mitarbeitende prüfen Belege und Smartphone neben Laptop im Café oder Restaurant.
People in the kitchen, calculating costs
Image: AdobeStock | Syda Productions

A day off? This is the way restaurants are counteracting cost pressure

Energy, food and staff are becoming more expensive. Relief is not in sight. The Kitchen Barometer 2026 shows how restaurateurs can still make ends…

Barbara Seemann
An Asian waitress holding a 'Welcome' sign
Image: Shutterstock

Companies are wringing their hands for qualified personnel: Study shows ways out of the shortage of skilled workers

Gastronomy remains under pressure. Staff shortages and reduced opening hours are an everyday reality. The Kitchen Barometer 2026 shows strategies to…

Barbara Seemann
Ceremonia de entrega de premios en el restaurante de la empresa RATIONAL.
Image: Rational

GreenCanteen seal: How sustainable company catering works

It's been true in Landsberg am Lech for years, but receiving the GreenCanteen seal makes it official: Rational's head office is a model of how…

Michi Reichelt

Subcategories in Business & Growth

Operating Costs
Staff Shortage
Sustainability
Tablett, das in den Händen gehalten wird, auf dem eine Industrieküche zu sehen ist.
Image: Fotolia

From preparation to service: How kitchen processes are being rethought

Staff shortages, rising costs and fluctuating numbers of guests are putting more and more pressure on professional kitchens. This is making processes…

Kim Kopacka
People in the kitchen, calculating costs
Image: AdobeStock | Syda Productions

A day off? This is the way restaurants are counteracting cost pressure

Energy, food and staff are becoming more expensive. Relief is not in sight. The Kitchen Barometer 2026 shows how restaurateurs can still make ends…

Barbara Seemann
An Asian waitress holding a 'Welcome' sign
Image: Shutterstock

Companies are wringing their hands for qualified personnel: Study shows ways out of the shortage of skilled workers

Gastronomy remains under pressure. Staff shortages and reduced opening hours are an everyday reality. The Kitchen Barometer 2026 shows strategies to…

Barbara Seemann
chefs at work with rational devices

Data beats guesswork: The 2026 Kitchen Barometer

Rising energy prices, a shortage of skilled workers, growing pressure to digitize – food service operations are facing a variety of structural…

Statista
Cocina a la vista
Image: Rational

Guidelines for open kitchens: What to watch out for in front cooking

The trend towards front-of-house cooking is going strong... and not just in fine dining. More and more businesses are showing their stuff in every…

Michi Reichelt
Ceremonia de entrega de premios en el restaurante de la empresa RATIONAL.
Image: Rational

GreenCanteen seal: How sustainable company catering works

It's been true in Landsberg am Lech for years, but receiving the GreenCanteen seal makes it official: Rational's head office is a model of how…

Michi Reichelt
Cuñas de patata con sal en un tablón negro
Image: Tino Müller

Exposed: the final potato secrets!

They're one of the world's most important foodstuffs and most widely cultivated crops. But potatoes are more than “just” food. There's more to them…

Michi Reichelt
Granos de sal en una pala de sal.
Image: AdobeStock

Seasoning of our lives: Five salt secrets

Salt is an indispensable part of our lives, yet hardly anyone knows its whole story - beyond its ability to season food. Salt has so much more to…

Michi Reichelt
Carrusel en la Oktoberfest

Munich Oktoberfest: On tap thanks to Rational

More than 6.7 million guests, seven million liters of beer, food sales up nine percent: Behind those tent walls at the Munich Oktoberfest, you'll…

Jenni Koutni
1 2 3 … 26

Personalmangel

Die Vorsitzenden des VDSKC e.V. Ralf Blauert, Jakob Wehner, Heiko Höfer (v.l.n.r.)
Image: VDSKC e.V.

This is the future of small caterers

The catering industry is undergoing a massive upheaval – and no one is really talking about it. Why is this the case? What is the decline of small…

Lucas Palm
Ohne ein funktionierendes gutes Team können umweltschonende Anpassungen in der Küche nicht umgesetzt werden
Image: Jacob Lund - stock.adobe.com

6 steps toward attracting and retaining kitchen employees

As labor woes continue, chefs share some of their strategies for keeping up staffing levels.

FERMAG - Allison Rezendes
Employee talks to customer
Image: Zoko

These are the most innovative solutions to the shortage of skilled workers in the hotel industry

Austria’s youngest star chef Anna Haumer is now an expert in employer branding at Zoku, a hybrid hotel concept that sets new standards…

Lucas Palm
Koch trainiert mit Mitarbeiter das richtige schneiden von Gemüse in der Restaurantküche
Image: AdobeStock

Training in the foodservice industry: why it is important and how to integrate it throughout the winter

Due to the problematic lack of skilled workers in most commercial kitchens, regular training for employees is an inevitable task for restaurateurs.…

Michael Jones - FCSI
Fewer professionals - guest operates PC herself
Image: Chillipictures

Combating the shortage with fewer skilled workers

Faced with the shortage of skilled workers, these businesses are relying on fewer staff Guests doing it for themselves – this is the principle behind…

Alexandra Embacher - Falstaff
lack of qualified personnel kitchen QSR
Image: Rational

Four-day week: This restaurant chain’s serving work-life balance

The fate of the restaurant world seems to be hanging on the thread of personnel shortages. The entire industry is breathless from fighting over good…

Katarina Jurczok

Highlight

Operating Costs

Patatas fritas y gajos en un horno combinado preparados con freidora de aire
Image: Rational

Air frying in gastronomy: More than just hot air

Who out there doesn't know and love them? Freshly deep-fried French fries. But unfortunately, if you want to eat healthily, the conventional way of…

Michi Reichelt
Mitarbeiterin übergibt Kundin verpacktes Produkt an der Theke eines Cafés.
Image: AdobeStock

Hot food in supermarkets: More guests, more profit

Hot food in supermarkets or shops is now the norm in countries such as Japan or the USA. But what’s behind this trend? What does this entail, and…

Lucas Palm
Philip Schmöller in the kitchen of his mountain inn
Image: Hannes Setzer

Philipp Schmöller: How do you calculate costs correctly in gastronomy?

Correct costing in the gastronomy sector is challenging, but it's not just about numbers. Philipp Schmöller from Berggasthoff (mountain inn)…

Lucas Palm
Clientes esperando su comida delante de un camión de comida
Image: AdobeStock

Dynamic price management in gastronomy – the key to improving profits

A concept which is already well-known in the hotel and travel industry now also seems to be gaining a foothold in the restaurant business.

Alexandra Gorsche
Restaurant owners discuss dynamic prices for their restaurant.
Image: AdobeStock | Rido

Dynamic prices for restaurants – a future model?

Dynamic prices and pricing is nothing new in itself. These have been used in the hotel and travel industry for years. But what about gastronomy? Are…

Alexandra Gorsche
Waiter changing prices in a restaurant - dynamic prices
Image: denklim

Is dynamic pricing in foodservice the cure to tough times?

Restaurants and operators in the foodservice sector are dealing with significant economic challenges. Introducing a demand-based approach to menu…

Tina Nielsen - FCSI

Sustainability

Burger are prepared ob a table
Image: AdobeStock

Comfort food: how the coronavirus has supercharged the snacking trend

Between-meal nibbles are so much more than just food. Snacks comfort us, distract us, make us happy, and feel healthier to us than big, heavy…

Barbara E. Euler
No hay forma de evitar la sostenibilidad, ni siquiera en la cocina.
IMAGE: ADOBESTOCK

We see the future in green: How sustainable is your professional kitchen?

As everyone knows, you eat with your eyes first. However, more is at stake here because what ends up on our plates today will also have an impact on…

Kim Kopacka
Nolla Founders

No crap

From Zero to Hero: More and more restaurateurs have had enough of food waste and excess packaging. Nolla in Helsinki and Café Botanico in Berlin are…

Laura Jung - Rolling Pin
Hilton Impossible food vegan
Image: Hilton Singapore

At Hilton, vegetables are the new meat

Travel with purpose – this is Hilton’s Corporate Responsibility strategy. The focus is on sustainability, including in the kitchen. More plant-based…

Barbara E. Euler & Daniel Klaus
Un chef utiliza alimentos producidos localmente, primer paso de Blockchain
Image: AdobeStock

Eight ways restaurateurs can help fight the climate crisis

From sourcing locally and seasonally, to planning “plant-forward” menus and making kitchens smarter and more efficient, here are eight ways…

Elsie Clark - FCSI
future 50 foods sustainability
Image: Fotolia/Andy Ilmberger

Future 50 Foods: The ingredients in our nutritional future

It’s a challenge unlike any we’ve ever faced: Our use of natural resources and our intense focus on just a few foods are putting our health and our…

Katarina Jurczok

Frequently asked questions

How can I reduce energy costs in my hospitality business?

To reduce energy costs in your hospitality business, invest in energy-efficient equipment and ensure regular maintenance. Optimize the use of ventilation, heating, and lighting systems. Additionally, plan the use of your kitchen devices efficiently and pay attention to the correct temperature in refrigerators and freezers. For more energy efficiency tips in the hospitality industry, check out our KTCHNrebel article “Steps to stop energy waste in professional kitchens.”

Cost calculation is essential for any restaurant—without it, nothing works! It ensures that prices are fair, costs are covered, and there’s profit left at the end. It also helps avoid food waste and plan more efficiently, ensuring the long-term success of your business.

Staff shortages have long been one of the biggest challenges in the restaurant industry. To tackle this, you can optimize workflows using digital tools or automated processes to ease the burden on your team. Flexible working hours and targeted training programs also make your business more attractive to employees. Check out our articles for more tips:
– Six tips how to beat skilled staff shortage in your kitchen
– Foodservice: Less staff to combate the staff shortage

In times of staff shortage, effective staff planning is a must. It ensures that enough employees are available at the right time, reducing stress in the team and ensuring smooth operations. It also helps prevent overtime, keep labor costs under control, and improve team satisfaction.

To implement sustainability in restaurants, using regional and seasonal ingredients to reduce transport and minimizing food waste through better planning and repurposing leftovers are key measures. Energy-efficient equipment and reusable packaging instead of single-use products also significantly contribute to sustainability. Additionally, transparently communicating these efforts builds guest trust and strengthens their loyalty to your business.

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