Gross profit (GP) is one of the most critical metrics in hospitality. It's the financial heartbeat of your bar, restaurant, or hotel—impacting everything from staff salaries to expansion plans. But how do you improve your GP without cutting corners or compromising quality?

The answer lies in smarter inventory control. Partnering with a stocktaking company like Hospitality Partners can help you uncover profit leaks, streamline purchasing, and build a more profitable operation without increasing prices.

What Is Gross Profit in Hospitality?

In simple terms, gross profit is your sales revenue minus the cost of goods sold (COGS). For example, if a glass of wine sells for €8 but costs you €2.50 to serve, your gross profit is €5.50—or about 68%.

Now imagine the impact of:

·      Staff overpouring wine

·      Wastage from spoilage

·      Unrecorded staff drinks

·      Mispriced stock or incorrect portion sizes

All these variables can drag down your GP without you even noticing—unless you have a system in place to monitor them.

How a Stocktaking Company Increases GP

Here’s how a professional stocktaking company helps improve your gross profit:

1. Reduces Wastage and Shrinkage

By performing regular, detailed stocktakes, discrepancies are quickly spotted. Whether it’s staff errors, spillage, or theft, the sooner you know, the faster you can act.

2. Optimizes Menu Pricing

A stocktaking partner will show you which items have the best profit margins. This allows you to engineer your menu and promote dishes that drive higher returns.

3. Improves Portion Control

Professional stock reports reveal how much product is being used vs. sold. If your 250ml wine glasses are being poured at 300ml, it’s costing you money.

4. Supplier Accountability

Are your invoices matching deliveries? Are prices consistent? A stocktaking company can help you hold suppliers accountable, potentially saving you thousands annually.

5. Eliminates Guesswork in Ordering

With clear usage data, you’ll order just what you need—reducing spoilage and saving money on overstocking.

Real-Life Example

Consider a medium-sized restaurant in Galway. Before hiring a stocktaking firm, their GP hovered at 58%. After three months with Hospitality Partners, they:

·      Identified €1,200 in monthly overpour losses

·      Adjusted pricing on 5 underperforming menu items

·      Re-trained staff based on stock usage patterns

The result? A jump to 65% GP, equating to €4,000+ in added monthly profit.

Hospitality Partners: Your Profitability Partner

Hospitality Partners doesn’t just help you count your stock—they help you understand it. Their mission is to help hospitality businesses across Ireland boost profitability through:

·      Regular stock audits

·      Actionable variance reports

·      GP improvement strategies

·      Staff training recommendations

·      Data-driven consulting

They’ve worked with businesses large and small, always with the same result: improved clarity, better control, and higher profits.

Why Gross Profit Should Be Your Focus

Increasing your sales volume is difficult, especially with rising costs and competitive pricing. Improving your GP, on the other hand, often involves operational changes that don’t impact the customer experience.

Stocktaking is one of the few activities where small improvements lead to big results. For example:

·      A 3% increase in GP on €100,000 in monthly sales = €3,000 extra profit

·      That could fund new equipment, staffing improvements, or marketing

Tips to Boost GP with a Stocktaking Company

·      Schedule monthly or bi-monthly stocktakes

·      Review variance reports with management regularly

·      Benchmark your current GP% before changes

·      Act on the insights provided by your stocktaking team

·      Train staff based on stock reports (e.g., pouring control, waste reduction)

Final Thoughts

Your gross profit isn’t just a number—it’s a story. A story of what’s working, what’s leaking, and what’s possible. With the right partner, that story can change dramatically.

By teaming up with a professional stocktaking company like Hospitality Partners, you’re not just counting bottles or bags—you’re building a more profitable, future-ready business.

Ready to increase your gross profit and gain peace of mind? Let Hospitality Partners be your guide.