Look to the Web for Equipment Solutions

There has been a lot of talk lately about food service business-to-business (B2B) companies flooding the Internet, hoping to appeal to operators who want a simpler way to order supplies. Critics remain skeptical, especially concerning on-line groceries, but there is little doubt that the equipment side of the business is already flourishing on the web.

In case you were not aware, there is a vast selection of companies offering everything from new ovens to hard-to-find parts for old ones. And it is all available via your computer.

Best of all for operators, websites exist which offer a multitude of buying options, from direct ordering from a manufacturer to auctions to classified ads for used equipment. Most of large equipment manufacturers, like Robot Coupe, have web sites with product information and ordering forms.

Other sites operate like huge virtual trade shows, putting the operator in contact with hundreds of manufacturers which are usually found by product categories. One of the largest sites is Restaurant Equipment World Inc. (www.restaurantequipment.net).

This massive site has hundreds of links categorized by product. For instance, if you need new mobile carts for your institutional operation, just click on Mobile Cart World (www.mobilecartworld.com) and you can instantly choose from scores of manufacturers of mobile utility carts.