Inflation, AI and labor shortages: the new restaurant purchasing equation

Why purchasing departments are at the center of the storm

"We're facing continuous pressure on prices and a scarcity of qualified human resources. Without tools, steering our purchasing becomes unmanageable."
Audrey Dauphin, CFO, Pomme de Pain

Since 2022, food inflation has exceeded 17% cumulative (source: Insee).

At the same time, 40% of European establishments report difficulties in recruiting qualified staff. Purchasing departments have to absorb this dual constraint while guaranteeing product compliance and quality.

This is a major challenge.

The consequence: restaurateurs are turning to digitization of the supply cycle, from ordering to invoicing, to reduce friction and regain control over data.

How automation is redefining the purchasing function

In foodservice, digitizing purchasing reduces manual tasks, makes negotiated prices more reliable and speeds up receipts. Average gains observed: -8% on material costs and -40% on administrative time.

The widespread use of EDI (electronic data interchange) and OCR (automatic reading of delivery notes) is also changing the game. Groups like Quick or Eat Salad report inventories twice as fast and orders without re-keying.

Artificial intelligence for steering

Predictive AInow makes it possible to adjust orders to actual sales and avoid overstocking. It improves forecast accuracy by 5% and reduces food waste by up to 50%.

The use of AI in catering is thus no longer a promise but a real lever for day-to-day profitability. Learning algorithms cross-reference sales history, seasonality and weather to recommend optimal purchase volumes.

The use of AI in foodservice is thus no longer a promise, but a real lever for daily profitability.

"Artificial intelligence has become a real ordering board. Our teams follow forecasts rather than building them manually."
Olivier Hays, Operations Director, Pomme de Pain

These tools are transforming the role of buyers: less execution, more analysis. The purchasing department becomes a data-driven steering center, capable of anticipating variations and dialoguing with suppliers on a quantified basis.

A response to HR tensions and supplier volatility

Restaurant chains suffer from an average turnover of 65% on operational functions. Digitization responds to this instability by standardizing processes: guided orders, automatic controls, alerts in case of drift.

"The Adoria tool has enabled us to structure our flows and standardize our practices, even with changing teams. The rigor helped us gain two margin points in six months."
Erwan Rouxel, President of Signorizza Group

At the same time, supplier volatility linked to raw material rises calls for more strategic negotiation. ERP systems centralize catalogs, price lists and contracts to guarantee compliance with negotiated rates and detect deviations as soon as they are received.

A new purchasing culture: predictive, integrated, responsible

In 2025, the purchasing function becomes predictive and ethical: traceability, CSR indicators and automated control replace simple order entry.

• Trace the origin of products all the way to the sales site
• Integrate CSR criteria into price lists
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• Audit suppliers according to their sustainable commitments

The Loi Climat et Résilience requires restaurateurs to reduce waste by 50% by 2030, making digital traceability unavoidable.

Cross-testimonials: three visions of the changing profession

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These returns converge: data replaces supervision and automation creates trust between headquarters, sites and franchisees.

How to initiate this transformation

The key to success is not technology, but adoption. Successful projects combine human accompaniment, gradual integration and ongoing support.

• Map current processes and identify automatable tasks
• Implement a specialized foodservice ERP, connected to suppliers via EDI and to accounting
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• Train and support teams to guarantee data reliability

What you need to remember

• The purchasing function is becoming the major profitability lever for foodservice groups
• The IA and automation offer measurable gains: -8% material cost, 40% efficiency
• The EDI and traceability are establishing themselves as compliance standards
• Humans remain central: data replaces constraint, not decision

FAQ: The new equation for foodservice purchasing

What benefits can you expect from foodservice purchasing software?
A reduction in material costs (up to 8%), improved supplier compliance and administrative time savings.

How does AI help manage procurement?
It analyzes sales and inventory to recommend precise orders, avoiding out-of-stocks and overstocks.

Can automation compensate for staff shortages?
Yes. Standardized processes reduce manual workload and enable smaller teams to maintain performance.

Accelerate the digitalization of your purchasing with Adoria

Food service groups that automate their procurement gain in reliability, profitability and operational serenity. With Adoria, you structure your purchases and orders around a single steering system, integrating supplier EDI, traceability and multi-site reporting. Whether you run ten or more than 1,000 sites, the solution adapts to your processes to guarantee smooth execution, total compliance and measurable ROI from the very first months.

Purchasing and Ordering.