A fed and watered workplace is a happy one. When you look after your employees, they’re more likely to work hard and feel valued, which is why keeping the office pantry stocked is a no-brainer. The trick is doing so without breaking the bank.
We’ve put together a comprehensive guide to keeping the office groceries stocked – from office fruit to milk and beyond – without spending a significant chunk of the office budget. Let’s get into it
Audit Your Current Spending
Reducing costs requires first understanding where the bulk of your budget is actually going. The easiest way to do that is by tracking spending, whether on a spreadsheet or by ordering from one supplier – that way, there are no ad hoc spends.
Making sure all office groceries are bought from one card can make things easier, as you can track the bank account statement. Once you have a clear picture of where your money is actually going, reducing spending becomes much easier.
Keep Track of Waste
Is there a particular set of biscuits or type of fruit that is constantly chucked away at the end of each week? Are you purchasing a type of office milk that nobody seems to drink? Are the same tea bags wasting away in the cupboard week after week?
As well as keeping an eye on what does get eaten, keep an eye on what doesn’t. Often, we repurchase certain office snacks and drinks on default, rather than checking whether they’re actually popular with the team. By keeping track of waste, you can ensure that every purchase is actually going to good use and stop ordering the things nobody eats or drinks.
Opt for Regular Deliveries
Opting for regular deliveries from a trusted supplier rather than ad hoc supermarket runs can significantly reduce the cost of your office groceries.
Not only does it allow you to purchase more affordable products rather than being at the mercy of supermarket price fluctuations, but you’ll also be able to better plan your budget, as you’ll know exactly how much you plan on spending. Reduce those emergency supermarket runs, and your wallet will thank you for it.
Make Sure There’s Something for Everyone
If you’re providing snacks full of gluten to an office full of coeliacs unknowingly, there’s going to be waste. Check the dietary requirements of the team before you buy your office groceries to reduce the chance of products being wasted and prevent unnecessary spending on snacks that will go uneaten. Many office snack services will provide packages that cater to dietary requirements like gluten-free and vegan, so you can simply let your supplier take care of the logistics while you create an inclusive office environment.
Order Everything From One Place
Ordering from different suppliers not only makes it harder to keep on top of costs, but often means you end up spending more. By ordering everything in one place, you’ll have a more streamlined record of spending on office groceries.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to reduce grocery expenses?
The first place to start is tracking what your team actually eats and drinks each week, so you know what to order and what to skip. Other methods of reducing office groceries costs include opting for regular deliveries from one supplier and keeping track of what gets wasted.
What are budget-friendly office snacks?
Budget-friendly office snacks include fruit, cereal bars, roasted corn, chocolate, and crisps. These tend to be affordable, popular, and easy to refill. When you opt for a supplier like Office Groceries, you can buy bulk baskets featuring your office’s faves, including office fruit selections and office milk.
What is a good basic grocery list for the office?
A simple grocery list for the office should cover basics and the things your team consumes most often. Things that typically appear on the office grocery list include fruit, cereal bars, coffee, tea, office milk (including milk alternatives for allergens and alternative lifestyles), soft drinks, chocolate, and savoury snacks. Protein snacks help keep the team full while biscuits are classic crowd pleasers.
Kitchen essentials (beyond the obvious mugs and spoons) include kitchen roll or napkins, washing up liquid and sponges or dishwasher tablets if applicable.
Where to order office groceries?
It’s a good idea to order all your office groceries from one place. That way, you can keep those expensive emergency supermarket runs to a minimum and know how much to budget for in advance.
At Office Groceries, we specialise in everything from office fruit to coffee and office milk, with options for alternative diets such as veganism and gluten intolerance. Our fresh milk deliveries from local suppliers boast unrivalled quality, while our nutriboxes contain delicious snacks (including vegan and gluten-free options) to keep the whole team happy. We take care of the logistics – you simply choose your grocery shopping from our list of essentials and we’ll do the best.