What should you do with catering equipment once your premises have closed?
Closing a restaurant, bar, pizzeria or other catering establishment means not only ceasing trading, but also having to dispose of the kitchen equipment. Combi ovens, dishwashers, stainless steel tables, refrigerators, freezers and food-processing equipment may still be of considerable value.
What to do with catering equipment after closing a restaurant?
Rather than leaving the equipment on the premises or selling it to random buyers, it is worth considering reselling it, selling it to a buyer, or consigning it to a catering consignment shop.
Selling second-hand catering equipment
Second-hand catering equipment can find new owners. Equipment from reputable manufacturers is particularly sought after, as are items that are in good working order and can continue to be used.
Before selling, it is worth drawing up a list of equipment and gathering basic information about each item:
manufacturer and model,
year of purchase or manufacture, if known,
- technical condition,
- power supply,
- dimensions,
- documentation and user manual, if available,
- information about the last service.
- It is also worth taking up-to-date photographs of the equipment. Good photographs showing both the entire appliance and its technical condition make it easier to value and sell it later.
Not all equipment is worth selling yourself
Selling all your restaurant equipment yourself can be time-consuming. The problem lies not only in finding buyers, but also in answering enquiries, preparing the equipment for collection, and organising transport and dismantling.
If you have a large number of items, it may therefore prove more convenient to work with a company specialising in the trade of second-hand catering equipment.
Catering consignment scheme – an alternative to selling items yourself
One solution is a catering consignment scheme, through which second-hand equipment can be passed on to subsequent users.
Gastrokom also offers this option. The consignment scheme helps to streamline the process of selling second-hand catering equipment without having to find a buyer for each item yourself. This solution may be particularly appealing when a significant amount of equipment remains after a premises has closed – ranging from individual items to a complete kitchen set-up.
Don’t throw away equipment that could have a second life
Closing a restaurant does not necessarily mean the end of the equipment’s useful life. Appliances that are no longer needed by one business owner may be useful to someone who is just opening a small venue, expanding an existing kitchen or looking for a cheaper alternative to new equipment. That is why, before discarding equipment, it is worth checking its actual value and the potential for resale.
Do you have catering equipment left over after closing your business? Instead of storing it indefinitely or selling each item separately, why not look into using the Gastrokom catering consignment service?
Gastrokom helps you make the most of your used catering equipment and find new owners for it.