When it comes to striving in today’s culinary industry, offering a unique and high-quality experience is crucial. The rising popularity of sushi is often a fresh addition to any menu in different settings. But when considering adding this specialty dish, a crucial question arises: do you hire an in-house sushi chef or partner with a seasoned caterer like Pika Sushi?
Let’s delve into the cost and benefit analysis to help you make a choice!
Hiring In-House Sushi Chef
In a nutshell, bringing a dedicated sushi chef into your team offers control and scalability, typically for small events. But, it also comes with some considerations.
Overall Labour Costs
- On-costs — Beyond the base wage, you’ll need to include other labour costs, such as superannuation, leave entitlements, payroll tax, and overtime. These costs can add significantly to the per-person pricing.
- Recurring costs — Finding a skillful and reliable sushi chef can be a time-consuming and expensive process. Not to mention, the relatively high turnover rate in the hospitality industry might mean recurring expenses.
Equipment and Inventory Costs
- Dedicated sushi station — Specific equipment, from sushi mats to specialised knives and refrigeration for raw fish are often crucial for sushi stations.
- Kitchen modifications — To ensure adequate space, and meet food safety standards for handling raw fish, you might need kitchen modifications.
- Inventory management — Fresh seafood and specialty sushi ingredients require inventory control to minimise loss and waste, which can impact your food costs.
Outsourcing to Catering Partner
Partnering with a specialised caterer like Pika Sushi offers an alternative that provides significant advantages.
Predictable Costs and Reduced Overhead
- Clear pricing — Outsourcing often offers price per-portion or per-platter, making budgeting more predictable.
- No extra labour costs — You eliminate the burdens associated with in-house employee costs, and just focus on service prices.
- Equipment-free — No need for you to invest in, maintain, or find space for specialised sushi equipment.
Immediate Access to Expertise and Constant Quality
- Specialised skills — Gain immediate access to experienced sushi chefs without the challenge of finding and retaining them yourself.
- Consistent quality — Experienced catering partners like Pika Sushi maintain strict quality control and food safety standards, ensuring a delicious product every time.
- Diverse menus — Catering services provide you with a diverse and evolving menu without your team needing to dedicate resources to recipe innovation.
Operational Efficiency
- Simpler processes — Outsourcing frees up your kitchen staff and management to focus on your essential operational tasks.
- Reduced management burden — You minimise the administrative time spent on hiring, scheduling, and managing a specialty chef.
- Flexibility to your events — Whether you need a small batch for a corporate lunch or large events, outsourcing allows you to scale your sushi offering up or down easily based on demand.
Making the Right Choice for Your Business
The decision to choose between an in-house sushi chef and outsourcing depends on your specific strategic goals and other factors. For many, outsourcing presents a compelling and efficient solution.
Like to explore how Pika Sushi’s catering can elevate your offerings while optimising your costs and operations? Talk to us today for a personalised consultation.
