Stock control involves more than counting products. You need to explain what arrived, what was used and what left without becoming a sale. Start with a small group of ingredients that the team can track consistently.

Keep units consistent

Choose a unit for each ingredient and document conversions. If you buy by the case and use individual items, record how many items that pack contains. Update the conversion when pack sizes change.

Do not compare purchased gross weight with usable recipe weight without identifying the difference. Preparation may create trimmings, and documenting that step makes consumption easier to interpret.

Record movements and counts

The theoretical balance starts from the previous balance, adds receipts and subtracts recorded outflows. A physical count establishes what is actually present. Use the same cutoff time and unit for both.

Fictional example: opening stock is 10 kg, deliveries add 5 kg and recorded use is 8 kg. The theoretical balance is 7 kg. If you count 6 kg, 1 kg remains unexplained. Do not automatically classify the entire difference as waste: an omitted movement or incorrect conversion could explain it.

Describe observed waste

Record the ingredient, quantity, time and known reason. Distinguish preparation trimmings, spoilage and service leftovers. If the reason is unknown, mark it for investigation rather than guessing.

The EPA provides food-waste tracking tools. They can inform a simple tracking sheet, but they do not replace the food-safety requirements applicable to your kitchen.

Review one cause at a time

When leftovers recur at closing, compare planned preparation with observed demand. When discrepancies involve units, review receiving and recipe conversions. Change one practice, keep recording and evaluate the results before attributing an improvement.

Build a manageable routine

Assign a person, a time and a stable list of products. Establish the opening count, record movements during the week and review discrepancies. Consistent records reveal patterns more effectively than a complicated spreadsheet nobody completes.

Bring this workflow to a conversation about your operation to evaluate the tools and configuration you need.