Food and Beverage service - basics - food and beverage service (2024)

basic

by saswata

Food and Beverage service - basics - food and beverage service (1)

Food and Beverage service - basics - food and beverage service (2)

The F&B service staff should know the food and beverage service basics where they work.

The food and beverage service industry engages itself in the provision of food and beverages, mainly to people who are away from their homes for different reasons. Such people need accommodation with food and beverages if they are away for more than a day.

The basic needs of customers for food and beverages are met by the food service industry, which has been associated with lodging ever since people started traveling.

People who move out of their houses for various reasons, such as jobs, education, business, leisure, medical treatment, sports, religion, and so on, depend completely on the food service industry for their meals.

Definition

Food and Beverage Services can be broadly defined as the process of preparing, presenting, and serving food and beverages to customers.

The Basics Sectors of the Food and Beverage Service Industry

There are many types of F&B operations. they may vary in size, style, location, and the market they are catering to. From a wayside tea stall to an exclusive fine dining restaurant of a deluxe hotel, and from mid-day meal service for school children to meals for industrial workers, all come under the fold of the F&B sector.

It is necessary to classify all the F&B sectors for a better understanding of their operation.

According to the priority given to the provision of food The food and beverage service sector can be classified into:

  1. Primary catering sectors
  2. Secondary catering sectors

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1. Primary catering sectors of food and beverage service

The establishments under this category are primarily concerned only with the provision of food and beverages to customers.

The examples are:

  • food service outlets in accommodation sectors
  • various types of restaurants
  • takeaway.

2. Secondary catering sectors of food and beverage service

The establishments in which the provision of food and beverages is not the main activity but a secondary or support activity are called secondary catering sectors.

The examples are:

  • institutional catering.
  • transport catering.
  • catering services in theatres.
  • amusem*nt parks.
  • departmental stores.
  • industrial catering.

The primary activity of this unit is not the provision of food and beverages to the clients but the activity for which it is set up.

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The food and beverage service industry can also be divided into the following two groups according to the profit motive.

  1. commercial sectors
  2. welfare sectors

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1. Commercial sectors of food and beverage service

These operate mainly to make a profit or to earn an adequate return on investment (ROI) through their products and services.

Food and beverage facilities of hotels, resorts, motels, clubs, stand-alone restaurants, takeaway outlets, pubs and bars, coffee shops, fast food outlets, transport catering, contract catering of industries, and so on, are examples of commercial catering.

It can be further classified into:

Residential

  • hotels
  • motels
  • resorts
  • inns
  • clubs

Non-residential

  • restaurants
  • fast food outlets
  • pubs
  • bars

Hotels provide F&B services to customers in the following areas other than accommodation :

  • Restaurants (from silver service restaurants to self-service restaurants)
  • Bars
  • Lounge area
  • Banquets
  • Rooms (restricted only to the hotel guest)

2. Welfare sectors of food and beverage service

These operate mainly to provide services at no profit and no loss basis and most of them are run by private bodies or the government. They operate within their outlined budget for the provision of F&B service.

examples of welfare catering services:

  • School catering
  • university catering
  • hospital catering
  • prison catering
  • military catering

If the catering services are given away on contract, then the motive of the contractor would make a profit, and such will become a commercial operation.

We can divide the F&B sectors according to the market or the type of customers they cater to in the following manner:

  1. Non-captive market
  2. Captive market
  3. Semi-captive market

1. The non-captive market of food and beverage service

The customers have a choice of where to eat. The type of restaurant chosen may be a fine dining restaurant of a deluxe hotel, stand-alone restaurant, coffee shop, fast food outlet, specialty restaurant, or a popular restaurant depending on the following:

Reason for dining:
A birthday party, Valentine’s Day, wedding anniversary, or business meeting

Time available to eat:
Some customers have more time to spend in a restaurant while others have very little time, which influences their decision on the selection of the type of eatery. Executive class clients need executive lunch during lunch hours as they have less time to eat.

Food preference of customers:
The type of food they want to eat. For example, Chinese dishes, south Indian dishes, sandwiches, and so on.

Money available to spend on food:
Dishes of specialty restaurants are more expensive than popular restaurants.

Time of the day:
Not all the restaurants are open throughout the day.

Distance:
A customer is prepared to travel to reach the eatery.

Ambiance desire:
A quiet dinner for two or dinner with a live band

Personal experience:
If customers had a good dining experience in a restaurant, they would prefer to return there and refer the eatery to their friends.

2. captive market of food and beverage service

The customers do not have a choice where to eat and have to avail of services provided by a particular catering outlet.

The examples are:

  • residential school children
  • college students staying in hostels
  • hospital patients
  • people staying in old age homes
  • prisoners, and industrial workers

3. The semi-captive market of food and beverage service

The customers have a limited choice of where to eat. In such a market, the customers have a choice before selecting the food and beverage. Once the choice is made, the customers have no choice but to be content with what is on offer.

The examples are:

  • Passengers traveling by train may take food prepared in the pantry car, from food outlets at railway stations, or wait till the destination is reached.
  • Those who travel by car on the highway have a limited choice of taking food from any of the outlets located on the highway.
  • Those who wish to travel by air have a choice of selecting the airline and a choice between vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals.

Food and Beverage service – basics PDF download

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saswata

I am a hotelier and passionate blogger, who loves to share knowledge about the hotel industry

Food and Beverage service - basics - food and beverage service (2024)

FAQs

What is food and beverage service answer? ›

So, what is F&B service? Food and beverage services can be any situation within hospitality or a wider industry where people are provided with food and drinks. This can include restaurants, bars, catering, cafeterias, and food delivered to people through room service at hotels.

How do you answer food and beverage interview questions? ›

How to Answer Common Interview Questions in the Food and Beverage Industry
  • Showcasing Knowledge of Culinary Trends and Innovations. ...
  • Emphasizing Strong Communication and Teamwork Skills. ...
  • Questions Demonstrating Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Abilities. ...
  • Highlighting Customer Service Excellence.
Apr 29, 2024

What is the basic concept of food and beverage service? ›

The main function of food and beverage services is to provide and deliver food and beverages to customers at a certain location. This could be a hotel, a restaurant or even somewhere such as a hospital. The drinks that are served are not always alcoholic.

What is the main aim of food and beverage service? ›

The main goal of commercial food service operations is to provide food and beverage to customers for profit and create positive guest experiences.

What are examples of food and beverages? ›

Food and beverage are any consumable products, such as fruits, vegetables, processed foods, and alcoholic beverages, that are meant for human consumption. The hospitality industry commonly uses this term to refer to the products and services offered in hotels, restaurants, cafes, and other food establishments.

How many types of beverages are there? ›

Common types of drinks include plain drinking water, milk, juice, smoothies and soft drinks. Traditionally warm beverages include coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. Caffeinated drinks that contain the stimulant caffeine have a long history. Tea is the second‑most‑consumed drink in the world, after water.

What is your weakness as a waitress? ›

Sample Answer: I am a hard worker and I always strive to be the best at my job. My weakness is that I am sometimes too hard on myself when I make mistakes. I have learned to be more forgiving of myself and focus on improving my skills.

How to answer tell me about yourself? ›

The best way to answer "Tell me about yourself" is with a brief highlight-summary of your experience, your education, the value you bring to an employer, and the reason you're looking forward to learning more about this next job and the opportunity to work with them.

Why should I hire you? ›

A: When answering, focus on your relevant skills, experience, and achievements that make you the best fit for the role.You should hire me because I am a hard worker who wants to help your company succeed. I have the skills and experience needed for the job, and I am eager to learn and grow with your team .

Do you serve food from the left or right? ›

Do you serve from the left or right? The general rule is to serve from a guest's left using your left hand. You or your servers never want to reach across a guest to reach the table, and it's best practice to take the plate from the closest point.

What is menu in food and beverage? ›

In a restaurant, the menu is a list of food and beverages offered to customers and the prices. A menu may be à la carte – which presents a list of options from which customers choose – or table d'hôte, in which case a pre-established sequence of courses is offered.

What is the most important thing in the food and beverage industry? ›

For companies to succeed in this industry, they need to focus on certain key success factors that can make or break their business. One of the most important success factors in the food and beverage industry is product quality.

What are the big five in food and beverage service? ›

Understanding these 5 different types of food and beverage services and their benefits and challenges will help you decide which one to use for your restaurant.
  • Waiter service. ...
  • Chinese banquet service. ...
  • Buffet service. ...
  • Self-service. ...
  • Semi-self service.

What are the two types of food and beverage operations? ›

There are two key distinctions: commercial foodservice, which comprises operations whose primary business is food and beverage, and non-commercial foodservice establishments where food and beverages are served but are not the primary business.

What is food and beverage in simple words? ›

Food and beverages means any raw, cooked, or processed edible substance used or intended for use in whole or in part for human consumption, including ice, water, spirituous liquors, wine, mixed beverages, beer, soft drinks, soda, and other beverages.

What is food and beverage in short form? ›

F&B – Food and Beverage.

What is the meaning of food and beverage server? ›

Food and beverage servers work in restaurants, hotels, bars, pubs, private clubs and banquet halls. They take food and drink orders and serve them to customers. They may also seat customers and assist with takeout orders.

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