Tariffs are back in the headlines, and while the conversation often centers on geopolitics and trade policy, the impact will be felt in your back-of-house: in the price of plastic lids, foil wrap, stainless steel equipment, kitchen parts, and containers. And it’s not just about goods from China—global suppliers are tightening, and costs are already creeping upward.
Food prices are also quietly climbing again, driven by instability in global supply chains and the rising cost of imported ingredients, packaging, and transportation.
Bracing for Margin Pressure
This isn’t theoretical. Operators are being squeezed—some slowly, some sharply. Independents are already bracing for a new wave of margin pressure, while experts warn this time it won’t be easy to pass costs onto customers. The old playbook—raise prices, cut portions, reduce headcount—is wearing thin.
And yet, most kitchens are still flying blind when it comes to the one thing they can control: operations.
That’s where AI comes in—not as a buzzword, but as a tactical advantage.
