Businesses in the restaurant industry are among the biggest purchasers of condiment products. Some of them (like restaurant spices) are used during the cooking process while others are used by customers who wish to add flavor to their food. The fast food industry is commonly associated with the highest usage of restaurant condiments such as ketchup, mayonnaise, and mustard. Although the condiments market is still dominated by D2C sales, businesses also account for a big portion of the sector. From bakery businesses that use jams and other preservatives during baking to food trucks and mobile food stands that offer ketchup and other sauces, there are various applications of condiments in businesses.
Key takeaway: Food service establishments store condiments in caddies, pump dispensers, or other holders. Ketchup, mayonnaise, and mustard are the most common restaurant condiments.
Types of Restaurant Condiment Holders
There are dozens of different tableware and holders used for restaurant condiments. The type of the holder or the condiment container depends on various factors like size, texture, and functions. For example, mills are a great choice for salt and pepper as they offer freshly ground salt. It’s much better to keep salt and pepper mills in condiment caddies on each table rather than a condiment station. Let’s see some examples of condiment holders.
Condiment Organizer
This tool can often be seen near beverage stations in hotel restaurants or on countertops of other establishments. A condiment organizer can display about 4-6 different types of condiments, usually in single-serve packets. These organizers are easy to refill, but they are not very suitable for condiments in large containers such as squeeze bottles or jars.
Condiment Caddy
They come with compartments of different sizes and can often be seen on tables in casual dining restaurants. They can store both bottled types of condiments and packaged ones. There is a wide variety of condiment caddies as they differ based on the style of the restaurant or the establishment.
Condiment Bar
These holders have multiple applications. They can be used on self-serve counters, behind the bar, or in the kitchen. Condiment bars have between 4 and 8 compartments. Bartenders can use them to store lemon slices, olives, maraschino cherries, or other products used when mixing cocktails.
Condiment Pump Dispensers
They are used in buffets, kitchens, and other facilities such as salad or sandwich bars. A major benefit of pump dispensers is that they can be easily refilled with bulk condiments bought at wholesale prices. They usually have three or four compartments for the most common sauces like ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise.
Condiment Tableware
Restaurants often need to purchase various types of tableware for condiments from distributors of wholesale restaurant supplies. Examples include gravy boats, ramekins, sauce cups, butter dishes, sugar bowls, and other metal, glass, or porcelain dishes.
Most Used Restaurant Condiments
You might be wondering what are condiments exactly. And which are the most commonly used condiments for food in restaurants and other hospitality businesses. These are products that are added to food during cooking or once the meal is served in order to enhance its taste or add additional flavors. Condiment businesses aim to offer a wide range of new products, but the classical ones still hold the majority of the market share. Let's briefly examine some of the most used condiments.
- Ketchup. Sometimes referred to as the "king of condiments", this sweet and sour sauce is widely used in the US and the West.
- Mayonnaise. Mayo can be used to flavor sandwiches and French fries or it can be used as an ingredient in salad dressings.
- Mustard. The flavor of mustard ranges from hot and spicy to sweet.
- Hot sauces. Sriracha and Tabasco sauce are good examples of common hot sauces used as restaurant condiments
- Barbecue sauce. Also known as BBQ sauce, it’s common in southern states as a sauce for meat.
- Ranch dressing. It’s a creamy sauce that can be used as a salad dressing or to add flavor to sandwiches. It’s popular as a dip too.
- Soy sauce. It’s commonly associated with East Asian cuisine. Soy sauce is probably the most popular restaurant condiment in Chinese and Japanese cuisine.
- Relishes. Chopped vegetables mixed with herbs can be a great condiment. Popular examples include pickle relishes or salsa.
- Vinegar and oil. They are often found on restaurant condiment holders. They are primarily used to flavor salads.
- Spices and herbs. Fresh and organic herbs and spices can be the difference between a good meal and an exceptional dish.
Tips and Trends for Restaurant Condiment
Whether you’re a business owner in the restaurant sector or you’re interested in the food and beverage industry, you should know that restaurant condiments are frequently changing. For example, in recent years, sauces such as truffle sauce or whiskey sauce have become trendy. Restaurants can use their popularity as a way to upsell and increase the average order value.
Another trend for restaurant condiments is to use various types of vegetable oils to flavor salads. That’s why businesses can benefit from offering options such as walnut oil, hemp oil, or sesame oil. In order to stay competitive, companies should constantly adapt to the changes in demand. An easy way to do so is to find suppliers that frequently change their catalogs to include trendy products from the condiments sector.
Frequently Asked Questions about Restaurant Condiments
From small suppliers to broadline distributors, BlueCart has helped various businesses with our SaaS solutions. We assist both wholesalers and their customers in their goal to automate invoicing, ordering, and distribution. We also provide regular advice on topics related to wholesaling, eCommerce, and various niche markets. Check out the answers to commonly asked questions regarding restaurant condiments.
How to Serve Restaurant Condiments?
Condiments are usually served on a condiment caddy. These holders can be placed on each table so that guests have easy access to the sauces or other condiments they need. Not having condiments on the table might cause additional requests to waiters.
Some condiments are served in tableware like bowls, ramekins, or sauce boats. Such dishware is used when the condiment is part of the dish. For example, if your business serves charcuterie boards, ramekins can be used as part of the charcuterie equipment to serve pickles, salsa, or other condiments.
How to Store Sauces and Other Restaurant Condiments?
Most restaurant condiments are stored in pantries. These products are often shelf-stable (especially if unopened). However, some condiments have to be stored in a fridge. When comparing sauces vs condiments, the former usually needs to be stored in a fridge. Other condiments like spices, honey, or jam can be kept in the pantry. Keep in mind that condiment categories have their distinct storage requirements. For example, spice blends need to be kept in a suitable spice packaging container that protects them from moisture. Certain types of no-seed oils can go rancid if they are stored improperly.
How Are Condiments Used by Chefs?
Chefs often use condiments in cooking. They use both spices and sauces in order to flavor dishes. Restaurant condiments can be used to make marinades, sauces, meat rubs, or salad dressings. Although condiments are popular in all cuisines, there are distinct options for food flavoring in different parts of the world. For example, even though ketchup and mayonnaise are among the most popular condiments, it’s unlikely to see someone use them for Asian dishes. Chefs and restaurant managers should consider restaurant condiments when they create the menu or add new menu items.