Optimizing restaurant inventory using demand forecasting for Relish Works

Client

Relish Works

Industry

Travel & Hospitality

Use Case

Forecasting

Services

Artificial Intelligence

Impact

2-Click Ordering

automated order generation lets restaurant operators submit optimized ingredient orders in two clicks

Reduced Waste

ingredient-level forecasting accounts for shelf life, seasonality, and demand to minimize over-ordering

Menu Intelligence

aggregated dish and ingredient trend data supports data-backed menu planning and seasonal adaptation

Challenge

Maximizing restaurant profitability by optimizing ingredient ordering

A leading food distributor sought OneSix’s expertise to create a data-driven platform that could support restaurants in managing ingredient inventory more efficiently. While many restaurants relied on manual processes and intuition to determine restocking needs, the client wanted to introduce a solution that would allow for optimal ordering strategies to balance the risks of missed demand and food wastage.

Solution

Building an ML platform for dynamic ingredient forecasting

OneSix developed a machine learning-powered tool to generate ingredient-level forecasts based on diners’ orders, point-of-sale data, and menu items. The platform used these forecasts to predict future inventory needs, providing optimal restocking recommendations.

By factoring in each ingredient’s shelf life, seasonality, demand patterns, and role in various menu items, the platform automated order generation, allowing restaurant operators to submit optimized orders with just two clicks. Additionally, the tool aggregated ingredient and dish-level trends, offering insights into seasonal shifts and evolving consumer preferences to further guide menu planning.

Results

Enhanced profitability through data-driven inventory management

The machine learning solution enabled restaurants to make informed restocking decisions, minimizing waste while ensuring ingredient availability for high-margin items. By automating inventory management, the platform significantly reduced manual efforts and improved restaurant profitability. The aggregated trend insights also empowered operators to adapt to seasonal preferences and make data-backed decisions in menu engineering, providing ongoing value to restaurant businesses.

Testimonial

Straight from the client

“OneSix partnered with us to design a new, machine learning-powered tool for restaurant operators to manage their business. They guided us through the process of framing the problem and determining what was possible with state-of-the-art ML/AI. The solution they developed transformed a key operational challenge into an automated solution that drives new value for restaurants.”