·11 min read
Local Sourcing Adds 15% to Food Cost — Does It Come Back? Is local sourcing worth it for restaurants?
A guest asks which dish is truly “from here.” Your server points to a seasonal special. The table nods, then balks at the price. They pick the cheaper standby. That moment is the operator’s knot: diners say they want local, but they don’t always pay for it. If you’re asking is local sourcing worth it for restaurants, the honest answer is yes in specific cases, not as a blanket strategy. The premium is real, commonly around 15% on ingredients, yet with selective menu positioning, tight storytelli
local sourcing