
What is Essential 8?
Essential 8 is a comprehensive approach that identifies opportunities in your facility to help you achieve cleaner, healthier, safer, more productive, and more sustainable foodservice operations.
In every foodservice operation, there are 8 essential functions for success: Receiving, Storage, Preparation, Cooking, Holding, Service, Safety, and Facility Care.
These eight key functions apply to all foodservice establishments and every single product in the non-food category. Essential 8 identifies opportunities in each of these touchpoints with outcomes resulting in a safer, healthier, more productive, and more sustainable facility.
Not Sure Where to Start?
We screen for 8 solutions in every essential foodservice operation

1. RECEIVING
- Receiving scales
- Date rotation labels
- Thermometers
- Dunnage racks
- Tilt trucks
- Mops, brooms, brushes, scrapers, and receiving scales
- Date rotation labels
- Thermometers
2. STORAGE
- Cold storage shelving
- Dry storage shelving
- Refrigeration
- Chemical storage
- Food storage containers
- Dunnage racks
- Safety cutters
- Date rotation labels
3. PREPARATION
- Allergen items
- Food prep smallwares (cutlery, pots, and pans)
- Food prep equipment (blenders, blixers, slicers, and dicers)
- Food prep apparel
- Food prep hygiene items
- Anti-fatigue matting systems
- Microfiber cleaning tools and accessories
- High filtration cleaning equipment
- Low or no VOC cleaning chemicals
- Drain care
- Air purifiers and monitors
4. COOKING
- Food cooking light equipment
- Food cooking heavy equipment
- Food equipment cleaners and sanitizers
- Pots, pans, and utensils
- Cleaning and disinfecting products
5. HOLDING
- Storage and transport items
- Ice items
- Beverage holding
- Blast chillers
- Cook and hold ovens and cabinets
- Food warmers, soup kettles, and heat lamps
6. SERVICE
- China, glassware, and utensils
- Buffetware
- Bar supplies
- Tabletop supplies
- Serving supplies
- Takeout packaging
- Foodservice disposables
- Tamper-evident packaging
7. SAFETY
- Food thermometers
- First aid kits
- Safety cones, wet floor signs, and crowd control
- Matting and floor care
- Safety apparel and personal protective equipment
- Hand sanitizers
- Color coordinated cutting boards
8. SANITATION & FACILITY CARE
- Surfaces
- Floors
- Indoor air quality
- Personal care
- Waste receptacles
- Fixtures
- Functional supplies
- Processes
Here's How We Do It
Our Consultative Road Map

DISCOVERY
Identify the areas of opportunities while performing an Essential 8 assessment.
PRODUCT
Align the best products and solutions for your facility's essential touch points.
PROCESSES
Implement best practices and processes with a focus on productivity, safety, and training.
PROCUREMENT
Standardize and streamline the supply chain to best fit your unique needs.
RESULTS
Achieve lower operating costs and a cleaner, healthier, safer, more productive, and more sustainable facility.
It's Not Just Foodservice

FOODSERVICE
A complete foodservice solution that combines food safety and operational expertise with professional-grade products to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

FACILITY CARE
A complete facility care solution that combines laborsaving and low environmental impact products with professional, safe, and efficient cleaning procedures at the lowest total cost.

PACKAGING
A complete industrial packaging solution that delivers a comprehensive assessment of your packaging operation to protect your most critical products in transit while reducing costs and increasing productivity.