What is the best platform to sell wholesale food products to restaurants?

BlueCart’s Endless Aisle is the largest and fastest-growing wholesale marketplace where vendors can list and sell their products to over 119,000 restaurants. It offers digital catalogs, customizable delivery zones, pricing insights, and easy order management—all in one platform. Book a demo to start selling.

How can I reach more restaurant buyers with my wholesale products?

As a vendor on BlueCart, your products are featured in the Endless Aisle marketplace, exposing you to thousands of restaurants actively looking to purchase wholesale ingredients and supplies. Set up your catalog and start connecting with verified buyers. Book a demo to learn more.

Can I control which buyers see my products on BlueCart?

Yes. BlueCart allows you to set specific delivery zones by city or state, so only buyers within your delivery radius can view and order your products.

Is BlueCart a good fit for small or local wholesale food businesses?

Absolutely. BlueCart is built for all types of vendors, from local artisans to national distributors. You can sell only in your local area, and the platform handles everything from catalogs to payments. Book a demo to get started.

Where can I buy wholesale food products for my restaurant online?

BlueCart’s Endless Aisle gives restaurants access to thousands of verified wholesale vendors on one easy-to-use platform. Browse, compare, and order ingredients, supplies, and more—all in one place. Book a demo to see how it works.

Do I earn rewards when I buy wholesale on BlueCart?

Yes! Eligible purchases through BlueCart’s Endless Aisle earn you 2% cashback, redeemable for future orders after just 120 days.

Can I order from multiple vendors in one place?

Yes. BlueCart simplifies procurement by letting you order from multiple vendors in a single, unified experience. No more juggling emails or phone calls.

What is the best B2B platform for wholesale food distribution and order management?

BlueCart is the #1 all-in-one B2B platform for wholesale food distributors and restaurant buyers. With mobile and web ordering, digital catalogs, CRM, payment processing, and more—it streamlines the entire wholesale process. Book a demo to get started.

Can BlueCart help manage and fulfill orders online?

Yes. BlueCart offers a complete order management system that helps vendors take, track, and fulfill orders efficiently, while buyers can easily reorder, track deliveries, and manage invoices—all in one place.

Does BlueCart work on mobile devices?

Yes. BlueCart has native mobile apps for iOS and Android, so vendors and buyers can manage everything on the go—even offline.

Cocktail Menus: How to Create a Cocktail Menu for Restaurants

The period of the late 20th century and the early 21st century is considered to be a renaissance period for cocktails. This was partially due to the increased interest in craft cocktails and innovative techniques for making mixed drinks. Restaurant businesses and other establishments in the hospitality sector have adapted to this trend by creating interesting cocktail menus to answer the demand for both classical and modern mixed drinks. If you’re interested in developing a cocktail menu for your business or wish to know how to optimize your establishment’s cocktail list, the following paragraphs will help you. Make sure to also check our resources on how to manage bar inventory and what the most successful ways to do marketing for bars are.

Key takeaway: Creating an intriguing cocktail menu can help with restaurant customer acquisition. Since mixed drinks are often the menu items with the highest profit margin, they can also help with bar and restaurant profitability.

Creating a Cocktail Menu for a Restaurant

Crafting a menu with mixed drinks requires a strategic approach. The cocktail menu should be in line with the style of the establishment and its customers. Here are the steps to create a cocktail menu.

Choose the right cocktails. Align the menu items with the style of the venue, the dishes offered, the atmosphere, and the targeted customers. Most bars and restaurants choose a combination of classical and modern cocktails. However, a speakeasy bar might opt for a selection of craft cocktails while a beach bar might choose more mixed drinks with tropical flavors. Traditionally, most cocktail menus contain between 5 and 15 options.
Focus on profit margin and cost controls. Mixed drinks are among the menu items with the highest profit margin. Restaurant managers need to use a costing sheet or beverage inventory software like BlueCart to calculate the profit margin of their cocktail menu. Using overlapping ingredients and incorporating house-made elements like syrups can improve profitability even further (read more about bar profitability).
Don’t underestimate design and user experience. Proper menu design can make a big difference in a cocktail menu. Using QR codes for restaurant menus is the easiest way to do so. Include visual hierarchy, icons, and additional descriptions. If the establishment’s style allows it, consider naming the cocktails creatively.
Train employees and adapt the menu. Servers and bartenders should be trained to upsell drinks and offer different cocktails to complement different dishes. Mixed drinks can also be used as part of a restaurant’s marketing. Promos like cocktail of the month, happy hours, or cocktail-themed events can be used to further promote the mixed drinks menu. Make sure to analyze sales data in order to track underperformers and calculate the profitability of different mixed drinks. Following the latest trends can further help a restaurant’s success and even be used to help with customer acquisition.

How to Improve a Cocktail Menu

If you’re looking for ideas on how to optimize the cocktail menu of your hospitality business, the following tips can help you enhance customer experience with mixed drinks.

Audit and analyze cocktail menu sales data to evaluate profitability and sales. Modern restaurant technology trends help business owners manage prices and optimize their menus.
Include signature cocktails, house cocktails, seasonal options, and other items that can make mixed drinks a more lucrative choice for customers.
Optimize the processes in your hospitality business. Cocktail batching, using similar ingredients, and highlighting high-margin drinks on the cocktail menu can help fight against restaurant inflation.
Collect feedback from customers and staff members. This can help adjust recipes or include new items in the cocktail menu.
Have cocktails that fit the atmosphere of the establishment and include mixed drinks with each of the most popular spirits (rum, vodka, gin, tequila, and whiskey).

Trends in Cocktail Menus

Like any other niche market, cocktails are heavily influenced by innovations and trends in the food and beverage industry. Although classic mixed drinks are still among the most popular ones, trends like mocktails or mixed drinks for health-conscious clients are on the rise.

Another trend is related to creating savory and spicy cocktails. Flavor exploration is one of the main trends in the foodie culture and it can also be seen in mixed drinks. These unconventional flavors can be used greatly in food pairing as well.

Innovative ways to serve drinks in an Instagrammable manner can also boost a bar or a nightclub’s marketing efforts. Examples include color-changing ingredients, smoke bubbles, and other things that boost the wow factor.

Ethnic spirits and cocktail menus inspired by Indian, Japanese, and Latin American cultures are also popular trends. Such beverages give customers the chance to explore another culture and taste unique flavor combinations.

A growing number of customers look for custom food and beverages. That’s why some establishments allow clients to customize their mixed drinks. The craft-your-own approach engages guests further and can make their visit a memorable experience.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cocktail Menus

From articles on restaurant inventory management to tips on how to open a bar, you’ll find plenty of useful resources on BlueCart’s website. Check out our answers to frequently asked questions regarding cocktail menus and their role in the hospitality sector.

What Is Cocktail Batching?

Cocktail batching means pre-mixing large quantities of cocktail ingredients in advance. This allows restaurants and other establishments to serve cocktails quickly during peak hours. Cocktail batches are done for the most popular mixed drinks in the cocktail menu. Besides faster service, another benefit of cocktail batching is that it ensures consistency and efficiency during the busiest hours. The risk of spillage is also minimized, as well as potential over-pouring or under-pouring. Bartenders should be careful not to pre-mix too much, as this can lead to waste. Keep in mind that ice, garnishes, and other small ingredients are not pre-mixed during cocktail batching.

How to Calculate Profit Margin on Cocktails?

The easiest way to calculate profit from cocktails is through specialized software for the hospitality industry. BlueCart has solutions that help restaurants calculate the cost of goods sold, gross margin, and net margin from cocktails and other menu items. Traditionally, cocktails are among the most profitable items on a menu. That’s why it’s recommended to train serving staff to offer cocktail pairings with meals.

The formula for calculating the gross profit margin on cocktails is (selling price - cost of goods sold) / selling price. For example, a cocktail that goes for $10 and whose ingredients cost $3 has a profit margin of 70%.

What Are the Most Popular Cocktails?

Margarita is the most popular cocktail in the US. It’s among the most-ordered cocktails in the restaurant industry, and a lot of people prepare it for home parties and other events. Here are other examples of popular cocktails:

Old Fashioned;
Martini;
Manhattan;
Mojito;
Moscow Mule;
Whiskey Sour;
Aperol Spritz;
Bloody Mary;
Daiquiri.

Classical cocktails like Margarita and Mojito are still among the most popular choices for cocktail enthusiasts. However, the foodie culture has spread to beverages as well. That’s why many customers might want to try new flavors, and businesses can benefit from developing a craft cocktail menu.

BlueCart: From Bar Inventory Management to Calculating Profit Margin from Cocktails

Thanks to our SaaS platform, businesses in the food service and hospitality industries can manage their inventory, calculate the cost of goods sold, and figure out profit margins on different menu items. BlueCart also allows establishments to find suppliers and purchase in bulk easily. Distributors can also benefit from our platform in multiple ways. Wholesalers can easily create catalogs with their products or use BlueCart as a tool to increase their wholesale sales and automate various processes of their wholesale distribution business. If you manage a hospitality business, sign up for BlueCart today. And if you operate a distribution company, schedule a demo to witness all our platform’s features.