If your restaurant offers milk on the menu, it makes financial sense to purchase a bulk milk dispenser. A commercial milk dispenser can hold anywhere from one to 15 gallons of milk. With some milk dispensing equipment, you can serve up to three different types of milk. Because you buy the milk in bulk containers, you can get it cheaper.
Dispenser milk is typically available at a much lower cost. You typically find white milk, either 2% or skim, in a dairy dispenser. However, chocolate milk is available for commercial milk dispensers, as well as strawberry-flavored milk. Soymilk is another type you could serve from your restaurant milk dispenser.
As you consider adding dispenser milk to your restaurant’s offerings, you should know that commercial milk dispensers come in three basic types:
1. Smaller five-gallon milk dispensers
2. Hefty 10-15 gallon milk dispensers
3. Specialty milk dispensers, such as cream dispensers or insulated milk carafes
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Pick a small commercial milk dispenser if you don't sell a lot of milk
Commercial milk dispensers do involve a certain amount of cash outlay, so you need to know what you are willing to pay and how long it would take for you to get your investment back. You might even consider a used five-gallon milk dispenser as your first purchase.
I recommend: Galasource, Inc. offers smaller milk dispensers. As you look at their inventory, you notice they have both low and high-profile machines. Choose the machine that best fits into your available counter space.
Big Tray, Inc. also offers a number of smaller milk dispensers.
Look for larger milk dispensers
If you serve a lot of milk daily, or want to offer your customers a variety of milk products, the larger commercial milk dispensers are a good choice for you. Whether you want to serve two or three types of milk product, you can find the right machine for your restaurant.
I recommend: Select Appliance offers a 12-gallon, two-choice model.
AAA Commercial Products offers the larger 15-gallon model.
Locate specialty milk dispensers suitable for your restaurant
Whether you serve milk in individual cartons or as a choice on a buffet menu, there are a wide variety of milk dispensers available.
I recommend: A-Best Fixture Co. sells a cream dispenser ideal for a self-serve coffee bar, along with other milk dispensers. If you wish to place individual milk dispensers on each table,
ChefsFirst offers a line of insulated milk carafes for that purpose. To serve cold milk on a buffet,
Globe Equipment Company has a product you can use. And
Piper Products Servolift Eastern offers freestanding milk dispensers if you offer milk in single-serve cartons.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Milk products are among the top 10 fastest growing food service menu items. As people grow more diet conscious, they want to drink a healthy option rather than empty, sugary calories. Display your milk options prominently on your menu. With more milk sales, you can easily justify purchasing a dairy dispenser.
The official source of Milk Dispensers is the Milk Dispensers page at Business.com
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