The verdict in three sentences
Without food-cost tracking (the ingredient cost of dishes), a restaurant lets 5 to 10 % of margin slip away to waste, over-portioning and theft. A kitchen stock management app with recipe cards, stockout alerts and mobile inventory brings the ingredient ratio from 40 % toward the targeted 28-35 %. For a high-volume restaurant, this drop is worth several hundred thousand FCFA/month, for an app at 1,000,000 - 2,500,000 FCFA.
What the app measures and fixes
Food cost is steered dish by dish: the recipe card sets the theoretical cost, the inventory reveals the real gap.
| Function | What it prevents | Typical gain |
|---|---|---|
| Per-dish recipe cards | over-portioning | 2 - 4 pts of food cost |
| Stockout alerts | shortages and panic buying | fewer costly purchases |
| Mobile inventory | invisible losses, theft | 1 - 3 pts of food cost |
| Ingredient tracking | waste, expiry | 1 - 2 pts of food cost |
| Theoretical/real gap | undetected drift | early warning |
The quantified impact of food cost
A few ingredient-ratio points represent significant sums against a monthly revenue.
| Metric | Before app | After app |
|---|---|---|
| Food cost (ingredient ratio) | 40 % | 30 % |
| Monthly kitchen revenue | 6,000,000 FCFA | 6,000,000 FCFA |
| Monthly ingredient cost | 2,400,000 FCFA | 1,800,000 FCFA |
| Monthly saving | — | 600,000 FCFA |
| Annual saving | — | 7,200,000 FCFA |
Mini case study
Ibrahim, a restaurateur in Dakar, does 6,000,000 FCFA/month in the kitchen with food cost measured at 40 % (2,400,000 FCFA of ingredients). After 3 months with the app (recipe cards + weekly inventory), he drops to 31 %, i.e. 1,860,000 FCFA of ingredients: 540,000 FCFA saved/month. His app cost 1,800,000 FCFA, paid back in just over 3 months, then pure saving.
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Become a Kolonell referral partner
Do you know restaurateurs, hoteliers or QSR managers bleeding margin? The Kolonell referral partner (apporteur d'affaires) program pays you for every signed project you bring in, with nothing to manage technically.
| Type of project referred | Sale commission | Recurring |
|---|---|---|
| Showcase site / showcase business app | 15 % | + 5 % recurring |
| E-commerce | 12 % | + 5 % recurring |
| Marketplace | 10 % | per contract |
| Institutional (large accounts) | 8 % | per contract |
Example: a stock management app at 1,800,000 FCFA you refer earns you 270,000 FCFA (15 %). Several restaurants a month and referrals become a real side income.
FAQ
What is a good food cost in restaurants? In 2026, aim for 28 to 35 % depending on the concept (a fast-food can aim lower, a fine-dining restaurant slightly higher). Above 38-40 %, margin is seriously eroded.
Do I need to do inventory every day? No. A weekly inventory of key ingredients (meats, fish, alcohol) is enough to catch drift. The app makes that inventory quick via mobile.
Does the app handle multiple suppliers? Yes: it tracks purchase prices per supplier and flags increases, helping you negotiate or switch suppliers.
How much can I earn as a referral partner? On an app at 1,800,000 FCFA, your 15 % commission is 270,000 FCFA, plus 5 % recurring on maintenance. The potential depends on the number of projects you bring.
Let's talk about your project. Restaurateur looking to save margin, or referral partner wanting to join the program: write to us. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
