Find a good go-between with the beverage companies Trying to keep track of all the different beverage brands can be a nightmare, which is why a professional, reliable beverage vendor is essential for any busy restaurant. All you have to do is order the products, and the vendor deals with the rest. Your vendor should work with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages so that you can get everything in one place.

I recommend:  Find the right beverage vendor for your restaurant's needs. Check out a beverage vendor directory such as the Food and Beverage Market Place Online Database or the MNI Guide to find one close to you. Once you've narrowed down the list, start contacting vendors to compare prices and product availability.

Keep tabs on beverage sales If you pay attention to sales patterns, you'll start to see some clear-cut favorites in your beverage lineup. This may vary depending on the season, so it's important to check your drink sales weekly, monthly and quarterly to look for trends. Over time, you can anticipate needs and stock up before you have a run on ice tea or frozen lattes. You may also find it helpful to ask the servers regularly what customers are asking for that you don't already have in stock.

I recommend:  Keep a good inventory of what you have and what you need. You never want to run out of anything, so keep tabs on drink orders with a point of sale system like NuRol or Aldelo, or do it the old-fashioned way with paper and pen. Some drink vendors keep track of what you ordered last time, to help with re-ordering, so always ask for the last order's data. It doesn’t matter how you do it, as long as you look for those trends and patterns.

Stay on top of the newest beverage brands coming down the pipeline The drink industry is constantly evolving and changing, so it's imperative that you keep on top of the newest trends for your restaurant. If you're the first on the block to offer the latest cold coffee drink or sparkling water, you can bet that the sales will follow.

I recommend:  Educate yourself on the drink industry. Read up on drink news at Drinks Business, and focus on the research center for in-depth reviews on the current market. Just-drinks.com is another site that can help you see trends and sales forecasts for the upcoming seasons.