What is a wet bar stocktake?

A wet bar stocktake is a detailed audit of your venue’s drink inventory, including beer, spirits, wine, and soft drinks. It compares purchases, sales, and wastage to help you manage costs and improve profitability.

What does a dry bar stocktake include?

Dry bar stocktakes cover all food, kitchen, and bar snack inventory — giving you full control over your consumables and helping reduce waste or loss.

Who needs a wet or dry bar audit?

Pubs, bars, restaurants, cafés, clubs, and hotels all benefit from regular wet and dry bar audits to maintain profitability and ensure operational efficiency.

How often should wet and dry stocktakes be done?

Most venues schedule audits monthly, but higher-volume or multi-site operators may choose bi-weekly stocktakes for tighter control.

Are ILTSA stocktakers qualified?

Yes. ILTSA members are fully qualified through professional exams and training — ensuring the highest standards in hospitality stock auditing.

Food & Catering Stocktakers | ILTSA Approved UK Stock Auditors

Professional Stock Auditing for Food, Beverage and Catering Operations

Supporting profitability across pubs, restaurants, hotels and catering operations

Whether you’re running a busy pub kitchen, managing a hotel restaurant, or overseeing a contract catering business, controlling food and drink stock is essential to your profitability. ILTSA-approved food and catering stocktakers offer expert auditing services to help hospitality businesses monitor wastage, identify inefficiencies, and improve gross profit margins.

Our members are professionally trained, independent stock auditors with experience across all types of catering operations – from small cafes to large-scale event venues.

Why Use a Professional Catering Stock Auditor?

Accurate stock valuations for end-of-month accounts and profit analysis
Gross profit reporting by category (e.g. food, wet, soft drinks)
Wastage and shrinkage insights, helping you reduce losses
Benchmarking and performance monitoring over time
Support with menu costing and pricing strategies
Compliance checks for licensing, weights & measures, and health standards

Independent stocktaking helps you make informed decisions with objective data – and prevents internal staff from being burdened with audit tasks that may lack consistency or oversight.

Experienced in All Areas of Hospitality & Catering

Pubs and Gastro Pubs
Hotels and Resorts
Independent and Chain Restaurants
Coffee Shops and Cafes
Event Catering
Care Home and School Caterers
Franchise Operators
Leased & Tenanted Premises

What to Expect From a Stocktake Visit

A professional stocktake is more than just counting what’s in the fridge. ILTSA members follow a structured, impartial process that gives you clarity and confidence in your numbers.

Pre-visit planning – agreeing on stock areas to be included
On-site count – accurate weighing, measuring and counting using calibrated equipment
Invoice and delivery checks – reviewing purchases against sales
GP calculation – gross profit percentage by category
Wastage and yield reporting – flagging losses and inefficiencies
Actionable insights – advice on pricing, prep and supplier usage

Your auditor may also provide comparison data over time to help you monitor trends and track improvements.

Common Challenges in Catering Stock Control

ILTSA members help you spot and solve common issues like:

Over-ordering or poor portion control
Unrecorded wastage or staff meals
Unexplained variances between sales and usage
Short-dated stock and spoilage
Inaccurate or inconsistent internal counts
Lack of gross profit visibility on menu items
No audit trail for compliance checks

Find a Qualified Catering Stocktaker Near You

All ILTSA members meet professional standards and abide by our strict Code of Conduct. Whether you need a one-off stock audit or ongoing monthly reporting, you’ll find a trusted expert via our member search.

🎯 Use our Stocktaker Finder Tool

Why Choose an ILTSA Member?

Qualified Professionals – assessed and trained to industry-recognised standards
Independent Advice – unbiased, third-party insight
Nationwide Coverage – operating across the UK
Trusted Since 1958 – supporting the licensed trade for over 60 years

Food & Catering Stocktaker FAQs

Do I need a monthly stocktake?

Monthly stocktakes are most common, especially for food-led venues. They help monitor GP, reduce wastage and ensure purchasing stays on track. Some businesses choose bi-monthly or quarterly depending on their needs.

Can I use an ILTSA stocktaker for a one-off audit?

Yes. One-off or ad hoc stocktakes are ideal for business handovers, year-end checks, or identifying stock control issues. Many ILTSA members offer this as part of their service.

Will they train my team too?

Some ILTSA members offer staff training to improve internal processes – including portion control, stock rotation and logging wastage.

Do you cover non-licensed premises like cafes or schools?

Yes. ILTSA stocktakers work across all types of catering operations including cafes, canteens, care homes, schools, golf clubs and event caterers.

How do I find someone local?

Use our Stocktaker Search Tool to find a qualified ILTSA member in your area.

Written by: ILTSA Editorial Team
The Institute of Licensed Trade Stock Auditors (ILTSA) is the UK’s professional body for independent stock auditors. We promote best practice through training, industry standards and support for our members, helping businesses find trusted, experienced professionals across a range of sectors.

Please Note: ILTSA members are independent professionals who have met the Institute’s qualification standards. While ILTSA provides accreditation and support, it does not employ or directly manage the services offered by its members.

Learn more about ILTSA

Last updated: May 2025

For the latest guidance or to find an ILTSA-approved stock auditor near you, use our Stocktaker Search Tool.

Food & Catering Stocktakers