Five reasons why benchmarking is a good idea for care homes

Running a successful care home is a constant balancing act. Operators must deliver exceptional care, maintain high standards, manage rising costs, and still keep occupancy healthy. In this environment, benchmarking isn’t just useful – it’s a strategic advantage.

Here are five reasons why benchmarking is one of the smartest investments a care home can make.

1. It unlocks real negotiating power with suppliers
   With clear, comparative data on product costs, operators can challenge supplier pricing with confidence. When you know what other like-for-like care homes are paying across the sector, it becomes far easier to negotiate fairer deals. The savings made can be reinvested where they matter most – upgrading ingredients, improving menu quality and ultimately enhancing the dining experience for residents.

2. Better food quality means better occupancy
   Families choosing a care home consistently rate food quality as one of their top decision-making factors. Benchmarking helps operators understand how their food standards and spend compare with the wider market. This insight supports targeted improvements that not only delight residents but also make the home more attractive to prospective families. Better food contributes directly to better occupancy.

3. It streamlines operating costs
   When you’re caught up in the day-to-day of running a care home, inefficiencies can go unnoticed. Benchmarking shines a light on where a home is potentially overspending in their catering procurement. With these insights, operators can make smarter budget decisions, cut unnecessary waste and allocate funds more strategically.

4. It supports quality assurance
   Benchmarking doesn’t just help with costs; it helps with standards. Comparing performance in areas like where food is sourced from and the quality of ingredients gives management teams a clear sense of where improvements are needed.

5. It gives catering teams room to be creative
   When benchmarking helps savings be identified, catering teams have more freedom – and budget – to innovate. Instead of being restricted by tight cost pressures, chefs can explore higher-quality suppliers, source more local produce, and build menus around ingredients that tell a story. This not only raises the standard of meals served but also energises and inspires the kitchen team.

Benchmarking arms care home operators with insights that strengthen purchasing power, elevate food quality and streamline costs – all while enhancing the resident experience.  If you’d like to explore how one of our team can help your care home unlock these benefits, get in touch with us here.

The Quenelles team