Frequently, when dining at a restaurant or staying at a hotel, we appreciate excellent service, delicious food, and, of course, hygiene and cleanliness. Typically, a disorganized and unclean establishment does not warrant a second visit. And while the latter factors and adherence to their highest standards seem self-evident, experts note that this area requires special attention - after all, hygiene in the food sector is inseparable from successful business operations and customer trust.
Hygiene solutions for food and accommodation establishments - only from professionals
As noted by Jurgita Aghasaryan, the Head of Business for Hygiene Products and Pest Control at AB "Kauno grūdai," both in Lithuania and worldwide, the reputation of hotels, restaurants, and cafes is significantly influenced by the tendency of customers to leave feedback about the establishment online or on social networks. Among the most common negative reviews are mentions of hygiene violations and unacceptable sanitary conditions. "Many public establishments face daily challenges that can pose risks to both customers and employees. One of the most important pieces of advice we give to our clients is not to leave the issue of hygiene to chance and to entrust it to experts who are knowledgeable about their work," emphasizes J. Aghasaryan. "Cleanliness and hygiene are highly sensitive topics in the public sector, which can cost not only a good reputation but also the continuity of operations."
Thinking that providing soap dispensers and disinfectants is sufficient in public spaces, the specialist rushes to correct - it is an area that requires consistent maintenance, from proper sanitation to pest prevention. Failure to comply with cleanliness standards can have a negative impact not only on customers but also on employee health, while inadequate hygiene or improper staff training can lead to disease outbreaks.
According to the expert, in Lithuania, the State Food and Veterinary Service clearly defines the requirements that food or accommodation establishments must adhere to. "Every business must know and comply with these requirements. When it comes to food establishments, when visiting clients' premises, we always audit the premises, assess their compliance with SFVS requirements. We also evaluate the equipment, its maintenance, the cleanliness of utensils, limescale deposits, and so on. After conducting the initial analysis, we can suggest appropriate solutions to improve the current situation, select additional measures. To ensure the highest quality of service, we regularly perform such analysis for existing clients, provide consultations, and train staff."
Business convenience - safety for the end customer
One of the most common but easily solvable mistakes is improperly filled documentation and improperly selected tools. "Well-organized hygiene instructions, labels, maintenance schedules for equipment, correctly selected chemical agents based on water hardness analysis, and properly regulated concentrations are everyday and easily solvable tasks," emphasizes Jurgita. "Much more effort requires attention to the client's staff, their training, and ongoing consultations. Therefore, comprehensive training programs, hygiene protocols are essential."
According to the speaker, no less important is proper pest prevention because pests such as cockroaches, rats, mice are completely incompatible with the operations of the HORECA sector and can become a real headache - contaminating food, spreading diseases. "Unwanted pests are an unpleasant challenge, so it's best when we work preventatively. It is essential to regularly inspect premises for pests, take appropriate preventive measures. We have a large team of specialists and are always just a phone call away from our clients to be able to react promptly, whether it's pest or hygiene solution issues," says the representative of "Kauno grūdai."
It is precisely the concentration of two services in one partner's hands - pest control and hygiene solutions - that J. Aghasaryan presents as a unique business advantage. "This is an added value and convenience for our clients because one service provider can take care of both pest issues and cleanliness solutions, which are directly related."
Listing market peculiarities, the speaker emphasizes that, among other things, the concept of sustainability is not bypassing the hygiene products business. "We work with major global chemical manufacturers, so we have expanded and supplemented our product portfolio with a wide range of eco-friendly products offered by our suppliers, as well as using environmentally friendly and safe packaging solutions. This means that the packaging is recyclable or reusable. It is gratifying that major manufacturers are increasingly considering the need for ecology and sustainability, constantly seeking cleaner, less harmful chemical product compositions." Due to the growing need for sustainable solutions, the company's representative also mentions future plans to facilitate waste management issues for clients and collect all used packaging materials from them.
Customer Diversity
"Kauno grūdai" has been developing its pest control and hygiene products business for over a decade - trading in cleanliness and hygiene chemical products for professional and everyday room maintenance. Among the services provided are room cleaning, adaptation, and installation of disinfection systems, room cleaning and technical maintenance, installation of mobile and stationary chemical stations, installation of paper, soap, disinfectant holders, and similar services. Initially, the unit was designed to serve group companies, but later, external clients were added to the list - other food industry companies, large farmers, the Horeca sector, public institutions.
One of the company's clients is the restaurant chain "Sugamour," counting its fifth year of collaboration. Žaneta Birbilienė, the director of the well-known and customer-favored dessert chain, has been convinced of the importance of a reliable partner for smooth daily operations over several years of joint work. "Our cooperation with the department of pest control and hygiene products of "Kauno grūdai" is based on trust and assistance at the right moment. The products offered by partners always meet the price and quality ratio. As a manager, I can always be assured that if necessary, we will not only receive consultation but, most importantly, prompt response to any problems," says Ž. Birbilienė.
"Our team of specialists successfully operates throughout Lithuania. We have accumulated considerable experience working with production, passenger transport facilities, hotels, restaurants, and public institutions. Especially during the pandemic period, we have expanded our customer base significantly due to the increased demand for disinfection services," adds J. Aghasaryan. "With the help of our specialists, businesses are relieved of much unnecessary headache because we provide comprehensive consultations and services, offering only optimal hygiene and pest prevention solutions that fully meet the client's needs."