Saffron Spice - Local Authority Edition

 

The Local Authority Catering Management Solution

Saffron Spice has been specifcally designed for how Local Authorities manage their business and offers numerous options in terms of modules, functionality and configuration, reflecting the wide diversity of catering styles within Local Authority catering, where it can be used as a Head Office management tool or to control complex civic hospitality.

Saffron can also be deployed over the Internet, so that local school users can use the system to enter their weekly information. Below is a summary of the core Local Authority functionality for school meal catering:

Invoices
 
Saffron Spice has a quick entry data capture form for the collation of school invoice returns as global invoice totals. Saffron can also record invoices line by line, where this level of detail is required to control the establishment.
 
Stock Summaries
 
Calculation and valuation of stock using a predefined stock template. These templates maintain the core stock items used at each type of school and hold the current purchase contract price. 
 
Meal Numbers
 
Schools record numerous different types of numbers based around the diversity of the catering operation. These include free meals, primary, secondary, free, cash cafeteria, adults etc. Saffron allows for this information to be entered into a quick entry form by each school. This data is then used to calculate a financial result on trading and performance indicator reports.
 
Income
 
The recording of income can be a time consuming factor but is an essential element of controlling the business. Saffron has a data capture form to record and report upon any element of cash declaration, including bank slips and reconciliation routines.
 
Allowances and Subsidies
 
A complex element of any school catering business with differing allowances for numerous types of customers, as well as various types of service style. Saffron will assist in recording and calculating this information into meaningful reports that will support to run the business effectively and profitably.
 
Hours and Labour Costs
 
The manual recording of extra hours performed at each school is a burdensome task, but important to calculate the additional labour cost and thus performance reports for each school. Saffron can record additional hours and labour related allowances and then calculate the notional financial commitment. 
 

Saffron Detailed Functionality

 
Additional features and modules of Saffron can be used to control larger scale establishments that require more detailed functionality. These may include secondary schools, colleges, commercial or civic locations. Below is a summary of the functions and features within these versions of Saffron.
 
Full Stock Management
 
This module would allow units to record purchases by product line, and subsequently move stock around a multi-site operation, such as between stores and kitchen.
 
Purchase Order Management
 
Sites can raise purchase orders based either on minimum stock levels, forecast demand, or from menu planning routines (see below). Purchase orders can be communicated to supplier (EDI, fax, email etc) and subsequently matched to goods received notes, invoices, credit notes etc, complete with full facilities for accruals and deferrals.
 
Recipe and Menu Management
 
A full recipe database can be maintained within Saffron, potentially held at head office and segregated into discreet styles of operation where appropriate. This would allow certain sites access to sections of the recipe database, if necessary for different styles of catering on offer.
 
Production Planning and Control
 
The recipe database can be used to forecast production levels and menu requirements, and the software can then ‘explode’ menu forecasts into raw material purchase orders, internal stock transfers, detailed schedules for kitchen production etc.
 
Sales Data Capture/EPoS
 
Saffron can interface to third party EPoS systems from a range of manufacturers (CRB/Cunningham’s, Uniwell, Sharp etc). Saffron can merge sales volumes by individual item with line-by-line cost information, thereby producing operational margin reports.
 
Nutritional Analysis
 
Saffron holds the full McCance and Widdowson Nutritional database, this factors can then be linked to the individual stock item. From this Saffron can calculate the nutritional content of each recipe. Menus and menu cycles can also be analysed to ensure they meet a defined standard, i.e the Caroline Walker Trust standards for school meals.
 
Third Party System Integration
 
Saffron can share data with other third party applications such as finance and personnel systems. This data can either be exchanged in standard file formats as an export from Saffron, or systems can collaborate through a shared table with read and write facilities between two applications.
 
Download Saffron Spice Local Authority Edition Product Overview (PDF Required)
 
Download Caerphilly County Council Case Study
Fretwell Downing Hospitality
Brincliffe House
861 Ecclesall Road
Sheffield
S11 7AE