By Doug Rixmann • May 15, 2023

Don't Let a Unsuccessful Audit Derail Your Restaurant: A Practical Guide for Recovery

Failing a restaurant evaluation audit can be a daunting and stressful experience for any operator. It’s natural to feel concerned about the potential impact on your business, as well as the time and resources that may be required to address any issues that were identified during the audit. However, it’s important to remember that failing an audit does not necessarily mean that your business is in trouble. With the right approach and mindset, you can turn a negative situation into an opportunity to improve and grow your restaurant.

If you've found yourself in this situation, here some steps you can take after failing to pass a restaurant evaluation audit:

  1. Review the audit report and identify the areas of concern. The first step in addressing a failed audit is to understand the specific issues that were identified. Take the time to thoroughly review the audit report and make a list of the areas that need to be addressed. This will give you a clear understanding of what needs to be done to pass the audit in the future.

  2. Create a plan of action. Once you’ve identified the areas of concern, it’s time to develop a plan of action to address them. This may involve updating your policies and procedures, implementing new training programs, or making physical changes to your restaurant. Whatever the steps may be, it’s important to have a clear and detailed plan in place to guide your efforts.

  3. Communicate with your team. It’s important to involve your team in the process of addressing any issues identified during the audit. Make sure to communicate openly and honestly with your team about the audit results and your plan of action. Encourage open and honest dialogue, and be willing to listen to suggestions and feedback from your team.

  4. Seek outside help if needed. If you’re having difficulty addressing the issues identified during the audit, consider seeking outside help. This could be in the form of consulting with a food safety expert or seeking guidance from industry associations or trade groups.

  5. Follow up and monitor progress. After implementing your plan of action, it’s important to follow up and monitor progress to ensure that the issues identified during the audit are being effectively addressed. This may involve conducting regular self-inspections or seeking feedback from your team.

An unsuccessful Restaurant Evaluation can be a challenging experience, but it’s important to approach it as an opportunity to improve and grow your business. By reviewing the audit report, creating a plan of action, communicating with your team, and seeking outside help if needed, you can turn a negative situation into a positive one.

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