Optimization of Contribution Margins in Food Services by Modeling Independent Component Demand Optimización de márgenes de contribución en servicios de alimentación modelando la demanda de componentes independientes

We propose a methodology useful for food services, allowing contribution margins to be optimized. This is based on statistical tools, inventory models and financial indicators. To reduce the gap between theory and practice, we apply this methodology to the case study of a Chilean company to show its potential. We conduct a real-world demand data analysis for perishable and non-perishable products in the company’s inventory assortment. Then, we use suitable inventory models to optimize the associated costs. We compare the proposed optimized system with the non-optimized system currently employed by the company, using financial indicators.