As anyone who runs a café knows, you are only as good as your ingredients. You can have all the best cooking equipment and coffee machines in the world, but if you use cheap ingredients, you’ll get found out sooner rather than later. However, having the best ingredients is only part of the problem; you also need somewhere to store them. That’s why investing in quality door latches and locks is so important.
For anyone managing a cafeteria, it’s important to ensure your storage is secure. Luckily, you don’t need to spend quite so much on locks for doors as you do on quality produce. Simple, yet affordable security for food storage areas is enough. To help you find the right door latches and locks for your cafeteria storage room, we asked Locks & Handles for advice.
With their years of experience in the security industry, we wanted their expert insight on the right door latch locks to go for. What should you store in your cafeteria storage rooms to ensure the safe, secure storage of all your cafe’s produce and ingredients?
Why Cafeterias Need Reliable, Secure Storage
Managing a cafeteria is a challenging job, right? You need to be properly organised so you can quickly get through your orders. People don’t like waiting for food, especially when they are on a lunch break and only have so much time. That means making sure you can quickly find the ingredients you need to cook their required meal to near-perfection. Thus, you need properly organised storage.
However, the more quality you bring to the table, the more likely you are to become a target for criminals, thieves and vandals. As such, you need a reliable door latch lock to keep your cafeteria storage room secure. The last thing you need is to lose produce and assets because you didn’t have a strong enough door latch on your storage room door!
Quality storage does not have to be advanced, though. You don’t need a smart lock or some kind of electronic lock system on your cafeteria storage room door. In fact, you don’t even need to go for anything like a 5-lever mortice lock; you can get away with a solid combination of latches, padlocks, and lever locks. Simplicity does not mean ineffectiveness, at least when it comes to door locks.
So, what are the best options for a cafeteria storage room? What do Locks & Handles recommend?
The Best Door Latches And Locks For Cafeteria Storage Rooms
As we mentioned above, quality security does not have to be extensive. Some of the best options you should consider include door latches and locks, such as:
Latch & Padlock Setups
Sometimes, all you need is a simple combination of a latch and a padlock. A latch can be strong enough to keep the door shut when someone is inside the storage room and does not need to be disturbed. At the same time, a padlock means you can easily lock the door from the outside until you need to collect something from the storage area.
A padlock is useful because it remains very difficult to break into without being noticed or heard. So long as you set a clear rotation for keys and keep them in management’s possession, a latch and padlock can be just what you are looking for. Remember, you don’t always need a technologically advanced lock; you just need something reliable.
Keyed Latch Locks
For storage rooms where you want to ensure no one can enter without permission, use a keyed latch lock. With a keyed lock, you know that nobody can get in so long as you keep the key secure. Have a senior member of the cafeteria staff hold the key on their person at all times to prevent potential key theft.
Generally, a keyed latch is ideal for storage spaces where you need extra peace of mind. It could be where you keep your most high-value ingredients and equipment, for example. Just be sure to create a system where the door is only locked and unlocked when required, and that it becomes second nature for your cafeteria staff to keep the storage room door locked when it is not in use.
Lever Locks
A popular alternative to the above is a lever lock. Most lever handle locks have the lock mechanism fitted into the handle itself. That means you can easily open and close the door and then lock it behind you as you go. By using a lever lock, you also have a much easier operation than, say, a knob. Door knobs can be hard to grip and turn, especially if your hands are full of ingredients.
With a lever lock, you simply turn the handle – something you can likely even do with your elbow if your hands are full. Lever locks are also ideal if your cafeteria has anyone with limited mobility or physical ability. The ease of use does not mean the locks are weak, though; when engaged – usually done with a push button or a thumb-turn – they remain very hard to pick or break into.
What Are The Best Locks For Your Cafeteria Storage?
Really, any one of the above three door latches and locks should be enough to provide your cafeteria with the security you are looking for.
It would be best to make your decision based on two simple factors: the frequency of use and the depth of your security budget. For areas used constantly, a lever lock is suitable, as it can be easily operated with one hand. For less commonly used storage areas or storage rooms where you have your most high-value assets, a keyed latch lock or padlock is more suitable.
If you are ever unsure about what would be the best fit for your cafeteria, hire a locksmith. They can provide you with more insight into the best fit for your cafeteria storage room and can also supply the various door latches and locks you require.
The worst thing you can do, though, is to do nothing. Whatever door latches and locks you choose, make sure you have something installed ASAP!