This text provides a complete, comprehensive overview of the food and beverage industry cost control methods and how they are applied within profitable, successful food-service establishments. It presents useful and important guidelines for assessing, interpreting and planning food and beverage operations, as well as financial information that will help students learn how to minimize expenditures and improve profits. Unique coverage of issues such as "make or buy" decisions, inventory control, forecasting, departmental interaction, how to view markets and customers and more give this book a richness and relevance students will enjoy.