Which factor directly affects a deli’s ability to manage inventory effectively?

Sales forecasting is crucial for a deli's ability to manage inventory effectively because it involves predicting future sales based on historical data, market trends, and seasonal variations. Accurate sales forecasts allow the deli to determine how much stock to order and when to order it, ensuring that they have the right amount of ingredients and products on hand to meet customer demand without overstocking or running out of popular items.

When a deli can effectively forecast sales, it minimizes food waste, reduces carrying costs, and maximizes profitability by aligning inventory levels with anticipated customer needs. This proactive approach to inventory management helps the deli operate smoothly, maintain high customer satisfaction, and streamline processes within the kitchen and front-of-house areas.

In contrast, while customer service feedback, employee training programs, and marketing strategies can significantly influence sales and overall operations, they do not directly impact the inventory management process in the same immediate way that accurate sales forecasting does.