From Tangled Tech to Catering Triumph

How I Helped Soulber Kitchen & Market Overcome Tech Challenges and Achieve Their Growth Goals

Soulber Kitchen & Market, a privately-owned healthy food haven, was born from Sara's passion for nourishing her community. Her weekly meal prep service quickly gained popularity, leading her to open a bustling brick-and-mortar location. But amidst the success of her meal prep and market, Sara faced a new challenge: a growing demand for catering that she didn't have the time or resources to fulfill. Adding to the complexity, her business operations were fragmented. While she used Toast POS in her market restaurant, her meal prep service was still running on Squarespace, creating a logistical bottleneck. Every week, Sara had to manually add up orders, hindering her ability to track inventory, sales, and understand her product mix.

Taking referral advice from a mutual vendor and friend, Sara reached out to me. I recognized Sara's need for a structured catering program and streamlined operations, so I provided hands-on coaching and logistical support. Sara's food was undeniably delicious, but she needed guidance in navigating the complexities of building a new revenue stream from scratch and integrating her existing systems. She was overwhelmed by the prospect of menu design, recipe scaling, technology integration, and marketing strategy.

Crafting a Catering Vision

Together, we embarked on a journey to bring Soulber's catering vision to life. We started with a deep dive into her goals, target audience, and brand identity. I helped Sara translate her culinary artistry into a catering menu that showcased her signature healthy and flavorful dishes. We meticulously scaled recipes for larger quantities, ensuring consistency and quality.

Streamlining Operations: A POS Overhaul

Simultaneously, we tackled the challenge of merging Soulber's meal prep service into Toast POS. This was no easy feat, as Toast lacked a dedicated meal prep feature. However, by creatively utilizing the catering functionality, I was able to set up meal prep as a sub-division of catering. This allowed Sara to offer pickup and delivery options, charge appropriate distance-based fees, and, most importantly, consolidate all her orders – meal prep, catering, and market – under one platform. This integration proved to be a game-changer, providing Sara with a centralized system for managing her entire business.

Bridging the Tech Gap

With the meal prep service seamlessly integrated, we turned our attention to the catering program itself. One of the biggest hurdles was configuring the system for online ordering, pickup, and delivery options. Sara lacked the technical expertise to navigate the system's complexities, and this is where my skills proved invaluable. I set up the online ordering platform, configured pickup and delivery options, and ensured a seamless customer experience.

Visual Storytelling and Marketing Magic

To capture the essence of Soulber's catering offerings, we orchestrated a professional photoshoot. I was on set, assisting with food preparation and ensuring the visuals aligned with Sara's brand aesthetic. Once the stunning photos were ready, I designed a captivating online catering menu and crafted compelling marketing messages to entice customers.

The Results: A Catering Success Story

Within the first month of launching the catering program, Soulber generated over $5,000 in new revenue! This success is a testament to Sara's culinary talent and her dedication to serving her community. But it also highlights the power of strategic planning, logistical support, and technology integration in achieving business growth.

Ongoing Collaboration and Growth

My work with Soulber is an ongoing partnership. We continue to gather customer feedback, analyze data, and refine the catering program to ensure its continued success. This case study exemplifies how collaborative effort and strategic vision can transform culinary passion into a thriving business venture.