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Wenzel’s: unlocking efficiency across 102 sites in just 40 days

Anyone in North West London will recognise Wenzel’s. This family-run bakery, established nearly 50 years ago, offers affordable fresh baked goods and drinks, and is a favourite of commuters and locals alike.

Business Type

Quick Service Restaurant
Bakery

Products

POS, Menu Management, KMS

102

sites live in just 40 days

1

source of data: no more manual reporting

75%

reduction in time wasted updating menus

Wenzel’s has always been quick to adopt new technologies and tools. Recognising the growing importance of technology in the food sector, Wenzel’s developed a bespoke management tool to handle various operational aspects like stock management, P&L reporting, and HR.

However, it became clear that this bespoke tool could no longer keep up with the company’s evolving needs.

“This project started as a means of fixing one issue: the stock and waste management side of the business. The more we looked into it, the more we realised there are lots of other areas that can be improved at the same time.”

One was the efficiency of the POS system, and the other was a direct integration into the delivery platforms, which reduced the number of mistakes that could happen when the staff prepares the orders.

We also realised that upgrading the POS had unlocked the ability to have Click & Collect and Loyalty, so we are able to add another sales channel that would benefit the business from a revenue standpoint.
Fabian Lapusneanu
Director of IT, Wenzel’s

Challenges

Wenzel’s existing POS could not seamlessly integrate with delivery platforms and provide comprehensive data access, hindering operational efficiency. Fabian highlighted the data challenges: “Our biggest problem in the last couple of years has been access to data and the level of detail that we have in that data.”

Additionally, the old POS system had some major drawbacks, including a lack of integration with various third-party delivery platforms and inefficiencies in menu management. “We needed to find a more permanent solution that would cover all three delivery platforms,” said Fabian Lapusneanu, Director of IT.

Solution

To address these challenges, Wenzel’s embarked on a comprehensive overhaul of its tech stack, partnering with Vita Mojo to implement an advanced order management solution, including a fast and reliable POS, Centralised Menu Management and a flexible Kitchen Management System.

The project began with an initial pilot of six stores. Then one month later, Wenzel’s and Vita Mojo began the ambitious target of rolling out the new tech to its remaining 102 stores in just 40 days.

The implementation process was extensive. “The actual challenge was that Vita Mojo wasn’t the only solution implemented at the same time,” said Karl.

The Wenzel’s team also implemented new food and hygiene systems and inventory management tools. Training 1,200 employees posed a significant challenge. “We had multiple methods: videos, guides, installation sessions, and even huge Zoom sessions where we’ve had 60 employees on one call,” Karl recalled.

Vita Mojo and Wenzel’s discussed several different rollout schedules. The team settled on a 3-6-6 formula: three stores a day, six days a week, for six weeks.

“We did training in the afternoon,” says Fabian, “going the next day to the same store to assist the launch in the morning, and then in the afternoon, you go to the next site and so on.”

Additionally, the old POS system had some major drawbacks, including a lack of integration with various third-party delivery platforms and inefficiencies in menu management. “We needed to find a more permanent solution that would cover all three delivery platforms,” said Fabian Lapusneanu, Director of IT.

Results

The transformation yielded substantial benefits for Wenzel’s. The new technology improved data accuracy and operational efficiency, particularly in menu management, resulting in a 75% reduction in time wasted updating menus.

“Menu management—with the aggregation on the delivery platforms—has been a massive efficiency improver,” Karl noted. The integration reduced the potential for errors and enhanced the customer experience by ensuring consistent product availability across all platforms.

With accurate and reliable data now available, Wenzel’s can make more informed decisions, although understanding and using this data effectively remains a key focus.

The implementation also streamlined reporting processes, saving significant time and effort. “The reduction in the amount of time it takes me to do any sort of report is a measure of success,” Fabian mentioned. The new POS system’s ability to handle Click & Collect and loyalty programs opened additional revenue channels and improved customer engagement.

The new, reliable data and systems that we previously lacked are going to really help shape the future of the business.
Karl Spinks
COO, Wenzel’s

Conclusion

Wenzel’s digital transformation, powered by Vita Mojo, has positioned the company for continued growth and success. By addressing operational inefficiencies, enhancing data management, and integrating advanced technologies, Wenzel’s has modernised its operations and improved its competitive edge. As Karl aptly put it, “The new, reliable data and systems that we previously lacked are going to really help shape the future of the business.”

The new technology’s success was measured by various efficiency improvements. “Menu management—with the aggregation on the delivery platforms—has been a massive efficiency improver,” says Karl. The focus is now on finalising the tech rollout and leveraging the insights gained to shape future operational strategies. “Our short-term plan is to use the systems’ insights to pinpoint operational strategies,” concludes Karl.

 

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