Case Study: How a Menu Matrix Turned an Underperformer into a Top Seller at PRESS Bistro

PRESS Bistro, a full-service restaurant serving up locally-sourced American fusion fare, is thriving and playing a part in reviving the struggling economy of downtown Johnstown, Pennsylvania, an area hit hard by the closure of steel mills.  Owner Jeremy Shearer has attracted loyal guests, but he struggled to find the right restaurant POS that would make it easier to manage, help grow margins and remain reliable during the busiest shifts.

CHALLENGE: PRESS Bistro needed a restaurant POS system that would help Shearer better manage restaurant operations and enable him to spend less time tethered to the kitchen.  

SOLUTION: Breadcrumb POS by Upserve and Upserve HQ helped PRESS Bistro work more efficiently, resulting in a 30 percent increase in revenue, and a 10 percent decrease in time to table, allowing Shearer to spend less time at the restaurant and more time focusing on new projects that further foster economic development in the community.   

The management team has access to enhanced reporting and analytics at their fingertips, enabling them to address operational issues, make decisions in real-time, and spend less time in the kitchen.

Add to that all the restaurant analytics Upserve delivered with his point of sale software that Jeremy now takes on the go. Using the Upserve Live app, he’s able to make strategic decisions even when away from restaurant. That’s given him the freedom to explore new restaurant concepts locally, empowering him to play an even bigger role in bolstering his hometown economy.

No one enjoys waiting. Shearer knew reducing customer wait times, especially at the bar, would go a long way in improving guest satisfaction. The flexibility and modern approach he saw in the Breadcrumb POS lined right up with his goals.

“Because we switched over to Breadcrumb POS and the handheld iPad mini’s, servers could actually put the order in right away without going back to a stationary terminal. Now instead of a customer potentially waiting 20 minutes to get a drink on a busy night, they’re getting it in under 10, which is the benchmark we’re going for. For a table of 10, that’s an extra $100 in beverage sales that would have been lost if the drinks were slowly paced throughout the meal, because now we’re seeing that we can get a third drink onto the table.”

This ease of use stood out as he evaluated multiple restaurant POS systems.

“I’ve been using POS systems forever. I’ve used TouchBistro. I’ve used Square. I’ve used and looked at all the other names out there. Breadcrumb just stood out every time I looked at it. It stood out as the easiest, most complete system for what I needed as a full-service restaurant.”

Upserve HQ’s menu matrix insights helped PRESS take a new menu item from underperformer to a top seller that accounts for close to 40 percent of dinner sales most nights.

• Real Time Reporting: Having access to sales and other crucial data in real-time gives Shearer to make adjustments on the fly that have a measurable impact on business.
• Menu Matrix: Receiving intel on menu items that aren’t performing well has prompted menu changes that have ultimately helped shape the restaurant’s best-selling dishes.
• Access to Partners: The team is further streamlining operational efficiencies by capitalizing on Upserve’s partnerships, tying their software in with systems like Bev Spot for bar management.