For over 55 years, the Dedham House of Pizza has been a beloved institution in Dedham, Massachusetts. Owner George Panagopoulos took over the family business, which his father bought over 40 years ago, and decided it was time for a change. In 2005, he began modernizing the operations, giving the restaurant a facelift, and adopting a point-of-sale (POS) system from FoodTec Solutions.
Before FoodTec, the pizzeria was using a regular register, and the Panagopoulos family was hesitant to make the leap to a computer-based system. But once they made the change, George quickly realized he had made the right choice.
Driving a $17,000 Weekly Revenue Increase
Before implementing FoodTec’s marketing tools, Dedham House of Pizza was doing roughly $35,000 to $40,000 a week in sales. George was initially hesitant about using target marketing and SMS campaigns, but the results speak for themselves. The pizzeria has generated an extra $10,000 a week in sales from loyalty and rewards programs and an additional $7,000 a week from SMS campaigns, for a total increase of $17,000 in weekly sales.
George credits this growth to his commitment to running strategic campaigns. “The campaigns have generated customer loyalty, brand loyalty, repeat customers, and increased average ticket sizes,” George says.
A Strategic Partner, Not Just a Vendor
When George and his mother began the search for a new POS system, they spoke with many companies. They found FoodTec’s team to be more than just a vendor; they were a partner. George has been so impressed with the relationship that he even spoke at a convention where FoodTec’s team showed up to support him. “They really care about their customers,” he says.
George also appreciates the around-the-clock support. Because FoodTec has an office in Greece, where the time difference is seven hours ahead, someone is always available to help. This level of support is something George doesn’t believe any other POS company can provide.
From Paper Maps to Delivery IQ
Before FoodTec, the team used a six-foot-by-six-foot map of the town to manage their deliveries. George remembers bringing drivers back and, with a language barrier, trying to explain the best route. This process was inefficient and time-consuming.
FoodTec’s Delivery IQ and driver-tracking app have been a “complete game changer,” turning a cumbersome, manual process into a streamlined one. Dedham House of Pizza now handles over 57% of its business through delivery, making this feature a crucial part of their daily operations.
Saving 8-10 Hours a Week
George has also seen a significant reduction in the time he spends on administrative tasks. The seamless integration with third-party apps like DoorDash, UberEats, and Grubhub saves him 8 to 10 hours a week on reporting and back-and-forth communication with his accountant.
He also notes the impact of customer-facing kiosks. The number of kiosk users has grown from roughly 2,000 in 2022 to an expected 4,000 users this year. He’s also seen similar growth in his mobile app users, growing from 1,200 to an estimated 4,000 customers this year. He estimates that these digital solutions save his staff from having to interact with 8,000 customers a year, freeing up time to focus on quality control and cleanliness.
Want to Run a Smarter Pizza Business?
George Panagopoulos’s story is proof that with the right system and a dedicated approach, a pizzeria can significantly increase efficiency and revenue. FoodTec helped him move beyond a paper-based system to a data-driven operation, resulting in massive growth and more time to focus on his business.
Ready to make a similar leap?