Success story: Slim Chickens Part of Baparan Restaurant Group
Slim Chickens' successful expansion in the UK, facilitated by the Boparan Restaurant Group, was significantly aided by the integration of Access EPoS and kitchen display systems. These technologies streamlined operations, provided real-time performance insights, and improved the overall customer experience, showcasing the effectiveness of leveraging proven systems in a fast-casual dining context.
Challenge
- Complexity in maintaining efficiency across various brands
- Ensuring smooth operation of Access EPoS and kitchen display systems across different order sources
Implementation
- Used Access systems successfully implemented in other brands
- Configured Access to streamline orders from various sources to kitchen screens
- Reports dashboard for real-time tracking of ticket times and kitchen performance
Results
- Quick and accurate order processing
- Insights for managing busy periods and operational adjustments
- Accurate order management and error handling
Winging the popular fast-casual brand to the UK
Slim Chickens is a popular fast-casual chicken brand which started in the US in 2003 in Arkansas and was first introduced to the UK market in 2018 by Boparan Restaurant Group. Since opening the first Slim Chickens site in London, Boparan have gone from zero to ten sites in just two years.
Boparan operate Ed’s Easy diner, Giraffe, Giraffe Stop, Carluccio’s, Fishworks, Wondertree and Gourmet Burger Kitchen. The one advantage of having multiple brands is being able to spot an opportunity in the market and flip brands if a concept isn’t working in a certain region.
The key role of Access technology
Boparan have used Access EPoS and kitchen display systems for 7 years having put the technology initialliy in their GBK and Harry Ramsden brands and subsequently Giraffe. When it came to configuring how Slim Chickens’ operations would work, Boparan knew that Access’s kitchen video display was a proven concept therefore put the technology into Slim Chickens from day one.
Boparan knew that installing Access’s technology was key to ensuring the journey from order to collection/serving meal was as seamless as possible for both the customer and the operational team.
The technology flow
Access kitchen display system enables restaurants to capture orders from any source (kiosk, table, collection, delivery) through their EPoS and churns them through to the relevant kitchen screen. Once an order is cooked it disappears from the screen and moves seamlessly to the ready for collection screen.
The flow of technology works for Slim Chickens really well - it streamlines our kitchen operations with a seamless link between kiosk and delivery partners such as Deliveroo, our POS, kitchen and to the right collection point.
Ashleigh Telling, Head of IT, Boparan
The benefits
On an individual outlet level, it enables Slim Chickens’ head chefs to see the average ticket time via the reports dashboard and ensure food is going out quickly. The head chefs can check this throughout the day to ensure their kitchens are running smoothly. At head office level the reports give them an overview of each site enabling them to benchmark on performance.
- Streamlines kitchen operations
- Seamless flow between orders from multiple points to collection screens
- Collection screens work so well in current trading conditions for social distancing (separate call out)
- Easy to configure and set up
- Easy to redirect different items to different screens on less busy days
- Easy to manage errors
- Excellent reporting - see average ticket time, average minutes per status
- Identify pinch points - a dish that slows up service
- Identify busy periods and staff accordingly
- Printers for takeaway orders identifying what’s in the bag = adds to customer experience