Hook & Ladder is one of Ireland’s leading, family-run hospitality groups, with eateries in Waterford, Limerick and Dublin. On top of its delicious artisan food, the business runs barista courses, runs a catering operation, and has a fleet of vintage coffee vans.
So it’s safe to say that Hook & Ladder have had their share of successes, as well as failures. But facing hurdles is where they have learned what works and what to improve to ensure success.
So what exactly were the challenges Hook & Ladder faced — and how did Nory help?
Let’s find out.
THE CHALLENGE
With numbers dwindling during the pandemic and costs rising with inflation, business was harder than ever before. It was during this time that Andrew Moloney (Managing Director at Hook & Ladder) started thinking about how to combat these challenges.
The one thing he realised they were missing? Real-time data. The business simply didn’t have the insight it needed to make fast, informed decisions to increase margins.
“Like most hospitality businesses, we were penny pinching during the pandemic. That’s when we realised we didn’t have the real-time data they needed to make informed decisions and align staff to demand, ultimately cutting costs.” – Andrew Moloney, Managing Director at Hook & Ladder.
THE SOLUTION
Andrew came across Nory on LinkedIn. After doing some research, he couldn’t find anything else that offered all the features he needed in one system. Nory was the best option on the market.
Since then, Hook & Ladder hasn’t looked back. With Nory’s real-time insights, the business now has access to valuable data that improves operations and boosts profitability.
For example, instead of waiting a week (or in some cases, a month) for key performance data, managers at every location can now see their performance in real-time in Nory. As a result, they can make fast decisions about spending and scheduling to ensure the site is as profitable as possible.
The results? An 4% increase in gross profit margins across locations.
Accessing live data means we can make smart decisions about our scheduling, spending, and so on. As a result, we’ve seen a 4% improvement in GP across the business. As a result, we’re a more efficient company. It’s a great feeling to drive profitability in the right direction.
Seeing real-time performance on Nory’s mobile app also provides freedom for management to do their jobs more effectively. For example:
- Managers on the ground spend less time trawling through spreadsheets and more time managing the day-to-day operations at an eatery level
- Senior managers can focus on running the business from a high-level by accessing valuable insights at a single glance.
As a result, management can be more efficient with their time, make fast decisions, and increase profitability.
Not to mention, Nory provides the senior team with a clear overview of each site’s performance. If spending is high or sales are low, Andrew can reach out to the site directly to check in and see what’s going on.
Reducing food waste has been another huge benefit to the business.
Nory’s AI software analyses Hook & Ladder’s sales to predict exactly what ingredients each venue needs to meet customer demand. These predictions helped each location optimise its inventory orders, reducing waste and improving gross profit margins.
Side note: Andrew has found that showing restaurant managers how Nory can reduce food waste is a great way to encourage support and buy-in for new technology.
“While customers remain our priority, Nory helps our managers make data-driven decisions around purchasing and scheduling. We’re becoming more KPI-focused as a result.” Andrew Moloney, Managing Director at Hook & Ladder.
Predicting customer demand has also helped Hook & Ladder optimise its labour scheduling. By knowing how many staff are needed during each shift, each venue can schedule shifts as efficiently as possible.
The results? A significant reduction in cost of labour.
Since using Nory, Hook & Ladder have seen a much more stable and consistent performance across all sites. While much of the industry is struggling to keep margins healthy, Hook & Ladder are confident in knowing they’re sustaining a healthy profit margin using Nory’s insights.
Find out more about how Hook & Ladder overcome restaurant challenges with Nory.
Reach out to the team at Nory to book a call and schedule a demo!
