Taco Lulú, a vibrant Mexican eatery in downtown Chicago, was already serving up fresh, bold flavors to its customers. But when it came to catering, owner Michael Stadnicki saw an untapped opportunity—one that CaterZen's catering software helped him seize in a big way.
From Third-Party Dependence to In-House Growth
Before CaterZen, Taco Lulú relied heavily on ezCater to bring in catering orders. While this brought in business, it left them at the mercy of a third-party platform, limiting their ability to build direct relationships with clients. Without their own online platform, they had to develop their own system to capture catering orders and build an internal database—something that wasn’t possible until they adopted CaterZen.
That all changed when Stadnicki discovered CaterZen. With CaterZen’s online ordering system and robust customer database manager, Taco Lulú could finally take control of its catering pipeline, nurture client relationships, and leverage targeted marketing strategies—rather than just hoping for more third-party orders.
"Using CaterZen [provided] an explosion in our catering growth. We average on a monthly basis approximately $35,000 in monthly online orders that are directly attributed to the customers' interaction with CaterZen."
Michael Stadnicki, Owner, Taco Lulú
The Game-Changing Features That Drive Results
CaterZen provided Taco Lulú with an all-in-one solution that streamlined everything from order placement to kitchen prep. The following features became essential in helping them scale their catering operations efficiently and profitably.
Instant Invoicing & Seamless Communication
CaterZen’s instant invoicing allowed Taco Lulú’s office admins to quickly place orders and automatically generate invoices. This eliminated bottlenecks, ensuring a smooth, professional experience for both staff and customers.
Not only that, but real-time text and email alerts kept the management team in the loop whenever a new order came in—no more scrambling to keep track of incoming requests.
Kitchen Production Reports for Precision & Consistency
One of the biggest challenges in catering is portion control—ensuring that each order is prepped accurately, whether it’s for a group of ten or a thousand. CaterZen’s kitchen production reports gave Taco Lulú a clear, itemized breakdown of exactly how much product was needed per order.
This data-driven approach guaranteed consistency and reduced waste, helping the team deliver the same high-quality experience to every guest.
Marketing & Customer Retention Tools
Instead of passively waiting for new catering customers, Taco Lulú took a proactive approach by leveraging Google Ads in combination with CaterZen’s CRM tools. This allowed them to attract and nurture their own catering clients, rather than relying on ezCater’s database.
Explosive Growth in Catering Sales
With CaterZen fully integrated into their operations, Taco Lulú’s catering sales skyrocketed.
- $35,000 per month in online catering orders directly attributed to CaterZen
- A crucial revenue stream in a post-COVID market where downtown office traffic is still recovering
- Increased brand exposure as new catering customers discovered Taco Lulú’s offerings
A Competitive Edge Over Third-Party Marketplaces
For restaurants competing with platforms like ezCater and ZeroCater, having an independent catering system is crucial. CaterZen gave Taco Lulú the power to:
- Own their customer data
- Build direct relationships with catering clients
- Run targeted marketing campaigns
- Reduce reliance on commission-based third-party orders
“Catering has been a really important aspect of the business that we need to rely on to grow,” Stadnicki explains. “It’s also an opportunity for us to have new customers try our food.”
🎙️ Listen to the Restaurant Catering Smarts Podcast!
I’m bringing expert advice, actionable strategies, and real-life success stories straight to your ears! Restaurant Catering Smarts is my brand-new podcast designed to help you master the business of catering.
We’ve already dropped two episodes packed with game-changing insights to scale your catering business. And we’re just getting started! This inaugural season is loaded with interviews from top catering pros and industry luminaries, including an upcoming episode featuring Michael Stadnicki of Taco Lulú —you won’t want to miss it.
📲 Listen & Subscribe to stay ahead of the curve, and level up your catering game!
🔗 Amazon Music | 🔗 Spotify | 🔗 YouTube Podcasts | 🔗 Apple Podcasts
Stay connected for exclusive content and expert insights:
🔗 LinkedIn | 🔗 Facebook | 🔗 Instagram | 🔗 Twitter/X
Final Verdict: Why CaterZen Is a No-Brainer
Ready to take control of your catering sales like Taco Lulú did? With CaterZen, you can build your own catering platform, streamline operations, and drive serious revenue—without relying on third-party marketplaces.
Don’t just take our word for it—see how other caterers have scaled their business with CaterZen by exploring our client testimonials and case studies.
The next success story could be yours. Start your free trial today or schedule a personalized product walkthrough with our team. Let us show you how CaterZen can revolutionize your catering business and help you reach your goals faster than ever.
