For Jay, who oversees 15 Firehouse Subs locations across three states, catering wasn’t just a side business—it was the most profitable part of his operation. He knew if he could scale catering across his locations, it would have the biggest impact on his bottom line. That’s when he turned to CaterZen.
A Push Toward Catering Growth
When sales in other areas began to dip, Jay doubled down on catering. He hired a dedicated catering salesperson, but he knew one person couldn’t do it all. They needed a system to store client data, streamline invoicing, and create repeat business.
CaterZen gave Jay and his team the foundation they needed. With simple monthly pricing, the software paid for itself as soon as catering crossed a modest sales threshold. More importantly, it gave them the tools to grow.
"One of the biggest benefits is the cost savings and allowing us to have larger margins to operate within, which makes us way more profitable."
Jay Andrews, Franchise Owner of Firehouse Subs
Client Data as a Growth Engine
One of the biggest changes CaterZen brought was giving Jay’s team access to - and control of - their client data. Instead of just processing orders, his catering salesperson could actively re-engage clients. By reminding past customers of their previous orders and encouraging them to reorder, Jay’s team has been able to consistently generate repeat business.
The team now uses CaterZen’s catering CRM to group clients for targeted outreach. Whether it’s Teacher Appreciation Week or Secretary’s Day, Jay’s locations can send the right message to the right clients at the right time.
Flexibility That Increases Margins
CaterZen also allowed Jay to be flexible in what he offers repeat clients. Some preferred a small reward, while others valued discounts. That flexibility, paired with the ability to easily send invoices through CaterZen, gave him more room to keep customers happy and loyal - without sacrificing profitability.
On top of that, catering orders improved his labor costs. As Jay explained, food costs stay about the same, but catering reduces labor expenses by 15–18%, which goes straight to the bottom line.
Tremendous Growth Across 15 Locations
Since adopting CaterZen, the results have been clear:
- Catering has grown from under 3% to 60% of total sales.
- Labor costs dropped by 15–18% on catering orders.
- Margins increased significantly, making catering the most profitable part of the business.
And because all client data is stored in CaterZen, Jay doesn’t have to worry about losing business if a salesperson leaves. The CRM provides a safety net, making it easy to transition and keep momentum going.
Ease of Use and Reliable Support
While Jay’s catering manager is in the software daily, Jay himself only checks in weekly or bi-weekly. Even so, he’s able to stay on top of sales and performance without extra stress. He describes CaterZen as easy to navigate, even for someone who doesn’t consider themselves tech-savvy, and he values how quickly the support team responds whenever his manager has a question.
Scaling Multi-Unit Catering Success
For Jay, running catering across 15 Firehouse Subs locations is no small challenge. But with CaterZen, he’s been able to not just manage it—he’s grown it into the most profitable part of his operation.
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Managing catering shouldn’t feel like a second full-time job. CaterZen takes the stress off your plate so you can focus on growing your business.
Want more proof? Check out our client testimonials and case studies to hear firsthand from caterers who have transformed their businesses with CaterZen.
