From Quick Fixes to Scalable Solutions — How LabFox Helped GrapeVine Streamline Restaurant Operations
How LabFox supported GrapeVine in building smart kitchen management software, from low-code prototypes to full-scale web applications.
The Background
GrapeVine Inc. is an early-stage startup on a mission to simplify back-of-house restaurant operations. Founded by Ben Faurer, a seasoned head chef with decades of hands-on kitchen experience, GrapeVine set out to digitize the tedious but essential workflows behind prep-sheet management, inventory tracking, and order fulfillment. Ben and his team of like-minded investors had deep domain expertise in hospitality, but needed a capable engineering partner to bring their vision to life. That's when they partnered with LabFox.
The Partnership
LabFox entered the engagement with a flexible strategy: start lean, test fast, and scale smart.
UI/UX Design
Full-stack Product Development
Low-Code/No-Code Development
Project Management
Key Features Delivered:
Fast MVP Development
Quickly built low-code/no-code solutions that addressed key pain points in restaurant operations, rolled out to beta testers for feedback.
Iterative Testing & Validation
MVP solutions were tested with real users to validate usability, gather feedback, and gauge traction before investing in full product development.
Full-Scale Web Application
After successful testing and iteration, developed a comprehensive web application incorporating all validated features and more.
Kitchen Workflow Optimization
Created systems for streamlining prep-sheet management, inventory tracking, and order fulfillment to reduce manual kitchen overhead.
Tackling Challenges Together
While LabFox handled much of the overhead Sarus sought to avoid, the partnership was not without its hurdles:
Rapid Prototyping Requirements
GrapeVine's initial requirement to test fast with low-code solutions required expanding the talent pool to include low-code specialists and rapid onboarding of new developers.
Balancing Speed with Scalability
The project required blending fast prototyping with long-term architecture planning to ensure early solutions could evolve into a robust platform.
Team Adaptation
LabFox quickly responded by hiring two dedicated low-code/no-code developers, ensuring GrapeVine's early product vision could be tested efficiently without sacrificing quality.
The Result
LabFox successfully delivered and tested several low-code solutions in Phase 1, helping validate GrapeVine's concept with early users. The project has since progressed into full-scale web application development, with core modules already live and others in the pipeline. The new system, simply named GrapeVine, is already helping reduce manual kitchen overhead, streamline inventory workflows, and improve day-to-day prep processes. With a validated concept, scalable infrastructure, and a user-first design, GrapeVine is now positioned to modernize how kitchens operate — and LabFox continues to be its engineering partner through the journey.
What's Next
With Lift-Pro successfully launched, Sarus is exploring next-gen features:
AI-powered demand forecasting
Integration with delivery platforms
Enhanced supplier management features
Mobile kitchen management tools
The groundwork is laid for Sarus to scale into a category leader — and LabFox remains a key partner on that journey.
TL;DR – Quick Snapshot
Who They Are:
GrapeVine is a restaurant operations startup founded by a veteran head chef to digitize kitchen workflows.
Challenges Solved:
- Quick validation using low-code/no-code solutions
- Hiring talent beyond traditional software stacks
- Bridging MVP testing and long-term product scaling
LabFox Delivered:
- Low-code solutions for beta testing
- UI/UX, full-stack, and project management support
- Dedicated low-code/no-code hires
- Ongoing development of the full GrapeVine web application
Industry:
Restaurant Technology
Services:
- Full-Stack Development
- Low-Code/No-Code Development
- Project Management
Timeline:
Ongoing partnership
Key Outcome:
Validated concept with successful beta testing, progression to full-scale web application development
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