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

Every project comes with its unique challenges. Here's how we navigated them:

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

The foundation is set for continued growth and innovation:

AI-powered demand forecasting

Integration with delivery platforms

Enhanced supplier management features

Mobile kitchen management tools

The groundwork is laid for continued success — 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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