Lil Ava’s Pizza, a beloved Canadian franchise with nine locations, has been serving delicious pizza and Italian cuisine since 2012.
Partnering with UpMenu in 2021, the franchise set out to strengthen its online presence, streamline multi-location management, and cut costs from third-party delivery fees.
This case study highlights how UpMenu’s digital solutions helped Lil Ava’s Pizza achieve these goals with impressive results.
About Lil Ava’s Pizza
Name: Lil Ava’s Pizza
Location: Canada
Franchise: 9 locations across the country
Website: www.lilavas.ca
Started with UpMenu: 2021
Opening date: 2012
Offerings: Pizza, pasta, Italian cuisine
Objectives
Lil Ava’s Pizza partnered with UpMenu with clear objectives aimed at boosting growth, efficiency, and profitability across their franchise network.
- Establish a strong online presence: Build recognition for the entire franchise and attract new franchisees.
- Reduce third-party commission costs: Minimize fees from food delivery platforms to increase profitability.
- Improve operational efficiency: Streamline management across multiple restaurant locations.
- Optimize marketing efforts: Boost customer engagement and loyalty through targeted campaigns.
Solutions
With UpMenu’s versatile platform, Lil Ava’s Pizza implemented a range of tailored solutions to meet their specific operational and growth needs:
1. Online Ordering System
By implementing UpMenu’s online ordering system, Lil Ava’s Pizza offered customers a seamless way to order directly from their website, avoiding the extra costs of third-party delivery platforms.
This solution not only cut expenses but also helped maintain control over customer data and the ordering experience.
2. Branded mobile app
Lil Ava’s Pizza launched a custom-branded restaurant mobile app through UpMenu. This app allows customers to order directly, encourages brand loyalty, and further reduces commission costs by bypassing third-party platforms.
The app has become a key tool for driving repeat orders and expanding brand recognition among loyal patrons.
In addition, the mobile app is generating now more than 27% of all orders.
3. Multi-location restaurant website
With UpMenu’s restaurant website builder, Lil Ava’s Pizza established a professional, user-friendly website with integrated online ordering.
This integration supports a smooth customer experience, increases order frequency, and reflects the brand’s unique identity.
4. Restaurant marketing tools
UpMenu’s suite of restaurant marketing tools empowered Lil Ava’s Pizza to engage customers through loyalty programs, recommendations, and automated emails, SMS, and push notifications.
Here are the items that you can redeem by collecting points in Lil Ava’s Pizza loyalty program:
These tools helped Lil Ava’s Pizza build stronger relationships with its customers and encourage repeat business through tailored promotions and incentives.
Here is an example of how automated messaging campaigns can work:
5. Chain management system
Managing a franchise with multiple locations can be challenging, but UpMenu’s chain management system made it easier for Lil Ava’s Pizza to oversee every restaurant in a single dashboard.
Franchise owners could control operations separately or collectively, with customizable user access levels that enhanced both security and operational efficiency.
Results
Since partnering with UpMenu, Lil Ava’s Pizza has seen significant success from 1 January to 11 November 2024:
- Orders: 16,567
- Revenue: $1,112,451.95
- Savings on third-party fees: $166,867.79 (based on an average 15% commission rate)
- Customer engagement: Boosted repeat orders through the branded mobile app, accounting for 27% of all orders, alongside an efficient multi-location direct ordering system.
These outstanding results highlight the power of a dedicated online ordering platform to drive revenue, boost customer engagement, and minimize dependence on expensive third-party services.
“UpMenu has completely transformed our operations and customer engagement. The online ordering platform and branded app have driven repeat orders, cut down on third-party fees, and strengthened our brand presence. Their marketing tools—like the loyalty program and automated messaging—have helped us build lasting relationships with our customers and keep them coming back. UpMenu has been essential to our growth and efficiency.“
George Abraham owner of Lil Ava’s Pizza franchise
Conclusion
In summary, UpMenu’s platform provided Lil Ava’s Pizza with the following benefits:
- Expanded online presence: Helped attract new customers and potential franchisees.
- Significant cost savings: Reduced third-party commission fees, leading to higher profitability.
- Enhanced operational efficiency: Simplified multi-location management through a unified dashboard.
- Increased customer engagement: Strengthened loyalty with targeted marketing tools and direct ordering options.
- Boosted revenue and conversions: Achieved higher order volumes and conversion rates, driving sustained revenue growth.
Lil Ava’s Pizza’s success story showcases how UpMenu’s all-in-one solution can empower franchises to achieve higher profitability, brand recognition, and operational efficiency.
