The Golden Crown Panaderia in New Mexico got its start as a commercial bakery, providing baked goods to some of Albuquerque’s finest institutions. When the bakery’s owner, Chris Morales, decided to convert his commercial operation into a more traditional retail and restaurant storefront, it quickly became a local favorite but the chaotic kitchen was causing some problems.

“When we first decided to convert our business into a more traditional restaurant and retail environment, it was a learning process,” said Chris Morales, Owner. “We had never operated as a restaurant storefront before so there was a lack of inventory control, hectic kitchen activity, long lines and inconsistent food preparation.”

The bakery’s ownership recognized the need for a technology solution that would help automate their operations, so Morales began searching for a system that would be durable enough for his bustling kitchen but include the functionalities and reporting options needed for long- and short-term planning.

After evaluating several options, Golden Crown installed four kitchen display system stations equipped with Bematech LS6000 KDS Controllers, KB1700 Bump Bars and assorted monitors. The bakery also selected pcAmerica’s Restaurant Pro Express point-of-sale software.

When the customer is finished ordering at the counter, the POS system sends the data through the LS6000 Kitchen Controller to one of three food prep stations. The orders are time stamped and sent to the appropriate prep area at different times to ensure everything will be finished and served simultaneously. The selections are displayed on the monitor, broken down into a clear list of ingredients to ensure the food or beverages are prepared consistently.

The restaurant’s profit margins have increased as a result of the new inventory control management. Morales is able to view the reports and use the data to help manage ingredients more effectively by ordering and prepping only what’s needed, so fewer products go to waste.

“Lunch is our busiest time of day and the new system allows us to serve higher volumes of people faster, which means less waiting and more satisfied customers who will come back again,” said Morales. “We’ve also seen food come out more consistently prepared, so our clients can be sure that their favorite salad, pizza, sandwich or smoothie will be the same delicious experience, every time.”

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