Vourla Mediterranean Grill & Cafe Boosts Profits with Commission-Free Online Ordering

Vourla Mediterranean Grill & Cafe is a restaurant specializing in Turkish cuisine and various Mediterranean dishes, located in Naples, Florida. Established in 2019, the restaurant is owned and managed by Ekrem Ilhan, who combines his background as an engineer with restaurant operations to deliver authentic flavors to local diners.

Vourla faced the challenge of maintaining profitability while competing in a crowded delivery marketplace. Looking for solutions to these challenges, Ekrem turned to ChowNow to help reduce commission fees and provide a better ordering experience for his customers.

The Challenge of High Commission Rates

Before partnering with ChowNow, Vourla Mediterranean Grill & Cafe was dealing with the burden of high commission rates from third-party delivery platforms. These fees were cutting significantly into their profits, making it difficult to sustain the business in an environment of rising costs.

“The biggest challenges we were having were the high commission rates,” explained Ekrem. “Grubhub and Uber Eats are dominating the market, and their fees are very high.” Like many restaurant owners, Ekrem was finding it difficult to balance increasing expenses with the need to maintain reasonable pricing for customers.

What Vourla needed was a solution that would allow them to continue offering online ordering without sacrificing their profit margins, a direct ordering platform that charged flat fees rather than percentages of each sale.

Finding a Zero-Commission Solution

Ekrem was immediately drawn to ChowNow’s zero-commission model. “I checked all the options available, and then we came across ChowNow. That was the first thing catching my eye, zero commission,” he shared.

As someone with a technical background, Ekrem also appreciated ChowNow’s advanced technology. “Your tech is also very advanced. That’s another thing I liked about ChowNow,” he noted. The platform’s ease of use was particularly important since it meant his staff could quickly adapt to the system without extensive training.

“Our order volume increased with ChowNow,” Ekrem explained. This growth allowed Vourla to establish a stronger online presence without the financial burden of percentage-based commissions.

Driving Sales and Simplifying Operations

Since implementing ChowNow, Vourla has established a streamlined approach to online ordering that fits seamlessly with their business model. “The ordering system is good. The orders come in right away,” Ekrem observed, highlighting how the platform works efficiently without complications.

This simplicity has been valuable for Vourla, adding a reliable revenue channel to their operation. The restaurant has had a 31% increase in average order value over the past year.

ChowNow’s system has made daily operations much smoother for Vourla’s team. “Its ease of use is great. It doesn’t require professional skills,” Ekrem noted. “My guys can handle the orders, they handle the packaging, it’s easy. ChowNow orders are easy to understand.”

The dependability of the platform stands out as a major benefit. Vourla has enjoyed consistent, problem-free operations with ChowNow orders, allowing them to concentrate on their specialty, preparing authentic Mediterranean cuisine.

Seamless Onboarding and Reliable Customer Support

Ekrem highlighted the efficiency of ChowNow’s onboarding process, allowing Vourla Mediterranean Grill & Cafe to quickly integrate and start taking orders. “The whole process was quick and efficient,” he shared. “It didn’t require additional professional or technical expertise, which made it really easy for my team and me.”