A move into new revenue streams within The Rick Stein Group business portfolio has stimulated the decision to transform technology systems across the company.
The existing restaurant, cookery school, retail and online shop operations have been boosted by the launch of Stein’s at Home food boxes, and Access Procure Wizard from the Access Group has been selected as the Purchase to Pay (P2P) software to manage its food and beverage procurement centrally.
David Lawley, Systems Co-ordinator at The Rick Stein Group, explained, “As we expanded into new business areas it became obvious that there was a lot of duplication between our EPoS, warehouse management and procurement systems with products and ingredients sometimes being loaded three times.
'The Stein’s at Home menu boxes have proven so popular since their introduction last summer that we recognised our growing e-commerce presence needed an improved P2P system that could keep pace with our expansion, streamline our processes and help cut costs.
“The Rick Stein Group is a long-standing customer of Access EPoS and we believe the integration that it can provide with other solutions, including Access Procure Wizard, will be a huge benefit to our business. Most of the divisions work from the same recipe ingredients, costs and planning so automating processes, reducing duplication and minimising admin time will help us become more efficient and cut costs.”
With most of the company’s restaurants, cookery school and retail outlets based in Cornwall, core trade has a seasonal bias and implementation of Access Procure Wizard has been scheduled for the Autumn to provide a smooth transfer during the traditionally quieter winter months.
Henry Seddon, Managing Director of Access Hospitality, said, “The Rick Stein Group has a clear strategy of diversification and expansion of its offer and the success of the Stein’s at Home food boxes demonstrates the importance of e-commerce to their plans.
'Access Procure Wizard will enable all aspects of purchase to pay and food and beverage control across the business to be managed through one system, reducing complexity and duplication but retaining the same high levels of quality and service that is associated with the brand.”
Lawley added, “Our relationship with Access Hospitality has developed into a genuine partnership and their flexibility and support continues to assist our business growth. We expect the introduction of Access Procure Wizard to drive further efficiencies and believe that a return on our investment will be achieved through reclamation of credits alone.
'As we continue to review our business development, the integration capability of Access Hospitality’s software will enable us to grow with seamless technology driving efficiency and consolidation of different solutions.”