App Profile: UG: Urban Gourmet

The concept emerged from a group of independent Finnish restaurateurs battling with rising costs in rents, supplies, and the difficulty of recruiting new personnel. In Finland, everyone now carries a smartphone, so the first UG innovation was to put the whole process of presenting menus, ordering and paying online. This reduces the number of trained floor staff, the handling of transactions (and the unhygienic handling of cash), and enables faster sales analysis.

The second innovation is to offer restaurant possibilities to newcomers. Many people interested in food have a dream of opening their own restaurant. But, as anyone who has researched the business knows, the investment of money, time and skills is daunting. A new restaurateur must find the right location for their offering, commit to a long lease, design and install the new interior, acquire furniture, and install the equipment for a modern kitchen. Then they must find reliable suppliers, get the relevant trading licenses, and handle other officialdom. Waiters and bar staff have to be hired, and finally, they must plan and execute a campaign to advertise their restaurant. These are often huge costs before even the first plate of their delicious food is sold.

The UG Group offers a much easier entry into the restaurant business - a fully equipped kitchen in an excellent location, ready to serve. The only challenges are the menu, and running and staffing their kitchen. UG supplies everything else, including advice on pricing, operation and presentation. Each kitchen pays a commission on sales.