Today, I'm beyond excited to share something we've been cooking up at Zitti for over a year now – the launch of Chat Z, the world's first AI-powered procurement assistant designed just for restaurants. This is more than a new product. It's a revolution in how restaurants manage procurement.
I grew up in a family of restaurateurs and launched my career in tech before opening a restaurant of my own. I've experienced the pain points in the food supply chain firsthand, which have remained unchanged for decades. With food costs eating up about one-third of a restaurant's revenue and the wholesale food market being as complex as it is, independent operators struggle across the board. My family's restaurant, DiCicco’s in Fresno, California, was no exception, especially with the frequent, unexpected, and opaque price changes on products from our food distributors – which, when you’re operating on such narrow margins, can gut even the most successful restaurants. That's why we built Chat Z: to give restaurant operators the kind of data access that was unimaginable before, making it possible to slash food costs and boost profitability in seconds.
In December 2023, we rolled out our “2023 in a bite” report, which was a deep dive into the insights gleaned from the usage of our Order Guide and Order Management products. The findings were eye-opening – an average markup of 27% on food costs! But unlike when I was growing up, a technology-enabled solution to this industry-wide problem is finally possible. With Chat Z, we're making it easier than ever for restaurants to get ahead of these markups, offering a way to navigate procurement with the kind of insight that's been sorely missing in the industry.
What Makes Chat Z Stand Out?
Chat Z isn't just another digital tool; it's like having an AI Sous Chef by your side, ready to dissect your order guide data and uncover pricing insights, from average costs and vendor price variances to market pricing and potential savings. It's designed to be your ally in the vast and often murky $340 billion wholesale food market, surfacing key insights in seconds in response to your questions.
This launch is a big deal for us at Zitti, but it's an even bigger deal for the restaurant industry. It represents a leap forward in applying vertical-specific AI solutions to real-world challenges. The restaurant industry, with its unique data intricacies, is ripe for such innovation. Chat Z is our answer to that need, powered by the rich, first-party data we've gathered through our Order Guide product.
Looking Ahead
The introduction of Chat Z is a huge milestone for us at Zitti and for restaurants across the country. It embodies our mission to demystify the food procurement process, offering a tool that brings critical data right to the fingertips of restaurant operators. This isn't just about technological innovation; it's about paving the way toward a future where fair and transparent procurement practices are within reach for every restaurant, which will in turn help fortify the entire foodservice industry against unexpected economic events in the future.
This is a tremendous step for us at Zitti, but it’s only the first of many. Our ongoing commitment to innovation will be realized as we continue to enhance Chat Z by diving even deeper into industry-wide pricing trends, regional comparisons, and operational efficiencies.
To all the restaurant operators out there, Chat Z is for you. It's for your hard work, your dedication, and your relentless pursuit of excellence in a challenging industry. We're here to support you, to empower you, and to help you thrive.
Thanks for being part of this journey. Let's transform the restaurant industry together.
Cheers,
Dante
