Case Study:
Hello Moose Liverpool
Operational Overhaul, Cost Control & Digital Optimisation
Hello Moose Liverpool is a well-known neighbourhood café with strong potential and an established customer base — but like many busy venues, rising costs and structural inefficiencies were eroding profit. Coffee Ideology was engaged to analyse, restructure, and strengthen the business across operations, costing, labour management, and digital ordering.
Our Approach & Solutions
1. Operational Structure & Workflow Redesign
Our first task was to assess the day-to-day running of the café and identify inefficiencies in both FOH and BOH.
We delivered a full operational restructure, including:
Kitchen workflow redesign to reduce bottlenecks
FOH service structure and clear role allocation
New opening, closing, and shift routines
Prep lists, batch systems, and par levels
Inventory management and ordering strategies
This created consistency across all shifts and reduced labour pressure during peak periods.
2. COGS Reduction Through Menu & Purchasing Review
A detailed COGS audit revealed excessive ingredient range, poor cross-utilisation, and inflated purchasing costs.
We implemented:
Simplified ingredient lists
Better supplier alignment
Removal of low-margin items
Standardised prep and portioning
Improved ordering cadence to reduce waste
These changes significantly improved gross margin and brought COGS back in line with industry standards.
3. Labour Cost Reduction & Efficiency Gains
By analysing hourly sales patterns, we identified over-rostering during slow periods and gaps in service coverage during peak times.
We delivered:
A new roster model aligned with revenue patterns
Clear labour benchmarks
Structured shift roles and responsibilities
Simplified service flow to reduce labour intensity
The result was reduced weekly wage percentages without compromising customer experience.
4. QR Code Ordering System Setup
To improve order accuracy, speed, and average spend, we built a complete QR ordering menu customised for Hello Moose.
This included:
Menu structure and upsell prompts
Add-on logic to increase order value
Clear product descriptions and imagery
Backend setup and user-friendly workflow
Staff training on QR integration
The new system reduced FOH labour pressure and increased average order value.
5. Marketing Strategy for Customer Growth
To drive additional foot traffic and strengthen the brand’s local presence, we implemented a practical, café-specific marketing plan.
This included:
Google Business optimisation
Local area marketing
Social media content pillars
Engagement systems and community strategy
Review-generation workflows
These digital improvements helped Hello Moose attract new customers and increase repeat visitation.
The Outcome
Following the implementation of Coffee Ideology recommendations, Hello Moose Liverpool achieved:
Lower COGS and stronger margins
Reduced labour cost percentage
Faster, more consistent service flow
Higher average spend via QR ordering
Improved online visibility and community engagement
A stronger, more sustainable operating model
The business now operates with clarity, efficiency, and a solid foundation for growth.
