Building consistency from day one

Building one that can grow sustainably is no easy task.

For Luciana and Ignacio, that meant investing in technology that would make day-to-day operations simpler from the very beginning.

“We care deeply about building strong systems, supporting our team and creating a place that feels good for both staff and customers.”

Lightspeed was recommended by a trusted business consultant, while its integration with Loaded made it a natural fit for the way Fresca wanted to operate.

The team quickly found the platform easy to implement, with an intuitive interface that reduced training time and helped new staff build confidence faster.

“Overall, (Lightspeed has) been reliable, intuitive and easy for staff to learn.”

As a business with between 10 and 14 staff depending on the season, simplicity matters. Fast menu updates, smooth order flow and dependable support all help the team stay focused on delivering a consistent customer experience rather than troubleshooting technology.

Looking ahead, those systems will become even more important as Fresca prepares to expand beyond its first location.

Using data to make better decisions

Luciana and Ignacio lean on their technology to give them better visibility into the business behind it and, in turn, deliver better hospitality to their customers.

“Technology gives us consistency, visibility and control,” they say. “It reduces manual work, supports training and helps us make decisions based on data rather than guesswork.”

Each day, the team uses Lightspeed reporting to monitor sales, understand trading patterns and identify opportunities to improve operations.

Sales Summary, Product Sales and Hourly Performance reports have become part of the daily rhythm of running the business, helping the team monitor revenue, average transaction values and peak trading periods.

Those insights also influence decisions beyond the front counter.

“Clear visibility on best-sellers and slow movers has helped us refine the menu and reduce waste.”

With food costs continuing to fluctuate across hospitality, understanding which dishes perform best helps Fresca maintain generous portions while keeping a close eye on costs and reducing unnecessary waste.

Laying the foundations for sustainable growth

Although Fresca is still in its first year, Luciana and Ignacio are already thinking about what’s next.

Their priorities include improving speed of service during busy periods, strengthening staff training, streamlining reporting and preparing the business for multiple locations.

For them, choosing the right technology partner wasn’t simply about finding a point of sale system. It was about investing in infrastructure that could grow alongside the business.

Reliability, strong reporting, seamless integrations and responsive support remain the qualities they value most, alongside a platform that continues to evolve with the hospitality industry.

Their long-term vision is clear: refine the Wānaka operation, expand into Queenstown and build a brand recognised for consistency, value and a genuinely positive team culture.

For Luciana and Ignacio, every bowl of pasta begins with simple ingredients. They believe building a great hospitality business should follow the same philosophy.

By combining handcrafted food with thoughtful systems and reliable technology, Fresca is creating a business that’s built not only for today’s service, but for tomorrow’s growth.