Leawood-based online restaurant platform Menufy acquired by hungry Houston cloud company

A rapidly scaling Leawood tech company that helped dozens of Kansas City restaurants, as well as eateries across 3,000 other cities, survive the pandemic has sold to a Houston-based cloud software provider for the restaurant industry.

Sharmil Desai, Menufy

Menufy’s vast online food ordering platform and network is expected to be incorporated into the HungerRush 360 cloud POS system as part of the undisclosed deal, which was announced Tuesday morning. The move is expected to help tens of thousands of restaurants grow their businesses, expand their capabilities and improve their profit margins, the companies said in a press release.

Click here to read more about how Menufy scaled its operations with a diverse team built in Kansas City.

“HungerRush opens a multitude of doors for the Menufy team and our customers,” said Sharmil Desai, co-founder and CEO of Menufy. “By joining a company with an impressive roster of both technology offerings and restaurant customers, Menufy’s customers now have access to a holistic suite of solutions and deep industry expertise designed to strengthen restaurant operations and improve business outcomes. Together, HungerRush and Menufy will bring restaurateurs seamless mobile and online ordering capabilities, with the goal of ultimately empowering them to grow independently and rapidly.”

Since 2009, Menufy has been helping independently-owned restaurants drive both growth and profitability through transparent pricing, a compelling online website and mobile app ordering experience designed around a restaurant’s brand. Menufy is led by Desai and Susan Escher, CFO and head of strategy.

The company supports more than 12,000 independently owned restaurants and was named one of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’ 2021 Top 10 Small Businesses — putting the company in the running for its coveted Mr. K Small Business of the Year Award.

Ashishh Desai, Menufy

Menufy’s foundation of adaptability is one of the key reasons the bootstrapped-company thrived in the heaviest days of the pandemic,  co-founder and director of sales Ashishh Desai told Startland News this summer, citing a quick rollout of features that streamlined curbside delivery and contactless pickup services for locally owned restaurants in 3,000 cities nationwide. 

“From the beginning, we’ve always talked to our clients about what they needed and just adjusted the software to make sure we’re meeting the needs of the majority of our customers,” he said.

In addition to having access to HungerRush’s cloud POS system, Menufy’s customers now will have access to additional integrated cloud solutions including AI-driven text ordering, marketing and delivery.

Click here to learn more about HungerRush and its focus on data-driven restaurant management, and machine learning-empowered ordering solutions

“Today’s news to acquire Menufy further builds out our portfolio with the talent and technology capabilities to continue meeting the fast-growing needs of our restaurant customers,” said Perry Turbes, CEO of HungerRush. “The addition of Menufy’s proven online ordering offerings further helps HungerRush’s customers navigate an ever-changing industry landscape. This is a time when restaurants are embracing innovation and digital solutions more than ever. This acquisition expands HungerRush’s market presence and allows us to offer our combined customers one place for a complete all-in-one solution.”

This story is possible thanks to support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, a private, nonpartisan foundation that works together with communities in education and entrepreneurship to create uncommon solutions and empower people to shape their futures and be successful.

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