CardFree Commits to No-Cost Solutions for Independent Restaurants

SAN FRANCISCO, CA— In light of the evolving nature of the coronavirus pandemic and its adverse impact to the restaurant & hospitality industry, San Francisco-based CardFree––a leading mobile commerce solution founded in 2012––is committed to offering their services for free for the first three months (or longer) to small- and medium- sized restaurants & hospitality businesses––with no strings attached. CardFree is here to help and taking it day by day with their merchant partners as they roll out new services and strive to be of service and help those restaurants and businesses who have been so severely impacted. By empowering restaurants to take control of their guest experience via a customized mobile order system, CardFree’s complimentary services offer a simple proposition—with no bait or switch, no long-term contract; and a “pay us when you can” model—providing partnership and guidance for the many operational shifts business owners are needing to make, while also providing a long- term solution to adapt and use in the months ahead as they scale back up.

According to a new survey from the James Beard Foundation, four out of five restaurant owners remain uncertain they can reopen their doors once the pandemic passes. Restaurants accounted for 60% of job losses in March—and now the total number of Americans seeking unemployment is 16.8 million. Seeing the industry reel with the challenges of operating under such strained circumstances, CardFree is dedicating its time and resources to helping businesses continue functioning within the framework of a ‘new normal,’ while controlling the experience and working directly with their customers.

Keeping both the immediate future and long game in mind, CardFree’s key differentiating services include:

• Contactless order & pay solution

• Quick implementation that also plugs into a restaurant’s existing processing systems

• Tailormade mobile integrated platform solutions that speak to each individual restaurant’s brand identity and needs

• Access to customer data and analytics to best serve patrons

• Sophisticated, easily integrated add-ons (e.g. loyalty and rewards programs, specials/offers, on- premise ordering).

“To see small businesses flailing in COVID-19’s path called for quick and significant action,” notes Jon Squire, CEO of CardFree. “We are not a multi-billion-dollar company and as a service provider to restaurants, we are feeling this pain as well. The one thing we know to do is to provide our time & technology to help hospitality businesses through this impossibly difficult time and be of service to an industry that’s been so severely impacted.”

As restaurants rapidly change their business models to comply with social-distancing and stay-at-home mandates, many have turned to contact-free solutions to continue operating. Through their contactless mobile offerings, CardFree aims to put restaurants and chefs back in the driver’s seat so they can ensure an optimal bottom line during this difficult economic period. Additionally, CardFree’s platform helps businesses have more quality control on food delivery, which has become the latest concern amongst consumers, according to a recent Eater report.

Squire further underscores CardFree’s short and long-term commitment to restaurants by emphasizing their white label partnership, which puts the restaurant’s relationship with customers, first and foremost. Secondly, CardFree’s team has worked for and enabled some of the largest brands in the space (e.g. Starbucks, Dunkin’) to become extremely successful with their digital offerings. Finally, CardFree’s team lives and breathes hospitality, and will continue to innovate as the world evolves past COVID-19, staying the course with their partners as they adjust to new operational guidelines.

Looking Ahead to the Future

An example of CardFree services that will have a newfound purpose in a post-COVID-19 era are Pay@Table® and on-premise ordering. Pay@Table® offers customers the ability to pay their checks whenever they are ready via their mobile devices, while on-premise mobile ordering enables consumers to easily add drinks and food to their orders at their table or to place orders via their phones versus using public kiosks. These two extensions of mobile capabilities will likely resonate with patrons seeking to minimize contact with elements of ordering and paying (e.g. signing bills with pens used by strangers, tapping on iPads or other devices when paying).

In a period of great strife for small business, CardFree merely seeks to provide a form of defense for restaurants and chefs looking to survive the crisis.

“We reached out to CardFree after seeing a social media post offering assistance to small businesses like ours,” says Justin Vallely, owner, chief technologist of Denver-based The Empourium Brewing Company, CardFree’ first ever craft brewery customer. “Not only did they build a tremendous online store for us in under two weeks, they did so at no cost to us. Their generosity and genuine desire to help the little guy has been so heartwarming.”

ABOUT CARDFREE

CardFree provides the only integrated solution to mobilize and enhance the customer experience for maximum ROI. Our award-winning platform provides end-to-end services to engage consumers with offers, loyalty, order ahead and payments. Headquartered in San Francisco, the company has been recognized as a “Fierce 15” company by Fierce Wireless, as having the Best Mobile Merchant Platform by Frost & Sullivan and as Best Mobile Start-up by the MEA Awards. For more information please visit www.cardfree.com or contact info@cardfree.com.

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For PR/media inquiries, please contact:

Meghan Patke/Daphne Barahona

Modern Currency PR

meghan@moderncurrencypr.com/ daphne@moderncurrencypr.com

323.377.7210

C-Star Provisions Donates All Nashville Hot Jerky Sales To Staff For Coronavirus Relief

SAN DIEGO, CA— In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, C-Star Provisions has pivoted the plan for its next specialty jerky release to support its staff at the Cowboy Star Restaurant & Butcher Shop locations in San Diego and Colorado Springs. From now until May 1, one hundred percent of profits from the pre-sale of their newest flavor, Nashville Hot, will go back to staff who have been impacted by the shutdowns.

Nashville Hot is a premium American Angus beef jerky crafted with cayenne and chili peppers, Louisiana hot sauce, and organic honey. The product is low in sodium, sugar, carbohydrates and fat, and high in protein— great for Keto and Paleo diets. 

"The days after closing both restaurants felt like the world as we knew it was coming to an end, but the unwavering spirit of the Cowboy Star team has always been the driving force behind the brand,” says Angie Weber, Cowboy Star’s Co-Owner. “Combining the launch of CStar Provisions newest jerky flavor with a team member support fund is the perfect win-win. We could not be more excited to bring our Nashville Hot Jerky to the world while supporting the team that is there for us every day.” 

C-Star Provisions also crafts American Waygu, Chimchurri, Bourbon Pepper, and Steakhouse Stout (using Karl Strauss Wreck Alley Imperial Stout) jerky flavors. “Our jerky was born at the Cowboy Star bar and everyone there has been such a huge asset in growing the C-Star Provisions brand that reciprocating their ongoing support with Nashville Hot was a no-brainer,” adds C-Star Provisions Co-Founder Andy Muntean. 

Jerky and spice lovers can pre-order at shopcstar.com. Bags of this inspired jerky cost $9.99. 

For more information about this COVID-19 relief effort or the Cowboy Star family, contact Andy Muntean at andy@shopcstar.com. 

ABOUT C-STAR PROVISIONS
C-Star Provisions is a high-end meat snacks company, specializing in wagyu and angus beef jerky. Launching in late 2018 with a highly successful crowdfunding campaign, C-Star's American Wagyu beef jerky was named the most popular food product in the world, on Kickstarter at that time. Utilizing humanely managed farms, high quality clean ingredients and mouth watering flavors, this beef jerky like any other that you've tried before. Find us online at  shopcstar.com.