New onboarding sprints, a catering boom, and the rise of first-party digital fuel Lunchbox's momentum.
NEW YORK, July 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Restaurants aren't waiting anymore. They're launching—and fast.
Lunchbox, the enterprise restaurant platform, announced a record number of go-lives and new enterprise signatures in the first half of 2025, driven by a growing appetite for digital ordering, first-party catering, and streamlined guest engagement. Brands like Nick the Greek, Vertex Hospitality, Pei Wei, and Hawaiian Bros have onboarded with the growing enterprise provider. These rapid deployments reflect both a shift in restaurant priorities and an internal transformation at Lunchbox, which has restructured its engineering and onboarding teams around speed, precision, and impact.
In an industry where time is money, operators are finding urgency in the numbers. According to Square, 88% of restaurants now say online ordering is essential to their business. And catering is increasingly leading the charge, not just as a side channel, but as a core growth engine. Fast casual chains that actively promote catering see 30–40% higher check averages—topping $500 per check—and more recurring orders on Lunchbox.
Building for Urgency
To meet this momentum, Lunchbox overhauled its launch process, introducing 90-day go-live sprints, agile pod teams, and new tooling to move from signed to live in weeks, not quarters. "Operators don't need another endless implementation cycle," said James Walker, CEO of Lunchbox. "They need to go live, collect data, and start driving revenue." Since joining Lunchbox as CEO earlier this year, Walker has rallied the team's focus on faster, more efficient launches for its customers.
Recent launches highlight the impact of this operational shift:
In addition to speed to launch, Lunchbox is innovating faster than before, introducing new rollouts such as:
The brand is doubling down on building for operators, giving customers direct input and a seat at the table when it comes to the product roadmap.
The Bigger Picture
Behind the urgency is a broader shift: Restaurants are prioritizing owned digital infrastructure. After years of over-reliance on third-party marketplaces, operators are re-investing in first-party channels that let them control guest data, launch campaigns quickly, and build long-term loyalty.
According to Technomic, 61% of operators say off-premises optimization is a top strategic priority in 2025. And app ordering? Still climbing. Deloitte reports that 57% of diners prefer to order digitally from a restaurant's own website or app, citing convenience, rewards, and personalization.
Lunchbox has made platform efficiency a priority in response. Its onboarding model now mirrors the go-to-market tempo of high-growth restaurant brands, moving from centralized playbooks to agile, brand-specific launch sprints.
"This isn't just about fast launches," said Walker. "It's about helping brands meet the moment. Guests expect seamless digital experiences. Operators expect speed. We've rebuilt around both."
About Lunchbox
Lunchbox is the premier restaurant technology solution for enterprise brands, enabling them to scale their digital presence efficiently. With a suite of products specializing in app and web ordering, catering, order aggregation, guest engagement, marketing, and an open API platform, Lunchbox empowers over 5,000+ restaurant locations nationwide, including Firehouse Subs, Pei Wei, BRIX Holdings, and Clean Juice. For more information, visit www.lunchbox.io.
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SOURCE Lunchbox
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