How a national BBQ champion tripled annual revenue using an AI catering specialist

AI Receptionist

Food services

300% increase (3x)

Annual revenue

24/7 coverage

Lead availability

Unlisted to top-ranked

Search visibility

The challenge: Invisible growth and missed opportunities

The owner of King’s Barbecue is a world-class pitmaster, but he also works a full-time job as a realtor. He had a dream of scaling his BBQ business, but he lacked the time to manage frequent catering inquiries after hours or handle the complex back-and-forth required for weddings and large events. At the start of the partnership, the business had no Google presence and was effectively invisible to local searchers.

The solution: Building an AI brain for the business

Howell Studios deployed an AI Receptionist trained specifically to act as a catering specialist:

Menu mastery: The AI was programmed with the full catering menu to answer specific food questions.
Business rules: It was taught specific order minimums and event requirements to filter out low-value inquiries.
Intent targeting: The agency identified “high-intent searchers” looking for wedding caterers and funneled them directly to the AI-powered site.

The results: Tripled revenue and zero-touch bookings

The AI Receptionist began teeing up guaranteed jobs by vetting brides, grooms, and event planners while the owner was at his day job.

Revenue impact: By the end of the year, the owner realized he had tripled his annual revenue compared to the previous year.
Zero-touch leads: The owner now only steps in to send a payment link once the AI employee has finalized the catering details.
Scalable growth: With the proof of performance in hand, the client is now aiming to triple the business again this year.

“The AI receptionist handles everything from menu questions to event vetting based on the owner’s specific requirements. It’s teeing up guaranteed catering jobs in the background while the client focuses on other commitments. The result is a ‘hands-off’ sales cycle where the only requirement is sending a Stripe payment link.”

— Matt Dakin,
Chief Operating Officer at Howell Studios

FAQs

How can an AI receptionist help a catering business grow?

Vendasta’s AI receptionist drives catering growth by providing 24/7 lead capture and qualification. It masters complex menus and business rules to filter inquiries, ensuring only high-value, guaranteed jobs reach the owner. This automation allows business owners to scale revenue without increasing their administrative hours or headcount.

Does Vendasta’s AI understand custom catering menus?

Yes. Vendasta’s AI employees are trained on a business’s unique data, including specific menus, pricing, and event requirements. This allows the AI to answer nuanced questions about food options and service minimums, providing a personalized experience that converts high-intent searchers into booked catering events instantly.

Can AI manage leads while the owner is working another job?

Absolutely. As seen with King’s Barbecue, Vendasta’s AI acts as a 24/7 sales specialist. It vets leads and answers FAQs autonomously, teeing up jobs so the owner only needs to send a payment link. This enables entrepreneurs to scale side-hustles into full-time revenue engines.

How does AI improve local search rankings for local food services?

By integrating Vendasta’s AI with local SEO strategies, businesses capture traffic that would otherwise bounce. The AI engages unlisted or low-visibility traffic, converting those visitors into leads. This increased engagement signals relevance to search engines, helping the business climb to top-ranked positions in local catering searches.

What is the ROI of using an AI catering specialist?

The ROI is substantial. For example, King’s Barbecue tripled its annual revenue. By replacing manual intake with Vendasta’s automation, the business eliminated missed opportunities during off-hours. The cost of the AI is a fraction of a human hire, while the revenue capture is 24/7.

Learn more about Vendasta’s AI Receptionist

Have an AI employee available 24/7 to capture leads, answer customer questions, and provide a delightful experience that gets more customers. And keeps them.
Learn more