How does a fish and chip shop manage pre-order collection slots?

Food-Ordering.com lets you set a maximum number of orders per time slot — for example, 8 orders per 10-minute window. When a slot fills, the next available window is offered automatically. This spreads demand across the evening rather than concentrating orders at 6pm, reduces walk-in queue pressure, and lets the kitchen plan preparation in advance.

What commission do Just Eat and Uber Eats charge chip shops?

Just Eat charges between 14% and 35% per order depending on the listing type — standard listings with their payment processing sit at approximately 14% plus card fees; featured and sponsored listings cost more. On a £15 average order, 14% commission is £2.10 per order. A chippy processing 200 online orders per week pays £420/week or approximately £21,840/year in commission. Food-Ordering.com charges a one-time licence of £3,500 with no per-order fees — typically paid back in under 3 months of commission savings.

Does Food-Ordering.com handle allergen labelling for a chip shop menu?

Yes. Every menu item carries allergen flags for all 14 major allergens including gluten (batter), fish, molluscs, and celery. Customers can filter the menu by allergen. This supports compliance with Natasha's Law and the Food Information for Consumers Regulation (FIC). The system also supports 'may contain' warnings for cross-contamination risks from shared fryers.

Can I keep my existing phone ordering alongside online ordering?

Yes. Food-Ordering.com includes a CallerID module that recognises returning customers when they phone, pulls up their previous order and address, and lets staff take the order in under 30 seconds. Online and phone orders both print to the same kitchen station and appear in the same management dashboard.

Do I still need to be on Just Eat if I have my own ordering system?

Many chip shops run both. Just Eat provides visibility to new customers who haven't heard of your shop. Your own system captures returning customers at zero commission — once a customer has ordered direct once, you can encourage them to use your link next time via a bag insert or receipt note. Over time, the direct channel grows as a proportion of total orders.

Fish & Chip Shop Ordering System — Online & Pre-Order

The chippy's ordering problem

Friday and Saturday evenings create a demand spike no queue management strategy fully solves. Phones ring constantly between 4pm and 8pm. Walk-ins stack up. Kitchen throughput maxes out. Staff are simultaneously frying, wrapping, answering the phone, and taking counter payments — and orders get missed.

Online pre-ordering with timed collection slots changes this. Customers place their order during the day or early evening and collect at a time that works for them. The kitchen sees the full order book hours in advance. Preparation can be spread rather than concentrated, and the Friday rush becomes a manageable production schedule rather than a crisis.

10,500fish & chip shops operating in the UK

£21k+annual commission cost for a mid-volume chippy on Just Eat

0%commission per order with Food-Ordering.com

How pre-order collection works

Customer visits your ordering page — on your website or via a QR code on your shop window, bags, or social media link.
Selects items and a collection time — 5:30pm, 5:45pm, 6:00pm — whichever slot still has capacity.
Pays online — card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. No cash, no change errors.
Order prints in the kitchen — at the right time for preparation, not the moment it's placed.
Customer collects in under a minute — order is ready, paid, wrapped. No counter queue.

Commission savings vs Just Eat

Scenario	Just Eat (14% + card fees)	Food-Ordering.com
200 orders/week at £15 avg	~£420/week commission	£0/week
Annual cost	~£21,840/year	£3,500 one-time licence
3-year cost	~£65,520	£3,500
Break-even	—	Under 9 weeks of commission savings

Many chippies keep their Just Eat listing for new customer discovery while migrating regular customers to their direct channel. Over 12–18 months, the direct channel typically grows to represent the majority of online order volume.

Features for fish and chip shops

Timed collection slot management

Set maximum orders per 10- or 15-minute window. Peak slots fill up; customers are offered the next available time. You control maximum throughput — no more accepting more orders than you can fry.

CallerID for phone orders

When a regular calls, their name, address, and last order appear on screen automatically. Staff take the order in under 30 seconds. Phone and online orders print to the same kitchen station.

Allergen filtering — all 14 major allergens

Batter contains gluten; fish is obviously present; shared fryers create cross-contamination risks. Every item is labelled. Customers filter by allergen. Compliant with Natasha's Law and FIC regulations.

Portion and option customisation

Small/large cod, open/wrapped, salt and vinegar yes/no — every variation handled. No need for staff to manually interpret custom requests from a generic order form.

No third-party commission, ever

One-time licence. No percentage of sales, no monthly fees, no platform that can change its commission rates. Revenue goes directly to your bank account via your own payment gateway.

Frequently asked questions

How does a chippy manage peak Friday demand with pre-ordering?

You set a cap per time slot — for example, 8 orders per 10-minute window. When 5:30pm fills up, the next customer is offered 5:40pm. This spreads kitchen load across the evening and gives you full visibility of what you'll be frying before the rush starts.

What commission does Just Eat charge fish and chip shops?

Approximately 14%+ per order on standard listings, plus card processing fees. On a £15 average order, that's over £2 per order. A chippy taking 200 online orders per week pays over £21,000/year. The Food-Ordering.com licence pays for itself in under 9 weeks.

Is allergen labelling for shared fryers supported?

Yes. The system supports full allergen labels plus "may contain" cross-contamination warnings. Customers can filter by allergen and see warnings for shared fryer items — important for fish and chip shops where gluten-free items may be fried in shared oil.

Can I keep phone ordering alongside online ordering?

Yes. The CallerID module recognises returning callers and pre-fills their details. Both channels print to the same kitchen printer and appear in the same management view.

Do I have to leave Just Eat?

No. Many chip shops run both. Just Eat finds new customers; your direct channel captures repeat orders at zero commission. Over time you actively encourage regulars to switch to your direct link with bag inserts or QR stickers.

One licence. No commission. Works from day one.

Food-Ordering.com for fish and chip shops is a one-time £3,500 licence. Setup is straightforward and can typically be completed within a few days. Custom pricing available for multiple shops.

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