Online Ordering System for Pubs, Cafes, Bakeries & Sandwich Shops

Q: Do pubs need a separate ordering system for table ordering and online ordering?

No. Food-Ordering.com supports both table ordering (QR code at the table) and online ordering (delivery or collection) within a single system. Orders from both channels go into the same order management dashboard and print to the same kitchen printer. Staff do not need to manage two separate systems.

Q: Can a bakery use Food-Ordering.com for pre-order collection only — without delivery?

Yes. Delivery can be disabled entirely, leaving only click-and-collect as the available fulfilment option. Bakeries typically configure this with timed collection slots and a minimum order lead time (e.g. 24 hours for celebration cakes or custom orders). Customers select their collection slot at checkout, and the order is printed to the kitchen for preparation.

Different venues, different ordering needs

Pubs, cafes, bakeries, and sandwich shops each use food ordering systems differently. The right configuration depends on your fulfilment model:

Pubs & bars

QR code table ordering (order-and-pay at seat)
Bar food delivery ordering
Garden / beer garden ordering via QR
Separate food and drinks routing to kitchen and bar

Cafes

Click-and-collect pre-ordering (skip-the-queue)
Timed collection slots for peak periods
Online ordering for delivery
Loyalty points for regular customers

Bakeries

24-hour advance collection ordering
Custom order builds (celebration cakes, bespoke items)
Deposit and pre-payment at booking
Allergen and ingredient display per product

Sandwich shops

Pre-order collection for office lunch rush
Build-your-own sandwich modifiers
Time-slot management for peak lunchtime demand
Upsell (drinks, crisps, desserts) at checkout

QR code table ordering for pubs and bars

QR code ordering allows customers to scan a code at their table, view the menu on their phone, and order and pay without going to the bar. Key benefits for pubs:

Higher average spend: Customers order more when they can order from their seat without queuing — no hesitation about going to a busy bar.
Staff efficiency: Staff focus on delivering orders and clearing tables rather than order-taking at the bar.
Multi-station routing: Food orders print in the kitchen; drink orders print or display at the bar — automatically separated.
Table identification: Each QR code is linked to a specific table number, so every order arrives with the table identified for delivery.
No app download required: Customers scan and order in a mobile browser — no app installation needed.

Click-and-collect pre-ordering for cafes and bakeries

Pre-order collection reduces counter queues, eliminates order preparation uncertainty, and allows capacity planning. For cafes and bakeries, the typical configuration:

Customer selects items and a collection time slot from available options
Slots can be capacity-limited (e.g. maximum 5 collections per 15-minute window) to prevent overwhelming the team at peak times
Order prints to the kitchen at a configurable lead time before the slot (e.g. 10 minutes before the customer's collection time)
Customer receives an order confirmation and collection reminder
For bakeries with custom/bespoke orders, a minimum lead time (e.g. 24 or 48 hours) can be enforced at the product level

Ordering modes — which to use

Mode	How it works	Best for
QR table ordering	Customer scans QR at table, orders and pays on phone	Pubs, restaurants, beer gardens
Click & collect	Customer pre-orders online, collects at a timed slot	Cafes, bakeries, sandwich shops
Delivery	Customer orders online for home delivery	Venues with delivery radius
Phone ordering (CallerID)	Staff take call, system pre-loads customer details	Regular phone-ordering customers

All modes are available within a single licence. A pub that also does weekend delivery can run QR table ordering Monday–Friday and switch on delivery for Saturday–Sunday events — same system, same kitchen print.

Allergen requirements for cafes and bakeries

Food Information Regulations 2014 apply to all food businesses, including cafes, bakeries, and sandwich shops. If you sell food online, allergen information for the 14 major allergens must be available to customers before they order. Food-Ordering.com includes allergen filtering as a standard feature — each menu item is tagged with the allergens it contains, and customers can filter by allergen before ordering.

For bakeries selling pre-packed items (e.g. pre-wrapped cakes or pastries), Natasha's Law additionally requires full ingredient labelling on the packaging itself. See the allergen and Natasha's Law guide for the distinction.

Frequently asked questions

Do pubs need a separate system for table ordering and online ordering?

No. Food-Ordering.com supports QR code table ordering and online ordering (delivery or collection) within a single system. Orders from both channels go into the same dashboard and print to the same kitchen printer.

Can a bakery use Food-Ordering.com for pre-order collection only, without delivery?

Yes. Delivery can be disabled, leaving only click-and-collect as the available option. Bakeries typically configure timed collection slots with a minimum advance order lead time. Custom order products can require 24–48 hours notice.

One system for every type of food venue

QR table ordering, click-and-collect, delivery, and phone ordering — all available in a single Food-Ordering.com licence. One-off fee. Zero commission per order.

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Ordering Systems for Pubs, Cafes, Bakeries & Sandwich Shops