Chopwell 2024: Food At Your Fingertips!

Introducing Anton Unger, the visionary CEO behind Klimato, a groundbreaking platform revolutionizing the restaurant industry's approach to sustainability. With a mission to make every restaurant business more eco-friendly, Anton and his team have developed an innovative solution that enables establishments to calculate, communicate, and track the climate impact of the food they serve. In an era where environmental consciousness is becoming increasingly important, Klimato empowers restaurant owners to take proactive steps towards reducing their carbon footprint. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and data-driven insights, Anton Unger has created a platform that not only raises awareness about the environmental impact of food choices but also provides practical tools for making sustainable decisions. Join Delivery Rank, as we delve into the world of sustainable dining with Anton Unger.

CHOPWELL has become a popular platform for food delivery. Can you share the story behind the inception of CHOPWELL and what motivated you to create a platform that connects users with their favorite restaurants?

Well, CHOPWELL started as far back as December 2020 and we incorporated the company in 2021. I was working for an online delivery company called SamfortGO and was tasked with opening a branch in Edo State in Nigeria, to be precise. So I had to leave Lagos where I was residing at the time, to open this branch. As soon as I arrived, I conducted feasibility studies and developed a structure for the most effective way to achieve the company’s goals. Once that was done, I swung into action, and we began our work.

Unfortunately, the business was not adequately managed at the headquarters, and within six months, financial issues arose. However, the branch in the state I managed was flourishing. We were performing exceptionally well, covering salaries and generating profits. Despite our success, the CEO (doubles as the owner of the company) at the time, instructed all branches to sell off their assets and send the proceeds to the central account. I had to find interested buyers, but couldn't secure deals at the company's set prices. Eventually, with the help of friends and colleagues, I managed to raise the money and bought the assets with my long standing friend and associate, Mr. Emmanuel Oriasotie.

After acquiring the assets, we deliberated on the way forward, leading to the inception of CHOPWELL. Initially, I wasn't receptive to the name because it seemed unfamiliar. However, my partner convinced me to stick with it, assuring me that continuous usage of the name would make sense over time. During this period, I drew inspiration from other brands, such as ColdStone, and decided to create a global brand out of CHOPWELL.

CHOPWELL began as a startup, and we attracted our first set of investors while still in the idea stage. We progressed from the idea stage to A Minimum Viable Product (MVP), continually fine-tuning and upgrading the system to better serve our users. In essence, that is how CHOPWELL came into existence. My partner and I were passionate about solving the problem of online food delivery, aiming to be a one-stop shop where people could conveniently order their favorite meals online.

CHOPWELL'S motivation stemmed from our desire to be known for something. We were two determined young men who seized the opportunity we had gotten and worked hard to ensure the success of our product. Through our efforts and determination, we moved from the initial stage (idea stage) of the product, and that encapsulates the story behind CHOPWELL.

The food delivery industry is dynamic and competitive. How does CHOPWELL stand out in the market, and what strategies do you employ to navigate the challenges inherent in the food delivery space?

CHOPWELL stands out among its peers in the market by the new idea we infused into our product. So, what is this idea, you may ask? In the third iteration of our product, we were able to create a food bank. Now, users don't necessarily need to have money to order food online through the CHOPWELL mobile application.

What we did was implement a wallet system, allowing users to save money ahead of when they want to order food. It took a while for us to process this because as hardworking partners, we were determined to bring a new facet to online food delivery. Additionally, we introduced the concept of buying food through our mobile application and paying for it later. These innovations were aimed at making CHOPWELL stand out from other online food delivery services.

When we initially introduced the idea of a food bank, some people considered us crazy. They questioned why anyone would deposit money into a food app to use later. However, a few months down the line, we've had numerous users testify about how amazing and convenient the idea has been. Many people have expressed that it's an amazing idea, and what we initially thought was unconventional turned out to be a brilliant concept. We are now working on modifying these systems to make them more efficient and beneficial for everyone.

CHOPWELL emphasizes "Start Chopping Life." How do you prioritize user experience and convenience in your platform, and what innovations or features have you implemented to make the ordering process seamless for users?

When it comes to the seamlessness of the ordering process, we made a crucial decision during the development of our mobile application. My partner, my team members, and I had an intense meeting where we determined that our focus should be on creating a seamless experience. We aimed to avoid complexity and ensure that users, regardless of their level of education, could navigate our system effortlessly within the Nigerian economy.

To achieve this, we invested time in doing the hard work upfront before launching. We designed a system that allows users to navigate our mobile application seamlessly once on our app, the process is pretty straightforward. Users can easily select the desired food and the restaurant they want to order from. The itemized layout on our platform is clear, simplifying the user experience.

To further enhance convenience, we established multiple payment options. Users can pay for their orders using either their mobile wallet, bank accounts, or through a mobile transfer. These systems were implemented to facilitate stress-free food ordering.

Our commitment to prioritizing user experience stems from the belief that business success isn't solely about profits. While profit is a significant aspect of business, I emphasize the importance of the experience our users have. Positive feedback from users who enjoyed our system brings me great joy, while constructive criticism motivates us to continuously improve.

We actively seek user input through organized shows and events, encouraging them to share their thoughts on what we can do better. Users' suggestions have been invaluable, guiding us on how to evolve and enhance our services. We believe that by consistently satisfying the majority of our users, we gradually extend our positive impact to the minority.

Collaborating with my partner has been instrumental in our success. Despite having distinct ideas about how a business should be run, we both share a tenacious inclination towards hard work and tackling challenges head-on. Our partnership has proven successful over the years, and we continue to work together, aiming to do more business in the future.

In conclusion, our approach revolves around prioritizing user experiences over profits. This philosophy has been the driving force behind our efforts to continually satisfy our users and improve our services.

The food delivery industry has its challenges, from logistics to customer satisfaction. Can you share some of the challenges you've faced with CHOPWELL and how the team has worked to overcome them?

One of the greatest challenges my team and I faced was the logistical aspect of our business. Simply having a food delivery company was not enough; it was imperative to establish a dynamic and efficient logistics system that could smoothly transport the ordered food from point A to point B. Without such a system, the business would struggle and face existential downfall.

Initially, as I mentioned at the beginning of this interview, we purchased bikes to facilitate deliveries. However, we soon realized that owning these bikes led to increased expenses due to maintenance issues caused by poor road conditions. Additionally, there was a scarcity of available logistics riders. To address these challenges, we decided to rethink our approach.

We shifted towards outsourcing logistics by collaborating with various logistics partners. We proposed agreements where their drivers would work exclusively for us, ensuring constant availability throughout the day. This strategic move revolutionized our operations, leading to cost savings in terms of bike maintenance, rider salaries, and other logistics-related expenses.

Despite the success of outsourcing, we encountered challenges with dispatch riders sometimes being uncooperative and recalcitrant. They would either refuse to work or take orders and fail to deliver them. To overcome these issues, we took a bold step and created our mobile application for logistics riders. This decision marked a significant turning point in our business.

Initially hesitant about creating a dedicated app for logistics, I engaged in open discussions with my team members and my partner. Through thorough explanations and detailed discussions, I was convinced of the necessity of having our mobile application for logistics riders.

The implementation of our mobile application led to exponential growth. We adopted a payment system where riders receive instant payment upon completing a delivery. To ensure security, riders go through a rigorous sign-up process, providing their Social Security numbers (BVN & NIN) and obtaining character references. This not only secures the riders but also instills confidence in our users.

The payment process involves the user clicking on "COMPLETED" once they receive their food, triggering immediate payment to the rider on the mobile application. This eliminated the need for riders to request owed payments at a later date. We implemented a fair payment system based on delivery, order-taking, or per item delivered.

This innovative solution was primarily driven by my partner, who was the brain behind the idea. His dedication and ability to fine-tune the concept, along with convincing the entire team, played a pivotal role in successfully addressing and overcoming our logistical challenges. I am grateful to have such a smart and capable partner who has significantly contributed to our success in all ramifications. As you know the success of a business is dependent on the owner(s) of the business. 

Looking ahead, what is your vision for the future of CHOPWELL? Are there specific goals, expansions, or innovations you envision for the platform in the coming years?

Looking ahead, our plans can be succinctly summarized. Over the next couple of years and months, my team and I have decided to adopt the Nike approach – rather than planning for a decade, we are now focusing on a three-month plan. Our strategy involves setting quarterly goals, achieving them, and then moving on to the next milestone.

In the upcoming three months, our goal is to reach a significant milestone by handling orders worth N2 billion Naira. This translates to approximately over $500 million U.S. dollars’ worth of orders on our platform. After successfully achieving this target, our subsequent plan is to expand our services to selected countries within and around Africa. Our ultimate vision is to become the Google of food delivery in Africa, aiming for the association of "CHOPWELL" with the very thought of food delivery.

As the name implies, CHOPWELL represents our commitment to providing an excellent food delivery experience. We want to be synonymous with satisfaction, enjoyment, and savoring the taste of every meal. To achieve this, we are actively pursuing new innovation. Our vision includes partnerships with larger companies and collaboration with serious-minded investors who share our passion for taking the company to the next level.

Therefore, we are open to investments and eager to welcome investors who are equally enthusiastic about joining us on this journey. We believe that through strategic partnerships and investments, we can continue to grow and enhance the food delivery experience for our users.

If you would like to find out more about Chopwell, visit https://www.chopwell.ng/