How Chris Heffernan Automated Catering Growth Without Knocking on a Single Door

Episode 128 How Chris Heffernan Automated Catering Growth Without Knocking on a Single Door

Frederick Dudek (Freddy D) Copyright 2025 Prosperous Ventures, LLC

Chris Heffernan, founder of Dlivrd, turned a crushed local delivery business into a thriving 172-location operation by harnessing automation and smart integrations.

He reveals how pivoting to large catering orders and embedding directly into restaurant tech stacks removed friction, cut costs, and fueled explosive growth.

From buying base code for $1,000 to creating a fully integrated driver ecosystem, Chris shows exactly how to scale without adding payroll — and why empowering gig workers is key to making it work today.

Guest Quote Spotlight:

“Empowering the workers and giving them access creates them as a fan… they’re the most crucial piece to the whole thing.” — Chris Heffernan

S.U.P.E.R.F.A.N.S. Pillar Focus

Pillar: A – Automate | Reclaim Time with Smart Systems

Automation isn’t about replacing people — it’s about freeing them to focus on higher-value work. Chris built Delivered to run through tech integrations, meaning restaurants never have to manually arrange drivers and his team never has to chase orders. By embedding into POS systems and aggregators, his company eliminated endless manual sales calls and door knocks, while ensuring every step of the driver’s journey happens inside one controlled system. This episode shows how automation can create consistent quality, save hours of admin, and allow you to grow in multiple markets without growing payroll.

One Action. One Stakeholder. One Superfan Closer. (Pillar: A)

Insight: The fastest way to scale is to remove repetitive, low-value tasks from your plate and your team’s.

Action (Do This Within 24 Hours): Identify one recurring process in your business (e.g., order routing, client onboarding, scheduling) and research a tool or integration that could automate it end-to-end.

Result: You reclaim hours each week, reduce errors, and create a smoother, more consistent customer experience.

In Today’s Episode, You’ll Discover

• How to pivot under pressure and turn market loss into a profitable niche.
• The automation playbook that scaled Delivered to 172 markets.
• Why gig workers are your frontline brand ambassadors — and how to keep them loyal.
• Smart tech integrations that cut sales time and open nationwide opportunities.
• Creative driver engagement programs that build retention and enthusiasm.
• Real-world proof of tripling a restaurant’s catering business through delivery support.

Discover more with our detailed show notes and exclusive content by visiting: https://linkly.link/2DHOl

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Takeaways:

• Chris Heffernan's entrepreneurial journey kicked off in 2011 after seeing a delivery sign on a cheesesteak shop, sparking his passion for the food delivery business.
• Dlivrd's unique approach focuses on catering logistics, using AI for route