The verdict in three sentences
At 6,000 meals a day, each food-cost point is worth almost 46,000 MAD a month (about 4,300 EUR): steering with spreadsheets and paper slips no longer holds. Custom software at 300,000 to 800,000 MAD excl. VAT links client company orders, recipe cards, purchasing and production, targeting a 5-point food-cost reduction. The first release should be costed recipe cards, because every other gain depends on them.
The 2026 options: spreadsheet, off-the-shelf, custom
Catering software on the market is designed for restaurants or large chains. Contract catering has its own constraints: orders per client site with variable headcounts, menus set by contract specifications, cold or hot chain delivery.
| Criterion | Spreadsheet and paper slips | Off-the-shelf software (often European) | Custom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost (2026 order of magnitude) | 0 MAD | 120,000 to 300,000 MAD | 300,000 to 800,000 MAD excl. VAT |
| Recurring cost | Admin time | 4,000 to 12,000 MAD/month | 6,000 to 15,000 MAD/month maintenance |
| Online client orders per site | Phone, email | Sometimes | Portal per client company |
| Recipe cards and food cost | Approximate | Yes | Yes, with real Moroccan supplier prices |
| Management of the 14 allergens | Manual | Yes | Yes, displayed per dish and per site |
| Supplier purchasing | Manual slips | Standard module | Needs calculated from orders |
| Language and local invoicing | Not applicable | Limited adaptation | French, Arabic, Moroccan VAT |
An off-the-shelf tool fits below 1,500 meals a day. Above that, the gaps between its model and your organisation cost more than the price difference.
Modules ranked by expected gain
The main gain comes from the order, recipe card, purchasing-need chain: you buy what clients ordered, at the planned portion size, at the negotiated price.
| Module | Function | 2026 budget | Expected gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costed recipe cards | Portions, yields, ingredient prices | 70,000 to 160,000 MAD excl. VAT | 1.5 to 2 food-cost points |
| Online client orders | Headcount per site the day before by 2 pm | 60,000 to 150,000 MAD excl. VAT | Overproduction cut from 10% to 4% |
| Purchasing and supplier needs | Purchase orders generated automatically | 60,000 to 160,000 MAD excl. VAT | 1 to 1.5 points through better negotiation |
| Stock and inventory | FIFO, waste, use-by dates | 40,000 to 120,000 MAD excl. VAT | Waste halved |
| Allergens and traceability | 14 allergens, batches, temperatures | 30,000 to 90,000 MAD excl. VAT | ONSSA compliance, client audits |
| Invoicing and dashboards | Invoice per client, margin per contract | 40,000 to 120,000 MAD excl. VAT | Unprofitable contracts identified |
The first version (recipe cards, orders, purchasing) ships in 12 to 16 weeks, the other modules within the following 3 months.
Mini case study
Karim runs a contract catering company in Casablanca: 6,000 meals a day for 40 companies, at an average 35 MAD per meal, 22 days a month. Monthly revenue therefore reaches 4,620,000 MAD, with a 42% food cost.
Each point gained is worth 46,200 MAD a month. For software at 550,000 MAD excl. VAT, a cautious 2-point gain (92,400 MAD a month) pays back the investment in 6 months. The full 5-point target represents 231,000 MAD a month, or 2,772,000 MAD a year (estimate, to be validated on three months of real data).
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
FAQ
Can client companies place orders themselves?
Yes, each client has a portal to confirm headcounts and menu choices the day before by 2 pm. In practice, 80 to 90% of orders go online after 2 months.
How are allergens handled?
Each ingredient carries its allergens from the 14 regulated ones, and each dish inherits them automatically. Labels and on-site menus are generated without re-keying.
Does the software calculate Moroccan VAT?
Yes, invoicing includes the VAT rates applicable in Morocco and the legal mentions. Accounting export to your software takes 1 click.
How long does it take to enter recipe cards?
For 300 recipes, allow 4 to 6 weeks with a lead chef half-time. We can import your existing files to cut that time by 30 to 40%.
What maintenance should we plan?
As a 2026 order of magnitude, 6,000 to 15,000 MAD a month, hosting, backups and support included.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your meal volume, client sites and current food cost: we will price a scope between 300,000 and 800,000 MAD excl. VAT with a first release delivered in 12 to 16 weeks. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
