Indie Füde: Bringing Food & People Together with Storefront EPOS

Johnny McDowell and Laura Bradley, co-owners of Indie Füde deli and cheesemonger in Belfast.
  • Sector :
  • Independent Food Retailer / Deli / Cheesemonger
  • Location:
  • Belfast (Ormeau Road) and Comber, Northern Ireland
  • Features:
  • Storefront™ Cloud EPOS Multi-site management, Real-time reporting, Integrated stock visibility
  • Results:
  • Faster service during busy periods. Both stores are connected to a single system. Clearer visibility across the business. Less time spent managing reports and systems

Vision & Context

A Belfast food retailer built on quality produce and good conversation

Indie Füde is the kind of place food lovers dream about.

Founded by Johnny McDowell and Laura Bradley, the business has built a strong reputation for carefully sourced produce, exceptional cheese, and a genuine passion for independent food makers.

What began as a single store in Comber has grown into a two-location business, with a second shop on Ormeau Road in Belfast, serving a loyal and growing community.

Behind the counter, the teams work quickly. Customers arrive looking for great cheese, good advice and friendly conversation. At busy times, queues can build quickly and staff need systems that keep pace with the day.

As the business expanded to two sites, Johnny and Laura wanted technology that helped them stay organised without getting in the way of the atmosphere they had worked so hard to create.

The objective was straightforward:  Give the team a system that is fast to use, simple to manage and capable of keeping both shops connected.

Indie Füde (Ormeau Road,Belfast & Comber)

Challenges

When busy food counters need systems that keep up with the pace

Running one busy food shop is demanding enough.  Running two introduces a different level and type of complexity.

Before moving to Storefront™, the team faced a number of frustrations with their previous EPOS setup.

During busy periods, every second matters.  Slow transactions create queues, and queues pull staff away from the  all-important ‘counter conversations‘ that make businesses like Indie Füde special.

Managing two locations also made it harder to keep a clear picture of what was happening across the business.

Key challenges included:

  • Transactions that slowed service during peak periods.
  • Limited visibility between the Belfast and Comber stores.
  • Extra time spent checking stock and reporting information.
  • Systems that required workarounds rather than supporting the team.

 

For a retailer that prides itself on quality and attention to detail, the technology behind the counter needed to work just as smoothly as the service in front of it.

What EPOS Cubed Delivered

One connected EPOS platform supporting both locations

Storefront™ EPOS now sits at the centre of Indie Füde’s daily operations.

The system connects both locations through one cloud platform, giving the team the speed and visibility they need without adding complexity.

operational consistency

Two Stores, One EPOS

Both Indie Füde locations now run on the same Storefront™ EPOS platform.

Products, pricing and sales all sit in one place, which keeps both shops aligned without extra work behind the scenes.  Staff can move between stores and use the system immediately.  Everything behaves the same way.  That consistency removes confusion and keeps the operation running smoothly.

Icon of a cheese wedge representing the cheesemonger sector.

Faster Counter Service

Transactions move quickly and naturally, even during busy trading periods.

Staff can focus on customers rather than navigating complicated screens or fixing problems during service.

Reporting and insights icon showing access to KPIs, sales data and performance metrics.

More Insight for Owners

Johnny and Laura can now see what is happening across the business from anywhere.  Sales, product performance and store activity are available instantly, enabling better decisions without spending hours digging through reports after closing.

"We wanted something straightforward that just worked. Storefront has made a real difference across both shops. Service is quicker, everything is easier to keep track of, and the team can focus on customers instead of worrying about the system."
I'd like SEO text for this man (johnny mcdowell) who co-owns Indie fude
Johnny McDowell MBECo-Owner

Lessons for Other Delis

Clear takeaways from Indie Füde’s experience

  1. Busy shops need fast systems: When customers are waiting, slow EPOS quickly becomes a problem. A system that keeps transactions moving helps staff stay relaxed and focused.
  2. Two stores should feel like one business: Cloud EPOS allows you to see sales and stock across locations without juggling multiple systems or reports.
  3. Technology should stay out of the way: The best retail systems don’t demand attention. They simply work, enabling your team to focus on customers.
  4. Support matters: When you know help is available from people who truly understand retail, it removes stress and builds confidence in the systems you rely on every day.

Inside Indie Füde

products on the shelves and deli favourites

Cheesemonger standing behind a counter of artisan Irish cheeses at Indie Füde in Belfast.
Shelves of artisan chocolate bars at Indie Füde specialist food shop in Belfast.
EPOS Cubed Storefront POS system with barcode scanner and scale at Indie Füde food shop in Belfast.
Black Fire chilli oil and garlic chilli crunch on display at Indie Füde artisan food shop in Belfast.
Mac and cheese toastie sandwich from Indie Füde deli in Belfast.
Wedding cake made from stacked artisan cheeses with flowers and fruit at Indie Füde in Belfast.
Cheesemonger holding a large wheel of artisan Irish cheese at Indie Füde in Belfast.
Fresh artisan deli sandwich prepared at Indie Füde independent food shop in Belfast.
Abernethy handcrafted butter from County Armagh on display at Indie Füde food shop in Belfast.
Indie Füde holding McKenna’s Guides Best in Ireland 2026 award in the Belfast cheese shop.
Jars of Irish Black Butter made with Armagh Bramley apples at Indie Füde food shop in Belfast.
EPOS Cubed Storefront EPOS system installed at Indie Füde artisan food shop in Belfast.
Shelves of artisan food products at Indie Füde independent food shop in Belfast.
Cheesemonger at Indie Füde preparing artisan Irish cheese in the Belfast cheese shop.
Cheesemonger presenting artisan Irish cheese at Indie Füde cheese counter in Belfast.
Artisan raspberry desserts prepared at Indie Füde independent food shop in Belfast.
Large selection of artisan Irish cheeses at Indie Füde cheese shop in Belfast.
Gourmet deli sandwich served at Indie Füde artisan food shop in Belfast.
Indie Füde cheesemonger holding artisan Irish cheeses in the Belfast deli and cheese shop.
Bottle of Echlinville Irish Pot Still Gin served at Indie Füde artisan food retailer in Belfast.
Artisan food hamper from Indie Füde in Belfast featuring products from local producers.
Carton of free-range eggs from pasture-raised hens at Indie Füde artisan food shop in Belfast.
Large display of artisan Irish cheeses at the Indie Füde cheesemonger counter in Belfast.
Interior of Indie Füde artisan food shop with EPOS Cubed Storefront EPOS system at the counter.
Storefront EPOS system and Dojo card payment terminal at Indie Füde artisan deli in Belfast.
Freshly baked muffins at Indie Füde artisan deli and café in Belfast.
EPOS Cubed Storefront EPOS system in use at Indie Füde artisan deli in Belfast.
Selection of artisan Irish cheeses displayed at the Indie Füde deli and cheesemonger in Belfast.
Artisan crackers and handmade cheeseboards displayed at Indie Füde deli in Belfast.
Artisan charcuterie and deli meats displayed at Indie Füde deli and cheesemonger in Belfast.

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