---
title: "From Restaurant App to AI Partner for Distributors: The Evolution of Choco"
date: 2025-11-17T14:33:00+01:00
author: Salama
canonical_url: "https://choco.com/us/stories/suppliers/from-restaurant-app-to-ai-partner-for-distributors-the-evolution-of-choco"
section: Story
---
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# From Restaurant App to AI Partner for Distributors: The Evolution of Choco

 11/17/2025 

 

 ![ - ](/assets/_1xAUTO_crop_center-center_none/Warehouse-order-agent.jpg) 

 

 

 

Choco began as a mobile app simplifying how restaurants placed orders with distributors. Today, it has evolved into an AI-powered platform built for food distributors, enabling them to automate order intake, reduce manual work, and serve restaurants more efficiently. This shift reflects the company’s broader mission: connecting every part of the food supply chain through intelligent technology.

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 ## **A Platform Born in the Kitchen**

Choco’s original goal was to make ordering easier for restaurants. Early versions of the app focused on:

 • Digitizing handwritten or phone orders

 • Reducing errors between chefs and suppliers

 • Creating transparency in communication

Over time, usage among distributors grew as they noticed the operational benefits—cleaner order data, fewer follow-ups, and faster delivery coordination.

## **What Distributors Needed Next**

Distributors face specific challenges that go beyond what a restaurant app can solve:

 • **Multiple order channels:** email, voicemail, PDF, and text

 • **Complex SKUs and pricing structures**

 • **Tight labor resources in inside-sales and customer service teams**

Choco’s product development gradually shifted toward meeting these distributor needs.

## **The Move to AI Order Management**

In 2023, Choco introduced **OrderAgent** *(previously named Choco AI)*, a solution powered by large language models (LLMs).

This tool help distributors:

 • Automatically read and process restaurant orders from any format

 • Detect missing or duplicate items

 • Push clean data directly into their ERP systems

 “*We’ve cut order processing time by 75%. But what’s more important is what we do with that time—building relationships, finding new accounts, and protecting our margins.”* reports Joey Barbagallo, CEO, Colony Foods

## **Collaboration Across the Supply Chain**

Choco’s AI platform is now implemented by multiple regional distributors and buying groups such as Golbon.

These partnerships illustrate a shared goal: reducing waste, improving communication, and modernizing operations across the entire supply chain—not just at the restaurant level.

## **The New Definition of Choco**

Today, Choco defines itself as:

 **An AI partner for food distributors — automating order management between restaurants and suppliers.**

This redefinition reflects a broader industry change: the era of manual orders is ending, and AI is becoming a trusted part of distribution operations.

**FAQ**

**Q1: Is Choco still used by restaurants?**

Restaurants continue to send orders through Choco, but the AI tools now primarily serve distributors by automating the intake and processing of those orders.

**Q2: What systems does Choco AI integrate with?**

Choco connects with more than 200 ERPs, making data synchronization fast and reliable.

**Q3: What is the biggest benefit for distributors?**

Reduced manual order entry, fewer mistakes, and better use of sales resources.