---
slug: 'way.food'
client: 'way.food'
category: ['Product', 'Development']
date: '2024 — Present'
website: https://way.food
services: ['Development', 'System Architecture', 'DevOps', 'Stripe Integration', 'Technical Consulting']
technologies:
    - Laravel
    - Livewire
    - Alpine.js
    - Tailwind CSS
    - MySQL
    - Filament
    - Mapbox GL JS
    - Laravel Cashier
    - Stripe
    - OpenAI API
    - Sentry
title: 'Foodtruck & Catering Comparison Portal'
story_preview: 'We built way.food from the ground up — a new platform connecting foodtrucks, caterers, party services, and event organizers. We led technical architecture, DevOps, and full-stack development. Now scaled to 1,000+ users, 300+ providers, and 7-figure traffic.'
fineprint: 'From zero to market leader. We turned a complex, multi-party marketplace into a clear and fast experience. From strategy and product roadmap to creative direction and full-stack development — we delivered every layer of this platform.'
---

> **Case study source:** https://unlimited.studio/en/case-study/way.food

# Building a Foodtruck Discovery Platform

way.food is a new comparison portal for foodtrucks, caterers, and party services — currently focused on the DACH region with plans to expand worldwide. We served as the lead digital partner, developing product strategy, contributing to investor pitches, and acting as the primary technical contact. We supported the startup across everything from initial brand identity to marketing and social media management. Core deliverables: full technical architecture ownership — from strategy, system design, and DevOps to payment infrastructure, full-stack development, newsletter operations, and performance marketing.

## Infrastructure at Scale

We architected a **production-grade server infrastructure** designed for growth:

- **Multi-environment setup:** Separate servers for development, staging, and production
- **CI/CD pipeline:** Automated deployments with zero-downtime releases
- **Load balancing:** Distributed traffic handling for high-demand periods
- **Database architecture:** Dedicated database servers with automated backups
- **S3 integration:** Static media handling and scheduled backups to AWS S3
- **Full Stripe integration:** Complete payment processing via Laravel Cashier with subscription management, webhooks, and multiple pricing tiers

## The Core Product

At the heart of way.food is a **dynamic, interactive map** powered by **Mapbox GL JS**. Users can search by location, filter by cuisine type, and browse provider profiles — complete with menus, photos, reviews, and availability calendars.

Key user features include:

- **Public open tenders:** Users can post event requests; providers apply directly
- **Provider profiles:** Rich media galleries, menus, reviews, and instant contact
- **Smart search:** Location-based filtering with real-time results

## Provider Experience

Providers enjoy a **guided multi-step onboarding** flow, followed by subscription selection. The custom-built backend allows:

- **Multi-profile management:** One user can manage multiple foodtrucks or catering services
- **Booking request handling:** Accept, decline, and communicate with customers
- **Availability management:** Calendar-based scheduling and blocked dates
- **Profile customization:** Menus, galleries, service areas, and more

## Tech Stack & Monitoring

Built on **Laravel** with **Livewire** for reactive components and **Alpine.js** for lightweight interactivity. **Tailwind CSS** ensures a consistent, responsive design. The admin panel runs on **Filament**, and AI features leverage the **OpenAI** API integration.

For reliability, we integrated **Sentry** and **Laravel Nightwatch** for real-time error tracking and performance monitoring.

## The Results

way.food has scaled to:

- **1,000+ registered users**
- **300+ verified providers**
- **Thousands of booking requests**
- **7-figure annual traffic**

A platform built for scale, proving that startup speed and enterprise-grade architecture aren't mutually exclusive.