Episode 54: Chris Baggott

Like many others, Cluster Truck’s Founder Chris Baggott was quick to recognize the growth opportunities in delivery-based restaurant concepts. Unlike many others, however, he was able to apply his experience and success as a successful software developer and entrepreneur to overcome its challenges.

Cluster Truck is a multi-unit, delivery-only, casual restaurant concept that offers a breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu delivered within specified limited areas by carefully selected and trained professional drivers. "We call it delivery with dignity," says Chris, explaining, "because if delivery doesn’t work for the customer and the drivers, it doesn’t work at all." 

Much of the business’s success hinges on the company’s strategic location of food preparation facilities and limited delivery range, allowing drivers to make faster and more deliveries per hour. Given Chris’s background, it should be no surprise that Cluster Truck’s critical success factor (in addition to crave-worthy menu items) is the software he developed. 

His Empower^SM platform program seamlessly coordinates the process from the point of order to the point of delivery. Yet, it isn’t exactly a "secret sauce". Chris also makes Empower available to other restaurant operators, as part of his business model.

Restaurant industry observers like to call modern food delivery the "Amazonization" of the restaurant business. With five units in operation and several more on the way, Chris says, "Amazon customers are typically happy, but our delivery customers are very happy because at Cluster Truck our objective is to exceed their expectations."