ChefTec Version 3 Incorporates Internet Technologies

Boulder, Colo., April 27, 1999 — Culinary Software Services Inc. announced today the release of Version 3 of their award-winning ChefTec Software. CSS will be demonstrating the powerful new functionality at this year’s Rocky Mountain Hospitality Expo in Denver, Colorado, Booth #325.

Version 3 incorporates internet technologies including the ability to import and export recipes in HTML format. This functionality allows users to easily transfer their recipes to other ChefTec users, as well as to allow ChefTec users to post their recipes to a website. Corporate ChefTec users will enjoy the abilitity to create corporate recipes and to distribute them electronically to individual operations.

ChefTec and its sister product, ChefTec Plus, were the first 32-bit, Windows 95/98/NT compatible recipe costing and inventory control products on the market. With a broad customer base ranging from individual chefs to multi-unit restaurants, caterers, hotels and educators, both programs are designed to give companies a competitive edge by tracking fluctuating food costs and directly comparing vendors’ online prices. Other features include the ability to attach photographs to recipes and comprehensive nutritional analysis functionality. Data entry is easy with automatic forms and fields. ChefTec Plus interfaces with a foodservice operation’s point-of-sales (POS) system, allowing perpetual inventory to be performed. It also features password capability, shopping lists and multiple languages.

"We have always based over 75 percent of all software development on customer requests," said Brian Bennett, president of Culinary Software Services. "This way our users can be sure that ChefTec has the real-life solutions they want and need."

Other features in ChefTec Version 3 include the ability to organize ordering based on bids from multiple vendors, assuring users that they are getting the best price possible from their purveyors. Users can also take advantage of powerful new search capabilities that make it possible to search for recipes based on ingredients, categories, or name. Another time saving feature is the ability to switch ingredients in recipes globally, updating every recipe effected with the click of a button

Just as with the original release of ChefTec and ChefTec Plus, this new version includes cutting edge features that take back of the house software to a whole new level. Besides being able to attach photographs and diagrams to recipes, in ChefTec Version 3 users can attach video files to recipes, making it possible to view detailed instructions for procedures onscreen. This feature makes ChefTec 3 an invaluable tool for training new staff, or in academic settings. ChefTec Version 3 will also allow users to save recipes in HTML, making it possible to share recipes via the internet. This feature will enhance corporate wide consistency for operations with ChefTec in place, making it simple to disseminate updated data to multiple units.

This release of ChefTec Plus features Shopper, an invaluable tool for any operation that offers banqueting or catering services. Users can create precise shopping lists for banquet menus based on the recipes entered in their ChefTec Plus software. Instead of having to reference recipe after recipe to calculate inventory needs for catered events, Shopper lets users create one master recipe and instantly calculates exactly how much of each ingredient will be needed.

Founded in 1990 by Brian Bennett and Chef Dana Holland, Culinary Software Services makes ChefTec and ChefTec Plus software for the foodservice industry. In 1998, the company released ChefTec Plus, a complete back-of-the-house package that contains the comprehensive inventory control, recipe and menu costing, and nutritional analysis functionality of ChefTec, combined with more sophisticated features, primarily the ability to interface with POS systems and perpetual inventory.

ChefTec won the Innovator’s Award for Technology from the California Restaurant Association in 1998, and is installed in diverse foodservice operation around the world. Marriott International is currently implementing ChefTec in over 400 of its units. Other recent installations include Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, parent company to T.G.I. Friday’s, Caesar’s Atlantic City, the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort, and the Southern California School of Culinary Arts.

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