Who We Are
Meet Team xtraCHEF
Meet the team helping the hospitality industry handle their business.
Learn more about our company and the people who put the "xtra" in #teamxtrachef.
How we started
Changing the way restaurants handle their finances and operations
xtraCHEF was founded in 2015 by Andy Schwartz, Bhavik Patel, and Chaz Brown with the intent of extending access to enterprise technologies to any restaurant in the country.
We combined restaurant accounting and financial management expertise with commonly used tech applications that had not yet reached the restaurant industry — cloud, mobile, machine learning and OCR (optical character recognition — to automate time-consuming, tedious tasks for restaurant owners and staff.
Several years later, xtraCHEF continues to meet the demands of an ever-changing restaurant operations landscape. Our software supports thousands of food and beverage operators of all sizes and service.
Co-headquartered in NYC and Philadelphia, with team members across the country and around the world, our team is aligned on a mission to empower the hospitality industry with data to drive profits.
Our Core Values
Be Proactive
A chef is always three steps ahead of the guest: selecting fresh produce in the morning, preparing mise en place for the evening, scheming up a new special…proactivity is the name of the game. That’s why xtraCHEF is always thinking ahead for you, updating our product, and adding features to match your passion and enthusiasm for service.
Foster Trust
We don’t just walk the walk. We build relationships with our customers that last years. You’re pouring your passion into the food and service you provide, while we’re constantly building and improving our service offering to you. That two-way street builds an undeniable sense of trust that goes beyond software as a service.
Deliver Value
In this industry margins are everything. And it’s our job to help you maintain and improve those margins. That means we can’t be a burden – so at its core, xtraCHEF must always deliver extreme functionality at minimal cost to you. Our commitment to delivering value is what moves us beyond a service provider and more into the role of a true partner.
Stay Committed
Technology is always evolving, and we’re in it for the long-haul with our commitment to our product and our customers. We know your challenges aren’t going anywhere, and that this industry needs a reliable companion. We’re here for it, and we’re here for you no matter what the future holds.
Friendly, helpful, and team-oriented company that recognizes there can only be success with everyone working together. We're selling a great product that actually saves customers money. With everyone's help in the company, I'm learning new things every day.
– Michaela Fallon, Marketing Manager
I have always been passionate about the restaurant industry; both the creative and business side of things. After a 10+ year stint, working 70+ hours a week and spending most holidays helping other families celebrate, something eventually had to give. With all my time and experience invested into hospitality, I was left with the lingering question, “What next?” That’s when I found xtraCHEF. xtraCHEF allowed me to stay in the industry I love without sacrificing my nights, weekends and holidays. Now, I can continue working with my beloved peers while helping to make their jobs easier. It’s a win/win!
– David Wilkes, Head of Account Management
Our team at a glance
Our Founders
Andy Schwartz
A motivated leader with a propensity for building strong relationships and a passion for selling, Andy is driven to position xtraCHEF as a leader in the restaurant technology landscape. Prior to starting xtraCHEF, Andy worked as Senior V.P. of Sales & Marketing for nine years at MTS Software Solutions. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Gloria, and their two daughters – Lily and Kaya.
Bhavik Patel
Bhavik has been in the enterprise document management and receivable management solutions game for more than 18 years. He brings to xtraCHEF his diverse experience in the design and development of software solutions as well as his business process savvy. Prior to building xtraCHEF, Bhavik served as the CTO of MTS Software Solutions where he was responsible for managing a multimillion-dollar eProducts portfolio of groundbreaking solutions, such as global check clearing solutions and mobile check deposit solutions for Fortune 500 companies.
Related Resources
EY Announces Andy Schwartz of xtraCHEF as an Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2020 Greater Philadelphia Award Finalist
Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) today announced that Andy Schwartz, Co-Founder and CEO of xtraCHEF, was named an Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2020 Greater Philadelphia Award finalist.
xtraCHEF Recipe Card: Michaela Fallon
I work on the marketing team, managing our email marketing, overseeing tradeshows and events, and ordering all of our cool xtraCHEF swag.
