Bottom Line

By switching from Square to Vori:

+15% in Gross Margins

+28% Order Count by Loyal Shoppers

-60% less time to review Vendor Invoices

‍

About Carla's Fresh Market

Carla’s Fresh Market isn’t your average grocery store. An INFRA retailer nestled in the heart of Highland Park, Los Angeles, this 3,000 sqft neighborhood staple has reimagined what it means to shop local. With a mighty network of 200+ vendors, owner Ariell Ilunga, who previously ran the Hollywood Farmers Market, has built a space known for its warm, beautiful ambiance, fresh local produce, carefully curated product mix, and a community-first mission.

‍

The challenge

Opening a new grocery store comes with the challenge of finding a POS system that’s intuitive and quick to learn, especially when training a small, diverse team. The system needed to support fast implementation, scale with the business, and offer tools like a built-in loyalty program and pricing controls to protect margins. It was also critical to reduce time spent on manual invoice processing, freeing up labor for more customer-focused tasks. Choosing the right tech partner meant finding a company willing to grow alongside the store’s evolving needs.

‍

The Vori difference

From day one, Carla’s Fresh Market launched with Vori as its POS and store management solution. Having previously used Square during her pop-up days, Ariell discovered Vori on a trip to the Bay Area through Rockridge Market Hall. The recommendation stuck. She evaluated other platforms like ECRS, Revel, Clover, and Toast but ultimately chose Vori for its modern technology, affordability, cutting-edge feel, and collaborative support.

"I liked that Vori was cloud-based, flexible, and open to feedback. It felt like new, modern technology — not some legacy system that doesn’t change."

^{Ariell, Owner} 

‍Seamless Setup & Training

Carla's implementation of Vori was quick — about 2 weeks from signing to launch. The Vori team helped Ariell build product files, gather vendor SKUs, and train her staff. Most of her employees came from retail or hospitality backgrounds and found the platform very intuitive, making the minimal training required a bonus. Her team could start using Vori with confidence from day one.

"Everyone loves it. It looks beautiful, it’s fast, and our customers even comment — ‘this is the best-looking register I’ve ever seen.'"

^{Ariell, Owner} 

Loyalty That Works

With Vori Loyalty, Carla’s Fresh Market built an engaged shopper base that keeps coming back. Carla’s Fresh Market staff makes it a point to ask every customer if they’re a member. Most are surprised to see a loyalty program at a neighborhood store— a testament to Carla’s tech-forward yet personal approach.

"Shoppers are always asking, ‘Can I use my $5 reward today? People love it."

^{Cashier at Carla's} 

Protected Margins

When Vori launched Cost Changes in early 2024, this was automatically rolled out to Carla’s Fresh Market. This feature unlocked dramatic value immediately:

"Before Vori Cost Changes, every product was probably being sold at the wrong price. Either it was priced too high and wasn’t moving, or too low and we weren’t making any money. It was pretty all over the place.

Having cost changes has saved so much time. I love the suggestions on prices and that I can see it as invoices come in."

^{Ariell, Owner} 

Faster Vendor Invoice Processing

Not only did Vori Cost Changes uncover pricing gaps, but it also reduced the amount of time needed to review vendor invoices by 60%. Carla’s was able to save on labor and stay on top of margins. Additionally, Vori's Promo Import allows INFRA stores to easily maintain EDLP compliance (Every Day Low Price requirements from KeHE).

"Before, reviewing a KeHE invoice would take a minimum of 90 minutes. Now it’s less than 30 minutes."

^{Ariell, Owner} 

Easy Reporting (from Home)

With a cloud-based system, Ariell could check how the store was doing from anywhere. With Vori Reporting, she easily spotted slow movers and adjusted her mix accordingly. Vori stores are even able to setup automated reporting to SPINS. Previously, reporting was a tedious chore, but Vori transformed optimizing product assortment into a seamless process.

"I love being able to track sales from home."

^{Ariell, Owner} 

A Partner That Listens

From the beginning, Vori’s support team has been an extension of Carla’s Fresh Market.

"They’re super responsive, open to feedback, and patient. We ask for things — and it happens. Suggested discounts? That was live in a day. They actually listen."

^{Ariell, Owner} 

‍

Carla's receipt

Since opening the store with Vori, Carla’s Fresh Market has seen measurable improvements in sales, margins, and labor as a result of VoriOS.

+15%

in Gross Margins

+28%

Order Count Lift by Loyal Shoppers

+9%

Basket Lift by Loyal Shoppers

60%

Less time to review Vendor Invoices

‍

From the owner

Ariell continues to recommend Vori to fellow independents across LA and beyond.

"As a business owner, you make so many decisions. Some you regret. Vori isn’t one of them. It’s one of the smarter choices I’ve made."

^{Ariell, Owner} 

How you can support Carla's Fresh Market

Ariell’s message to the community is clear:

"Shop small. Make it a priority. We want our neighborhoods to reflect the people who live in them — not just big-box sameness."

^{Ariell, Owner} 

‍

Visit Carla's Fresh Market

📍 248 N Avenue 50, Los Angeles, CA 90042

🕗 Daily: 8 AM – 8 PM

🌐 carlasfreshmarket.com

📸 @carlasfreshmarket