Summer is Here! Is Your Café Ready for the Rush?

How the DateCodeGenie^® Lite Can Help You Stay Compliant, Consistent and Calm in the Holiday Hustle

The school summer holidays are nearly upon us. That means beach days, road trips, family outings – and a seasonal boost for Britain’s high streets, seaside towns, and tourism hotspots.

As footfall picks up and takeaway demand spikes at independent cafés and sandwich shops, it’s all hands on deck. You’re prepping sandwiches, salads and sweet treats at pace. Are your labelling processes keeping up?

If you’re still handwriting food labels or juggling a clunky old printer, NCCO is excited to share a better way. Meet the DateCodeGenie® Lite, the automated labelling system designed to help small food businesses stay safe, efficient, and compliant this summer.

Holiday Season Pressure: Why Labelling Matters More Than Ever

With more families, tourists and day-trippers out and about, your grab-and-go options are likely flying off the shelves. But with speed comes risk, especially if you’re managing a rotating team, new seasonal staff, or a tighter kitchen footprint.

Here’s what every café and sandwich shop owner should be thinking about right now:

• Food Safety & Trust: Customers want to know exactly what they’re eating, especially when it comes to allergens.
• Compliance with Natasha’s Law: Introduced to protect people with allergies, this law applies to all food businesses selling PPDS food.
• Efficiency in the Kitchen: Every minute spent hand-labelling is a minute not spent prepping fresh food or serving customers.
• Staff Training Time: New or part-time team members? You need a system that makes things simple from day one.

The DateCodeGenie® Lite helps you tick every one of these boxes.

So, What is PPDS Food?

If you’re not familiar with the term, you’re not alone. In fact, “what is ppds food?” is searched nearly 4,000 times a month in the UK. Here’s a quick guide to keep you ahead of the curve:

PPDS stands for “Prepacked for Direct Sale.”

This refers to food that is packed on the same premises from which it is being sold, before the customer orders it. That includes sandwiches, salads, boxed cakes, and similar grab-and-go items prepared in your kitchen and placed on display.

If your café or shop sells any of these, the law requires you to label them with:

• The name of the food
• A full list of ingredients
• Any allergens highlighted (in bold, uppercase or a different colour)

Failure to comply with Natasha’s Law not only risks fines but also, more importantly, puts your customers at risk.

The DateCodeGenie^® Lite Offers Big Performance in a Small Package

This compact, cost-effective system is tailor-made for smaller kitchens and counters. The DateCodeGenie Lite includes:

• A portable 10” tablet with a protective silicone case
• A stand-alone printer that prints labels in different sizes and materials
• Easy-to-use software that allows for allergen declarations and full compliance with UK labelling laws
• Quick setup and minimal training required – the perfect solution for seasonal staff
• Reliable consistency so your labels always look professional and legible

No more smudged handwriting. No more time wasted re-labelling. Just clear, accurate information your customers can trust.

Make This Summer the Smoothest Yet

With the tourist season heating up, now’s the time to streamline your food labelling. The DateCodeGenie Lite gives you the confidence to focus on making great food and serving happy customers.

Stay compliant. Stay efficient. Stay ready for summer. Get started with the DateCodeGenie Lite today.

Want to learn more about how the DateCodeGenie Lite can transform your café or sandwich shop? Book a demo to see it in action.