The Flavorful Challenge
- Transforming a home kitchen passion into a scalable catering business
- Creating a brand identity that honors Dominican heritage while appealing to a diverse American market
- Developing a digital presence for a traditionally word-of-mouth business
- Balancing rapid growth with maintaining authenticity and quality
Envisioning a Culinary Community
We set out to create more than just a food business.
Our vision for Lula’s Empanadas included:
- Becoming a cultural cornerstone in the local community
- Effectively communicating a rich culinary story across digital platforms
- Creating a thriving local enterprise with strong community ties
Cooking Up the Solution
Over a year-long engagement, we crafted a comprehensive strategy that blended traditional flavors with modern business practices:
- Developed a vibrant brand identity that reflected Lula’s heritage and energy
- Created a user-friendly website that told Lula’s story and facilitated easy ordering
- Designed eye-catching environmental branding for public events and the brick-and-mortar location
- Produced compelling fundraising videos to support business growth
- Crafted a robust business strategy for sustainable expansion
Tasting Success
The delicious outcomes of our collaboration included:
- Successful transition from side hustle to a full-fledged catering business and brick-and-mortar establishment
- Expansion of services across Philadelphia and New Jersey
- Establishment of Lula’s as a beloved local business and cultural ambassador
- Significant increase in catering orders and event participation
Key Insight: The Power of Authentic Storytelling
Throughout this project, we discovered that when a brand authentically shares its cultural story, it not only attracts customers but creates a community of advocates. Lula’s success demonstrated how embracing and showcasing cultural heritage can be a powerful differentiator in a crowded market.
Sustainable Flavors
Our approach to sustainability included:
- Sourcing ingredients from local suppliers where possible
- Implementing eco-friendly packaging for catering orders
- Minimizing food waste through careful inventory management
Spreading the Aroma
To amplify Lula’s reach, we provided support on how to:
- Leverage social media to showcase behind-the-scenes content and customer stories
- Participate in local food festivals and cultural events
- Collaborate with local influencers and food bloggers
Dressing the Dish
To extend Lula’s Empanadas flavor, we produced wearable brand elements, including…
- Eye-catching t-shirts for the merchandise shop
- Professional uniforms for staff at events
- Branded cold-weather gear for employees, perfect for Philadelphia’s climate featuring iconography and colorways reminicent of Dominican culture
Looking to the Future
As Lula’s Empanadas continues to grow, we’re exploring:
- Potential for franchising or expanding to new locations
- Development of packaged products for retail sale
- Creation of cooking classes and cultural events
By orchestrating a strategy that harmonizes cultural authenticity, business acumen, and community engagement, Studio WAC has helped Lula’s Empanadas become more than just a food business—it’s now a cultural bridge, bringing people together one empanada at a time. This case study highlights our ability to create resonance between tradition, innovation, and community impact.
Craving more stories of local business transformation?
Discover how we brewed success for Tempor’s travel journalism.
