Balkan has set the standard for kebab in Norway for more than 40 years

One of the people carrying Balkan’s legacy forward is Kutlay Yeser, the company’s owner. His philosophy is that quality is worth protecting, even when it means accepting smaller profit margins.

That philosophy influences every part of the business. Balkan works with carefully selected suppliers to secure meat, ingredients and products that meet its standards. Its signature sauces follow recipes that customers have come to recognise and love.

The team has spent decades building supplier relationships, refining recipes and creating a food experience customers can count on. For Kutlay and his colleagues, maintaining those standards is a personal commitment to the people who choose Balkan.

That commitment extends to the communities around the restaurants. In 2021, Balkan supported local handball club Follo with 250 family meal packages to help raise money for the club. Dedication, generosity and pride in the work are all part of the Balkan story.

Balkan’s search for a new system began after its previous point-of-sale provider, a well-known company operating across Norway, Sweden and Finland, suffered a cyberattack. The attack left the provider’s entire system down for three days, causing major disruption for Balkan.

That experience prompted Kutlay to explore the alternatives. He spoke with nearly every major provider in the industry, looking for a reliable, stable solution he could trust to support his business.

They had already chosen another provider and entered into an agreement when they discovered ninito. After evaluating the platform, Balkan chose to leave that agreement and move forward with ninito.

The decision came down to the platform’s capabilities, the opportunities it created and Balkan’s confidence in the people behind it. The team wanted technology that could support its ambitions, make everyday work easier and help create better experiences for guests.

With ninito, Balkan began changing the way customers interact with its restaurants. Self-service kiosks made it easier for guests to explore the menu, customise their meals and place orders in the restaurant.

Balkan also launched its own branded mobile app and online ordering platform, allowing guests to order their favourite meals from their phones. A new loyalty programme brought rewards, offers and extra benefits into the experience, giving customers more reasons to return.

Behind the scenes, ninito simplified daily administration. Menu management, digital ordering, loyalty and the customer experience could be managed through one connected platform. That gave the team more time for its restaurants, employees and guests. For a company built around great food, that time matters.

Technology is only one part of the relationship between Balkan and ninito. For Kutlay, the people behind the platform have been just as important.

With support available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and a team that responds quickly, Balkan has a partner to turn to when assistance is needed. For restaurants serving customers throughout the day and into the evening, reliable support matters.

Kutlay has been enthusiastic about his experience with ninito and the difference it has made in managing the business. He has even offered to speak personally with other restaurant owners considering the platform.

That is the standard ninito sets for support. Our own team in Norway helps in Norwegian and English, 24/7, 365 days a year. It is included in the price, with no surcharge after 17.00, at night or on weekends. A restaurant’s busiest hours should never be the expensive hours to ask for help.