How Crafty is Powering the Flexible Pantry Programs of the Future

From Fire Drill to Feature: Smarter Order Editing

Traditional food service providers were designed to be automated, and not in a good way. Making any changes to a pantry order can feel like a game of telephone. Whether a meeting gets added, headcount spikes, or you want a new item, getting something changed on your order takes up too much of your valuable time.

We saw the struggle and set out to create a solution: collaborative ordering. This feature allows workplace teams to edit upcoming orders directly in our platform, with order-level budget targets and 100% transparency into what was adjusted. 

“Food and beverage programs would be pretty easy to manage if you knew exactly how many people were coming in on a given day, exactly what they’d want to consume, and exactly their likes and dislikes. But that’s just far from reality. That’s why we built collaborative ordering—to give workplace teams more control in a world where plans are constantly shifting.”
Allison Cuca, VP of Product, Crafty

Use collaborative ordering when:

• A leadership team meeting gets added at the last minute
• You need to increase stock ahead of an onsite event
• Someone on your team makes a special request
• Feedback from an employee survey calls for a quick adjustment
• You want to test a new product before making it a pantry staple
• Your budget requires a quick shift in quantity or category

Here’s how it works:

• Jump into your Order Tab inside the Crafty Platform
• Click on the order you want to edit
• Begin updating your orders:
  • You can adjust quantities
  • Add new products
  • Remove products
  • Add specific delivery instructions
• As you adjust, next to the total, we'll tell you how you are tracking to your order-level budget
• Submit the order to our team

What used to be a frustrating, time-consuming process is now fast, transparent, and entirely in your hands.

3 Things You Can Learn from a Chief Vibes Officer

Ironclad is a technology company that helps modern teams streamline contract workflows. Inside their San Francisco HQ, the workplace experience team plays a key role in creating a culture that feels thoughtful and inclusive.

“Vibe is a very important word for me. One of my unofficial titles is Chief Vibes Officer. If you don’t have coffee and sparkling water, people will riot. But more importantly, we worked with the Crafty team to make the space feel safe—and it worked out really, really well.”
Chino Chasakara, Workplace Experience Manager, Ironclad

Chino partnered with Crafty to build an office pantry that helps deliver that culture. Here are three things you can learn from how Chino works with Crafty to run a top-tier program:

1. You don’t need to do it all yourself.
With Crafty’s Delivery PLUS model, Chino gets dedicated onsite support on delivery days where Crafty unpacks the order, stocks shelves, checks inventory, and handles light equipment care within a 90-minute service window. Between visits, Chino and his team take the lead, using the Crafty Platform to manage stock, respond to team feedback, and keep things running. It’s a true shared-support model that flexes around their flow.

2. Separate allergen zones to keep the pantry safe for everyone.
To accommodate employees with severe nut allergies, Chino partnered with Crafty to split Ironclad’s pantry setup by floor. One included nut-friendly options like Kind bars and peanut butter pretzels, while the other was entirely nut-free with candy and protein bars. This intentional layout gave everyone peace of mind while still offering variety, and Crafty helped ensure each space was stocked and maintained with clarity and care.

3. Spot issues early and act before they escalate.
Chino sees part of his role as staying one step ahead. He watches how products are moving, picks up on informal feedback from the team, and uses Crafty’s tools to adjust orders before a small gap turns into a real problem. Whether it’s increasing quantities, rotating in new products, or flagging something for his Crafty partner to handle, this proactive approach keeps the pantry running smoothly and the team satisfied.

How AI-Powered Product Swapping Swaps the Industry Standard

Of course, we had to preview a new feature we know you'll be excited about: AI-Powered Product Swapping! 

One of the biggest frustrations workplace teams face is knowing a product isn’t working, but not being able to do anything about it until months later. Whether it’s a snack that’s going untouched, pricing that no longer fits your budget, or team feedback that calls for a quick shift, you’re often stuck waiting or sending in a request and hoping it lands in time.

We built product swapping to fix that. Right inside the Crafty Platform, you’ll be able to replace pantry items with AI-powered recommendations to fit your schedule, your budget, and your team's tastes. It’s a smarter, faster way to evolve your pantry based on what’s working, what’s not, and what your team actually wants.

Use product swapping when:

• A product isn’t moving, and you want to avoid waste
• Your team is asking for something new or seasonal
• A favorite item becomes too expensive, and you need alternatives
• You want to phase in new brands, flavors, or categories
• You’re ready to update your pantry without overhauling everything

This feature is rolling out soon, and when it does, you’ll have complete flexibility to make smarter pantry updates that help build a pantry with minimal waste and chaos. 

“Our goal isn’t technology for technology’s sake. We’re aiming to truly reset and elevate the expectations and standards of this industry. You’re making a big investment in offering snacks to your employees, and you deserve more than a static set of products and quarterly updates. Product swapping gives you the power to keep your program fresh, relevant, and aligned with what your team actually needs. That’s real control, and that’s what we’re building for.”
Jimmy Paul, Co-Founder & CTO, Crafty

Conclusion

Our first Quarterly Platform Showcase wasn’t just about highlighting new features. It was about showing what’s possible when workplace teams have tools built specifically for the realities they navigate every day.

If you’re building a workplace where experience matters, where culture is intentional, and where the pantry is more than just a perk, you need a partner that moves with you.

From real-time order editing to AI-powered product swapping, Crafty is delivering solutions that give workplace teams unmatched control, visibility, and adaptability to run smarter pantry programs.

And we’re just getting started.