Uncle Sharkii Poke Bar, a fast-casual poke and boba franchise, has partnered with Square to implement its all-in-one restaurant platform, aiming to streamline operations and accelerate its franchise expansion across the United States.
Uncle Sharkii, known for its customizable poke bowls and boba milk teas, is rapidly scaling its presence in malls and high-traffic retail centers. The adoption of Square’s platform is designed to establish a digital-first franchise model, simplifying operations, empowering franchisees, and enhancing the customer experience.
Raymond Reyes, COO of Uncle Sharkii, stated, “Our mission is to offer access to healthy, affordable food for all, and Square gives us the flexibility to grow without complexity.” He added that investing in scalable, user-friendly technology is a key development strategy as the network expands into new markets. Reyes noted that their prior solution had “a lot of gaps that Square has seamlessly helped us fill, making operations easier and delivering stronger ROI for the business.” This strategic shift, he emphasized, reflects a commitment to enhancing the experience for both customers and franchisees across all locations.
The decision to partner with Square was based on its intuitive design, comprehensive platform, and robust analytics capabilities. Square’s technology supports both in-store and online channels, creating a connected and conversion-ready experience. Through Square for Franchises, Uncle Sharkii’s franchisees gain access to a complete commerce solution to manage sales, inventory, and customer engagement across multiple locations from a single platform. The platform supports various ordering channels, including in-store ordering via Square Register and Square Kiosk, as well as mobile pickup, providing real-time performance insights for operators. Additionally, Uncle Sharkii is utilizing Square Loyalty to implement personalized rewards programs aimed at fostering customer retention.
Nick Molnar, Global Head of Sales and Marketing at Block, which includes Square, commented, “Our partnership with Uncle Sharkii exemplifies how Square’s powerful, yet intuitive tools can transform franchise operations and fuel rapid expansion.” He highlighted that Square’s integrated platform, which combines payments, operations, loyalty, and multi-location management, enables Uncle Sharkii’s franchisees to concentrate on delivering their Hawaiian-inspired cuisine and scaling their businesses confidently.
The rollout with Square is transforming Uncle Sharkii’s franchise network management, allowing franchisees to streamline daily operations and providing the corporate team with real-time visibility into performance across all locations. This integration is also expected to improve order accuracy and centralize menu management, ultimately elevating the customer experience by allowing staff to focus on serving customers.
Fen Reyes, CEO and Co-Founder of Uncle Sharkii, reiterated, “We’re building a next-gen quick-service franchise model, and Square helps us stay ahead. Together, we’re delivering a tech-savvy, culture-rich brand that’s ready for scale.” Uncle Sharkii was founded in 2018 and currently has open locations in Hawaii, California, Utah, and Texas, with signed locations in Arizona and Nevada, aiming to revolutionize the Hawaiian poke industry through its ‘Ohana ‘family’ culture. Square, part of Block, provides an integrated ecosystem of commerce solutions designed to simplify financial services, including purpose-built software for restaurants, e-commerce tools, embedded financial services, and staff management capabilities.
