Introduction

Chefkoch.de is Germany’s largest cooking platform, serving millions of food lovers with recipes, inspiration, and meal planning tools. To keep up with user expectations and market standards, Chefkoch set out to revamp its Android app with a modernized design, smoother checkout, GDPR compliance, and a more maintainable architecture.

ITGRATE joined as a trusted partner, working side by side with Chefkoch’s internal mobile team to deliver these improvements while also helping to build a stronger Android team.

Objectives & Challenges

Modernize the App Design: Align UI/UX with contemporary standards while maintaining Chefkoch’s brand identity.Improve Checkout Flow: Ensure faster, more reliable premium subscriptions and in-app purchase experiences.Ensure GDPR Compliance: Introduce a consent management system for transparency and trust.Enhance Maintainability: Simplify app architecture to make future development faster and less error-prone.Scale the Android Team: Support recruiting and mentoring new developers while acting as interim Android experts.

Our Approach

1. 1.

   Close Collaboration
   1. 1.1.

      Embedded directly into the Chefkoch Android team.
   2. 1.2.

      Worked as interim experts while aligning with Chefkoch’s product and design teams.
2. 2.

   UI/UX Redesign
   1. 2.1.

      Refreshed design system with a focus on usability, accessibility, and consistency.
   2. 2.2.

      Streamlined navigation and key user journeys to reduce friction.
3. 3.

   Checkout & GDPR Consent
   1. 3.1.

      Optimized checkout flow to increase conversions and reduce errors.
   2. 3.2.

      Integrated a GDPR-compliant consent system that was user-friendly and transparent.
4. 4.

   Architecture & Backend Efficiency
   1. 4.1.

      Introduced Redux to simplify state management, enabling easier feature development and maintenance.
   2. 4.2.

      Improved backend service communication for more efficient data handling and faster response times.
   3. 4.3.

      Established best practices for modular development, making it easier to scale features over time.
5. 5.

   Team Building
   1. 5.1.

      Assisted in hiring new Android developers.
   2. 5.2.

      Mentored junior staff and transferred knowledge to ensure long-term sustainability.

Results & Impact

Ratings Improvement: Play Store rating jumped from 3.7 → 4.2 after redesign and is now 4.7 with over 10 million downloads.Better Maintainability: Redux-based architecture simplified state handling, making the app easier to extend and update.Improved Performance: Backend efficiency gains resulted in smoother user interactions and lower error rates.User Trust Increased: GDPR consent system strengthened compliance and transparency.Stronger Team: A capable Android team was built, with ITGRATE providing interim expertise during the transition.

Conclusion

By combining UI/UX improvements, architectural modernization, GDPR compliance, and strong collaboration, ITGRATE helped Chefkoch transform its Android app into a market leader. Today, with millions of downloads and stellar reviews, Chefkoch continues to serve as a prime example of how external expertise can accelerate product success while empowering internal teams.