A former red telephone box in London has been converted into a cafe selling tiramisu, after entrepreneur Daniele Benedettini spotted the opportunity. The 31-year-old, originally from Rome, leased two unused phone boxes in Russell Square, finding it far cheaper than renting a building. He invested £1,000 in the transformation, doing all the work himself, and opened Walkmisu in August 2020.
Benedettini chose tiramisu because the compact 18-square-foot space could not accommodate a kitchen for pasta or pizza. The cafe offers four varieties, including pistachio and Biscoff, for £6.95, with additional flavours like Oreo available online. He has since launched an online shop offering nationwide delivery and click and collect.
Benedettini credits artificial intelligence with helping him manage the business, calling it a 'gamechanger' that saves 'hours of work'. A study of 500 SME owners by Accio Work, Alibaba's AI agent for small businesses, found 40% of small businesses are using AI, with many automating functions like compliance, marketing, and supplier management.
The research revealed 69% of SME owners struggle to complete daily tasks, working beyond office hours three days a week and three weekends a month on average. Benedettini's most hated task is managing suppliers, citing frequent price increases. He plans to expand his brand and use AI more extensively for forecasting, supplier management, and customer service.
A spokesperson for Accio Work said AI tools can alleviate the operational burden on SMEs, helping with trend identification, sourcing, VAT filings, and marketing automation. Benedettini, who has always worked in hospitality, moved to London in 2016 and noted that no one else was selling just tiramisu at the time, especially without alcohol.
