David White and Alvin Kwok have been best friends since primary school in Collier Row, Romford, Essex. Over the years they stayed close, keeping in touch even when it was only through the odd family Christmas card.
The idea for Zeta POS came from a business Alvin knew well. His uncle owned Green River Takeaway in Collier Row, a long-established Chinese takeaway that had served the local community for many years.
Like a lot of independent businesses, Green River had relied on the same point-of-sale system since the early 2000s. It had done the job for decades, but it was becoming outdated, hard to maintain, and costly to run. The modern alternatives weren’t much better: most came with ongoing subscription costs, transaction fees, or higher card-processing charges, all adding up for a small business owner.
Seeing this first-hand, Alvin recognised there had to be a better way. Together, he and David decided to build one.
David built a modern POS platform from the ground up, putting in long days and late nights to bring the idea to life. Alongside it, they also developed websites and digital tools to help businesses strengthen their online presence and streamline day-to-day operations.
The first version of Zeta POS was built and tested at Green River Takeaway, where it is still used today. Working alongside a real business let David and Alvin refine the software around the genuine, everyday challenges that takeaway owners and independent merchants face.
As the system grew, they realised Green River’s problems weren’t unique. Thousands of independent businesses across the UK were wrestling with the same outdated technology, rising costs, and inflexible POS providers.
If it works for Green River, why not help other businesses too?
That idea became Zeta POS. Built by business owners and shaped by real-world experience, it was created to give independent businesses modern, reliable technology without the excessive fees and limitations of traditional POS systems.
Today, the same principles that shaped the first version at Green River still drive everything we do.
David White & Alvin Kwok
Founders, Zeta POS