In today’s digital age, having a well-designed, fast, and SEO-optimized website is essential for any brand looking to make an impact. When Gourmetory approached me to build their online presence, they needed more than just a website—they needed a digital identity that reflected their passion for curated food experiences.
This case study outlines how I, Amod Khan, the founder of Amodkhandigital, successfully designed and developed Gourmetory.com using the GeneratePress theme, GenerateBlocks builder, WP Rocket, and Rank Math SEO. From planning and design to launch and performance optimization, this article provides an in-depth look at every phase of the project.
Project Scope
The primary goal of the Gourmetory website was to create an elegant and performance-optimized platform that delivers:
- A rich visual experience
- Easy navigation
- Fast page loading times
- SEO readiness
- Mobile responsiveness
- Easy backend content management
The client needed a clean layout that reflects their brand’s sophistication and passion for quality, while keeping the site lightweight, scalable, and easy to update.
Planning & Strategy
1. Discovery Phase
We began with a series of strategy meetings to better understand Gourmetory’s brand, audience, goals, and content. Key deliverables from this phase included:
- Brand Tone & Voice: Elegant, premium, and approachable.
- Audience Targeting: Food lovers, culinary explorers, and premium content seekers.
- Functionality Needs: Clean blog layout, featured recipes, image-heavy design, mobile-first UX.
2. Wireframing & UI Planning
I used low-fidelity wireframes to map out the structure of the site. This included:
- Homepage layout with a hero banner
- Blog grid section for recipes
- About, contact, and category pages
- Mobile responsiveness
Using Figma, we prototyped the layout with attention to spacing, hierarchy, and flow.
Design Approach
The visual identity of Gourmetory needed to reflect luxury and minimalism. For this, I chose GeneratePress Premium as the theme base.
Why GeneratePress?
- Lightweight (less than 10kb) for incredible performance
- Accessibility-ready and WCAG compliant
- Seamless integration with GenerateBlocks
- Full design control over layout, spacing, and global styles
Typography & Color Palette
- Font Choice: A modern serif for headers combined with a legible sans-serif for body text.
- Color Scheme: Earthy tones with white space to keep the layout breathable and elegant.
Development Execution
1. GeneratePress + GenerateBlocks
The site was built entirely using GenerateBlocks, a powerful block editor for WordPress that allows for flexible, clean code structures without bloat.
Key benefits I leveraged:
- Custom containers for structured content
- Grid layouts for blog and category pages
- Dynamic data and post templates for consistent design
- Custom CSS classes for refined styling
2. Performance Optimization
Performance was a top priority for both SEO and user experience. I integrated:
- WP Rocket for caching, minification, and lazy loading
- Optimized Images using WebP format and image compression
- Clean HTML & CSS with minimal third-party scripts
The final Lighthouse scores:
- Performance: 95+
- Accessibility: 100
- SEO: 100
- Best Practices: 98+
SEO Foundation
To ensure that the site was search engine friendly from day one, I used Rank Math SEO:
- Configured schema markup for recipes and articles
- Optimized metadata, image alt texts, and URL structures
- Integrated an XML sitemap
- Connected the site to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools
I also created a clear content structure that supports future content expansion, including:
- Recipe categories
- Tags for filtering
- Related posts modules
Mobile & Cross-Browser Responsiveness
Given that a large percentage of Gourmetory’s users would be mobile, I developed the site using mobile-first design principles.
- Tested on Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge
- Responsive containers for images and text
- Touch-optimized buttons
- Lazy-loaded assets to reduce mobile bandwidth usage
Backend Usability
Another major focus was empowering the Gourmetory team to manage their content independently. I configured the WordPress backend with:
- Custom reusable blocks for recipe layout
- Tutorial videos created by me for their team
- Minimal plugin footprint for long-term site health
Branding Integration
My company, Amodkhandigital, specializes in digital solutions with a focus on design excellence and performance. This project was a showcase of how our methodology works:
- Brand-Centric Design: Tailoring everything from fonts to spacing around Gourmetory’s values.
- SEO-First Development: No fluff, just smart architecture built for discoverability.
- Speed & UX Optimization: Building with performance at the core, not as an afterthought.
You can learn more about our philosophy and other projects at amodkhandigital.com.
Challenges & Solutions
| Challenge | Solution |
|---|---|
| Image-heavy content affecting speed | Used WebP + lazy loading via WP Rocket |
| Non-technical client team | Created easy-to-edit reusable templates |
| SEO for a new domain | Structured Rank Math properly from the start |
| Minimalist design vs. content depth | Carefully designed layouts using GenerateBlocks |
Final Thoughts
The Gourmetory project reflects what’s possible when performance, design, and branding come together in a unified build. With tools like GeneratePress, GenerateBlocks, WP Rocket, and Rank Math SEO, we built a lightweight, SEO-optimized, and visually appealing website that sets Gourmetory up for long-term success.
As the founder of Amodkhandigital, I’m proud of this collaboration and the value we delivered. Whether you’re a food brand, blogger, or business owner, our team is ready to turn your vision into an optimized digital presence.
Want to Build a Website Like Gourmetory?
If you’re inspired by this project and want to build a fast, SEO-friendly, and elegant website, get in touch with me:
🌐 Website: amodkhandigital.com
📧 Email: info@amodkhandigital.com
📱 Instagram: @amodkhandigital
🔧 Tools Used: GeneratePress, GenerateBlocks, WP Rocket, Rank Math SEO
