Planning a new food venture...
Discussion
I must be mad but I have the time now. I'm only working a few days a week doing agency work locally but still want to do my own thing.
I might be able to rent (cheaply) a full commercial kitchen all day, most days. Its situated in the middle of housing for 3000+ people a large proportion of which are retired.
Dont mind putting a bit of money into it but given its an equipment kitchen and I have a garage and loft full of kit I probably dont need to invest in much other than marketing etc
I most definately do not want another seated restaurant. I'm thinking either production kitchen or delivered food.
Any ideas?
I might be able to rent (cheaply) a full commercial kitchen all day, most days. Its situated in the middle of housing for 3000+ people a large proportion of which are retired.
Dont mind putting a bit of money into it but given its an equipment kitchen and I have a garage and loft full of kit I probably dont need to invest in much other than marketing etc
I most definately do not want another seated restaurant. I'm thinking either production kitchen or delivered food.
Any ideas?
Delivered food.
Maybe consider having several different front end brands (websites/phone numbers that you control) sending orders to a common back-end and kitchen. Slightly different offerings for different market segments and at different price points, but benefiting from some economies of scale (e.g. typical takeaway vs something more focused at older/very old folk)?
Maybe consider having several different front end brands (websites/phone numbers that you control) sending orders to a common back-end and kitchen. Slightly different offerings for different market segments and at different price points, but benefiting from some economies of scale (e.g. typical takeaway vs something more focused at older/very old folk)?
Ignore the cafe side, but this company which does meal preparation is expanding. Might help with inspiration based on their menu / app
https://crewe.nub.news/news/local-news/popular-foo...
https://prep-d.co.uk/
https://crewe.nub.news/news/local-news/popular-foo...
https://prep-d.co.uk/
What about something that delivers/ allows for collection of hot meals to elderly folk and families at dinner time 5-7pm.
Basically like a Hellofresh, but with no need for anyone to do any cooking and better than these weekly delivery of microwave meals which cost £7 each.
Maybe batch cook 3 meals a day Curry/ Cottage Pie/ Lasagne as an example so people have choice.
Charge roundabouts £4 a meal or a family tray of 4 portions for £12 (obviously you will have to work out costings and delivery cost).
An app would help by getting people to book in advance so you knew what quantities of things to cook.
Basically like a Hellofresh, but with no need for anyone to do any cooking and better than these weekly delivery of microwave meals which cost £7 each.
Maybe batch cook 3 meals a day Curry/ Cottage Pie/ Lasagne as an example so people have choice.
Charge roundabouts £4 a meal or a family tray of 4 portions for £12 (obviously you will have to work out costings and delivery cost).
An app would help by getting people to book in advance so you knew what quantities of things to cook.
MattsCar said:
What about something that delivers/ allows for collection of hot meals to elderly folk and families at dinner time 5-7pm.
Basically like a Hellofresh, but with no need for anyone to do any cooking and better than these weekly delivery of microwave meals which cost £7 each.
Maybe batch cook 3 meals a day Curry/ Cottage Pie/ Lasagne as an example so people have choice.
Charge roundabouts £4 a meal or a family tray of 4 portions for £12 (obviously you will have to work out costings and delivery cost).
An app would help by getting people to book in advance so you knew what quantities of things to cook.
Subscription might be good too… I know a few people who would sign up to ensure ageing parents got fed (especially if the dishes also gotdealt with). Is “meals on wheels” still a thing?Basically like a Hellofresh, but with no need for anyone to do any cooking and better than these weekly delivery of microwave meals which cost £7 each.
Maybe batch cook 3 meals a day Curry/ Cottage Pie/ Lasagne as an example so people have choice.
Charge roundabouts £4 a meal or a family tray of 4 portions for £12 (obviously you will have to work out costings and delivery cost).
An app would help by getting people to book in advance so you knew what quantities of things to cook.
MealsOnWheels does seem to exist, but...it just appears to be a website that then leads you on to lots of different private companies who seem to be certified under the "MealsOnWheels" brand and charge a tenner for a meal.
One thing I would say, for food deliveries, is that some foods do not translate in to a tasty meal once packaged and in transit. Things like chips always become soggy, so best avoided.
This is why I think traditional home meals stews, casseroles, cottage pies, currys etc would be the way to go as once it is in a container in an insulated bag, you will have probably an hour or so to deliver it, with no real effect on the contents and it still being at a edible temperature.
One thing I would say, for food deliveries, is that some foods do not translate in to a tasty meal once packaged and in transit. Things like chips always become soggy, so best avoided.
This is why I think traditional home meals stews, casseroles, cottage pies, currys etc would be the way to go as once it is in a container in an insulated bag, you will have probably an hour or so to deliver it, with no real effect on the contents and it still being at a edible temperature.
LooneyTunes said:
Subscription might be good too I know a few people who would sign up to ensure ageing parents got fed (especially if the dishes also gotdealt with). Is meals on wheels still a thing?
No it’s not a thing. But you could definitely see a low cost alternative being used a lot you would definitely start a subscription if you knew an aging parent was getting a few hot meals a week delivered.
mikef said:
Mobile Chicane said:
I'm surprised that no one has yet suggested pies?
Considering that Piglets Pantry, who supply (excellent) pies to many places in Sussex and Hampshire including the major sports stadia, just went into insolvency, I m wondering whether that s a safe routeThere's a guy local to me who teams up with local suppliers of watercress, eggs, cheese, pork etc, and turns these into delicious pies, quiches and Scotch eggs. Well-heeled Surrey may of course be a factor here.
Cole's Lane Fine Pie House is the business. He doesn't have a website, just is known locally as 'Harry Pie'. I'm not even sure what his real name is!
21TonyK said:
I must be mad but I have the time now. I'm only working a few days a week doing agency work locally but still want to do my own thing.
I might be able to rent (cheaply) a full commercial kitchen all day, most days. Its situated in the middle of housing for 3000+ people a large proportion of which are retired.
Dont mind putting a bit of money into it but given its an equipment kitchen and I have a garage and loft full of kit I probably dont need to invest in much other than marketing etc
I most definately do not want another seated restaurant. I'm thinking either production kitchen or delivered food.
Any ideas?
How many takeaways are there in the area?I might be able to rent (cheaply) a full commercial kitchen all day, most days. Its situated in the middle of housing for 3000+ people a large proportion of which are retired.
Dont mind putting a bit of money into it but given its an equipment kitchen and I have a garage and loft full of kit I probably dont need to invest in much other than marketing etc
I most definately do not want another seated restaurant. I'm thinking either production kitchen or delivered food.
Any ideas?
A friend of mine runs a takeaway but he's branched out into basically running a dark kitchen. All the internet and phone orders and stuff from Just Eat / Deliveroo side of things are supplied out of the dark kitchen and is actually thinking of selling the shop because of its higher overheads.
I d like to start by saying I ve no idea what I m talking about and a couple of things stand out to me on this thread.
Firstly, if it s a production kitchen Tony, I m guessing you might be best placed to take a view as you are in the catering business? It might also depend on the scale of what you are wanting to do such as local or national? Is it worth looking in local farm shops to see what s missing . I know 4-5 of my local farm shops have frozen pies, lasagne, curry etc from independents.
Secondly, if delivery the again consider what s missing. Is it variety, service or quality? Could you do better? Have any of the local takeaways cornered the market? We have a local Chinese for example that has a 2 hour wait unless you order at 5pm despite having 5 chefs plus additional kitchen staff that start prep at 9am every day.
Like I say, I ve no idea what I m talking about but just some considerations.
This is a company that appears to be quite successful that’s set up not too far from me that has a central production kitchen and might give some inspiration
https://chilledcurrycompany.co.uk/app/menu
Firstly, if it s a production kitchen Tony, I m guessing you might be best placed to take a view as you are in the catering business? It might also depend on the scale of what you are wanting to do such as local or national? Is it worth looking in local farm shops to see what s missing . I know 4-5 of my local farm shops have frozen pies, lasagne, curry etc from independents.
Secondly, if delivery the again consider what s missing. Is it variety, service or quality? Could you do better? Have any of the local takeaways cornered the market? We have a local Chinese for example that has a 2 hour wait unless you order at 5pm despite having 5 chefs plus additional kitchen staff that start prep at 9am every day.
Like I say, I ve no idea what I m talking about but just some considerations.
This is a company that appears to be quite successful that’s set up not too far from me that has a central production kitchen and might give some inspiration
https://chilledcurrycompany.co.uk/app/menu
Edited by JKRolling on Thursday 12th February 18:28
Sausage rolls.
Easy and cheap to make and easy to sell.
Greggs sells 2.5 million of them in a week, even with questionable sausages ingredients.
With economies of scale, you could make something rather delicious for 40-50p a unit that could be sold for £1 at wholesale.
On another note, what are you thinking? You seem to have more experience than most on this thread who have little experience other than eating things, including me.
Easy and cheap to make and easy to sell.
Greggs sells 2.5 million of them in a week, even with questionable sausages ingredients.
With economies of scale, you could make something rather delicious for 40-50p a unit that could be sold for £1 at wholesale.
On another note, what are you thinking? You seem to have more experience than most on this thread who have little experience other than eating things, including me.
Just a thought Tony and I’ve no idea of the area you live but what about a deli? This is one I use on a regular basis. They supply top restaurants and make amazing sandwiches at lunchtime from bread supplied from the bakery next door. Could you source the products, bake the bread etc? Maybe do a “pop up theme” once a week/ month?
https://www.andersonandhill.co.uk/
https://www.andersonandhill.co.uk/
Harpoon said:
Ignore the cafe side, but this company which does meal preparation is expanding. Might help with inspiration based on their menu / app
https://crewe.nub.news/news/local-news/popular-foo...
https://prep-d.co.uk/
Thats not to far from my work location, had never heard of it as never venture into Crewe if I can help it.https://crewe.nub.news/news/local-news/popular-foo...
https://prep-d.co.uk/
Will give it a try.
craigjm said:
21TonyK said:
I might be able to rent (cheaply) a full commercial kitchen all day, most days.
Does this mean that someone else is using it too on some days and in the evenings?Either way its steering me away from delivered hot food outside of daytime hours which is limiting so looking at chilled and frozen.
How about office lunches - tiffin / bento style? The sorts of things that would work on a mass catering model but most people couldn’t be bothered to do themselves. Would be nicer than a butty van…
Chilled/frozen not necessarily a bad call. Some of the gourmet frozen options really know how to charge and there’s probably a level just below that for things that look homemade but priced at a level that someone can justify getting once/twice a week to feed the family - casserole/lasagne/etc without feeling that they’ve resorted to ultra-processed/mass produced.
Chilled/frozen not necessarily a bad call. Some of the gourmet frozen options really know how to charge and there’s probably a level just below that for things that look homemade but priced at a level that someone can justify getting once/twice a week to feed the family - casserole/lasagne/etc without feeling that they’ve resorted to ultra-processed/mass produced.
LooneyTunes said:
How about office lunches - tiffin / bento style? The sorts of things that would work on a mass catering model but most people couldn t be bothered to do themselves. Would be nicer than a butty van
Chilled/frozen not necessarily a bad call. Some of the gourmet frozen options really know how to charge and there s probably a level just below that for things that look homemade but priced at a level that someone can justify getting once/twice a week to feed the family - casserole/lasagne/etc without feeling that they ve resorted to ultra-processed/mass produced.
Given the times you have the kitchen, this is perhaps the best option. With the possibilty to cart around some of the frozen stock too, so people can buy 2 for £10 (or what ever is the going rate) and take something home for dinner. They could also pre-order their lunch & dinner combos so you have the right stock on board. Chilled/frozen not necessarily a bad call. Some of the gourmet frozen options really know how to charge and there s probably a level just below that for things that look homemade but priced at a level that someone can justify getting once/twice a week to feed the family - casserole/lasagne/etc without feeling that they ve resorted to ultra-processed/mass produced.
I recently bought a 'Cook' spagetti (new in the local coop) for lunch to try it. It was nice, but £7 is steep!
It's good to see Tony and Craig working as a power house here too
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