selling frozen lunches to office workers

[dapaters]

I believe that I've discovered an untapped niche in my city and was wondering if anyone had insights into what sort of successed/failures/pitfalls I might run into. This would start as a small, part-time money-making venture for me; I would work when the demand for my product was there. i.e. I'd be happy if my profit was $20 a month. It would be under the table and with very little capital investment.

I want to compete with Michelina's for the office crowd. I would make from home and supply frozen portions of homemade soups/shephards pie/etc. to office lunch rooms. They would be made mostly with local/seasonal ingredients and supplied in reusable containers. I would charge a deposit on the containers. I would put a menu in the lunch rooms, take orders via email and stock the fridge or freezer with soups labeled with the customer's name. If my only cost if for the ingredients, I believe I can make a good profit and supply these at a reasonable price (perhaps $3.50-4.50 for a good size lunch - about 70% of the price of a similar restaurant portion and 125% of the price for a similar factory made frozen dinner).

This is something I've been doing for myself already. In the last 6 months I've been doing office temp work and in every office I've noticed that people have been very jealous of what I bring in for lunch (usually homemade soup). I'm an experienced cook of three years, I'm very goos at it and I enjoy cooking on my own. What I don't like is the pressure, atmosphere and pay of professional kitchens. So I've gotten out of that line of work.

Once I get customers I'm confident that they'll repeat. My big obstacle is making inroads. I plan to email HR departments for different offices and see if they're interested and if they'd put up a poster for me and let me supply them with samples.

I have a feeling that people (both HR managers and potential customers) will be apprehensive (I know I would) since I'm just some dude off the street they've never met, and whose to say whether my food will make them sick. I think it might be a good idea for me to call myself a caterer, come up with a company name and have nice looking labels.

Any suggestions? I would think there must be other people doing something similar.

Thanks

[BusinessAdviser]

In terms of exploiting the opportunity, I think you're headed in the right direction. Be professional - create a business entity, conduct yourself professionally, print up flyers. Give them something of value before you ask for their business - provide a free lunch for a few offices. Get feedback - in return for the free lunches, get market information, such as types of meals they would like, how often they would use your services, etc. Customer service - very important, form personal relationships, schedule an appointment with the office manager to discuss your business rather than just try to get your foot in the door over the phone.

These are just some ideas, but I think you are off to a decent start in terms of a plan.

[aelli614]

I would make from home and supply frozen portions of homemade soups/shephards pie/etc. to office lunch rooms. They would be made mostly with local/seasonal ingredients and supplied in reusable containers. I would charge a deposit on the containers

Not sure where you live but in Houston to do this from your home its very hard. You would have to get your kitchen at home certifed by the health department. I know many people do catering out there homes with out this but its a big risk. Just one case of food posioning could mess you up for a very long time.

I learned this in a class I had to take for my culinary arts degree. Id recoment buying a small used concesion trailer. Those can be certifired and inspected by the health department. The cost now is worth the protection down the road.

But I love the idea!

[Gr-Andy]

Not sure where you live but in Houston to do this from your home its very hard. You would have to get your kitchen at home certifed by the health department. I know many people do catering out there homes with out this but its a big risk. Just one case of food posioning could mess you up for a very long time.

I learned this in a class I had to take for my culinary arts degree. Id recoment buying a small used concesion trailer. Those can be certifired and inspected by the health department. The cost now is worth the protection down the road.

But I love the idea!

I agree. I know cost will lower your profit margines. ALso consitter a website. I have made a few myself for bussniesses simlar to yours. that will let the user order online pay with cc and its realy nice.