quit the dayjob to start a catering business?

[wanye]

so i've spent the last year trying to formulate what i want to do after lockdown, and i'm now looking into starting a business where i batch cook various dishes (spicy chicken, stew/curry/pizza/etc) and sell them via a website for local delivery/collection (and further afield once things are up and running) to reheat/finish off in your own home

i want to get out of working with IT in a corporate environment. the last five years (ive been here 15) have sucked out all the enjoyment i used to have from working with computers...

check the restaurant cook at home meals thread for an idea of the sort of thing im going for

my initial plan is to rent a commercial kitchen for a few hours at a time to make the dishes, package into containers (1 plastic food tub is enough for two people when you add the sides (rice/potatoes/etc) to bulk it out. these will be sold either chilled or frozen, and the buyer just has to warm stuff up in a pan, and serve with the sides (in some cases, adding fresh veg/etc to the pot of "base sauce", where others will be fully prepared, just need defrosing/reheating (eg lasagne)

does anyone have any experience doing this sort of thing? what do i need to get before i go live with it? stuff like food hygeine certificate, PLI/ELI, and other business expenses/hoops to jump through. any tips or advice?

and if you dont have any knowledge on this sort of thing, is it something you would be interested in buying yourself if you lived nearby? (or would order for next day courier delivery) - any thoughts on what you would like to see from a company doing this sort of stuff?

i'll elaborate further in replies, but for now, i'd like to see what people think about the idea, and what sort of things you would expect from someone doing this...

"project froman" is finally beginning to take shape! i really managed to cobble together some coherent ideas while i couldnt sleep last night! (was up till 3am typing out ideas) - i now need to start thinking of a business name for this side of things!

my other side gig is DJing weddings, so will go alongside that once gigs return to normal. i'm already at a point with that side of things where (under normal circumstances when weddings arent all postponed) that with a little bit more effort, i can pay all our monthly living expenses... but obviously, i need a covid-safe arm that i can put resources towards when i dont have 2-6 gigs a month like over the last year!

the plan is to quit the dayjob within the next 2 years to go full time with the side hustles, and long term, i want to 'retire' in 10 years time where i can just oversee it all, and have staff do it all for me instead

anyway, thought i'd try and get some views/ideas from someone who isnt me or the handful of people i've talked to about all this in the last few months! currently my gf is sticking all my stuff down into trello to put it in some sort of project management friendly organisation...

[MissCellaneous]

No advice from me, other than to say that that sounds a brill plan on the face of it 😊

And that our industry really is a soul sucker, isn't it? I've just switched jobs to improve my happiness and wage, so wish me luck, and I think my DH is looking at doing the same soon to survive burnout 😢 - before considering getting out of the industry entirely.

I hope you can get some good advice and moral support here, and wish you every success!

[wanye]

to begin with, the plan was to do these things as a takeaway, but good pizza doesnt travel, neither does crispy cooked chicken chunks. so instead of all the expense of opening up a full restaurant and all that entails, i thought it was much better to do things that are all prepped, they just need finishing off at the customers home

each product with have a QR code on the tub/packaging with a link to a page with all the info (ingredients/allergens/etc) as well as detailed, yet simple instructions on how to finish and serve the dishes. that way i can start off gradually, and with relatively minimal startup costs (rent a kitchen as needed, and then a small storage/collection unit with a few fridges/freezers/POS kit. the rest is just bigger equipment than i currently have at home. most of which will be provided with the kitchen apart from a few specialist items)


not counting rent/rates/things like that, i can probably get all this started up for a few grand of equipment costs (and things like the website setup)

i really think this could be a goer!

[Ivegottadream]

Sounds like a great idea. Ideas that immediately spring to mind are could you do some which are locally sourced? I think fewer good miles, supporting local farms etc is a popular idea.
A large garden centre near me stocks cook! in their food bit, perhaps somewhere local to you might be interested in stocking?
Could you offer a certain subscribe and save offer perhaps. Leaflet drop sheltered housing etc, emphasis on top quality?
Sorry if you've thought of that already. Also make sure you have 5 star food hygiene, otherwise it's a no.

[Lizzim]

I am not in the industry so have no idea but I have a few questions:

1. Have you looked into how feasible it is to hire kitchen space?

2. How difficult will it be to get the hygiene certificates etc if using different locations?

3. Have you done any 'market research' into demand in your local area?

4. How do you plan to 'create demand' and / or demonstrate the quality? As a consumer I would want to know your product is good before buying. Could you do some demonstrations etc?

[wanye]

Originally Posted by Ivegottadream

Sounds like a great idea. Ideas that immediately spring to mind are could you do some which are locally sourced? I think fewer good miles, supporting local farms etc is a popular idea.
A large garden centre near me stocks cook! in their food bit, perhaps somewhere local to you might be interested in stocking?
Could you offer a certain subscribe and save offer perhaps. Leaflet drop sheltered housing etc, emphasis on top quality?
Sorry if you've thought of that already. Also make sure you have 5 star food hygiene, otherwise it's a no.

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most of the meat and veg i buy are from local indies anyway, so its mostly from round these parts anyway

subscriptions were something i came up with around 2:45am (just before i gave up and went to bed) so will definitely be something that gets expanded upon

and yeah, having frozen stock in farm shop type places is a great idea, was mostly thinking about market type events, but that seems like a no-brainer! the emphasis will be on restaurant quality food you can eat at home rather than getting the same crappy takeaway from your local kebab shop or pizza place because better versions don't travel in a box very well (they go soggy or cold too quickly) whereas you pick up a frozen pizza, and you just need to give it 5 minutes in a hot oven to finish it off... initial tests reheating parcooked/frozen pizzas have been very positive!

will be expanding with veggie/vegan options too down the line to cater for everyone, i do a damn fine vegan chilli, but for now i'm gonna concentrate on the products i've got really good at in the last year since i couldnt go to my favourite restaurants

[wanye]

Originally Posted by Lizzim

I am not in the industry so have no idea but I have a few questions:

1. Have you looked into how feasible it is to hire kitchen space?

2. How difficult will it be to get the hygiene certificates etc if using different locations?

3. Have you done any 'market research' into demand in your local area?

4. How do you plan to 'create demand' and / or demonstrate the quality? As a consumer I would want to know your product is good before buying. Could you do some demonstrations etc?

See more...

1) not yet, but i know a couple of other local places that already do that sort of thing, so it's definitely possible

2) my best mate runs a coffeeshop that does lots of outdoor events, he's going to be weighing in on that soon for me (we had a day of initial discussion last week, as i'd not seen him in person since january last year)

3) not exactly, but there seems to be a healthy local scene, and i'd like to work with some of them, as theres not much crossover between our offerings. hopefully enough demand to at least cover my costs for the first year. i've certainly been getting regular "do you deliver?" comments from friends (and FoF) when i post photos, and everyone who's been round for a meal has said how much theyve enjoyed it...

4) demand will initially be created online via samples send out to local food bloggers/journalists/influencer types (i dont mean vacuous instagram thots/blaggers) and then in person at events (the par-cooked products cooked and sold from a food van/gazebo stall)

[whlparkstone]

I am unable to offer advice as I really have no experience, but I wanted to wish you the very best of luck in your new venture.

My parents had a flyer through their door last month from a company doing the same, and they ended up placing an order with them. They had the food delivered on a Saturday afternoon and re heated it up in the evening. They didn’t order any rice as they said they may aswell cook that themselves , but they were thrilled with the delivery service and the food quality. I will enclose the website address so you can have a browse ... I hope this is allowed.

thecurryguys/

[CarolynU]

Sounds a great idea. Just check out all your local competition and offer something completely unique and different.
Round my way there are numerous Chinese, Indian, Thai,
Nepalese, Pizzas, Burgers, Kebabs, Fried Chicken, Fish and Chips, some are very good indeed.
But very few alternatives to those who are offering good quality fresh vegetables accompanying rich casseroles, for example or the best quality home made pies made from scratch.
So don’t compete. Be original and see if you can specialise in something one genre maybe that you will become known for rather than a mixture of everything.
Then once you have come up with your speciality perfect perfect perfect and then promote everywhere you can think of and try and offer samples maybe to draw people in and get your loyal customers to spread the word.

[wanye]

Originally Posted by whlparkstone

I am unable to offer advice as I really have no experience, but I wanted to wish you the very best of luck in your new venture.

My parents had a flyer through their door last month from a company doing the same, and they ended up placing an order with them. They had the food delivered on a Saturday afternoon and re heated it up in the evening. They didn’t order any rice as they said they may aswell cook that themselves , but they were thrilled with the delivery service and the food quality. I will enclose the website address so you can have a browse ... I hope this is allowed.

thecurryguys/

See more...

we have one doing similar round here too...

anokiexpressrange/

as well as sat bains with his twist on things

mommabains/