How many of you dread going out during break time due to the jam ? The thought of looking for a parking spot, driving under the sun, and the ever so alarming food prices?
How many of you would vote for a home cooked meal (either your lunch or dinner) to be delivered to you? I would just like to see how many of you would like such a service, against the number of you who like to actually go out for a meal?

I actually started preparing dinner for my husband to take to work, and then it expanded to some of his friends. I was told that my food was good, and I should venture on a bigger scale..I just want to test the market to see what you guys think first...

First of all there might be some problem with management about eating at workstation.
Secondly workplace must have microwave to heat it up
Third would be delivery time how can u deliver to 2 different place at the same time? regardless of morning or afternoon.

There are already those meal in box for microwave heating out there. cost a bit more expensive but with a lot of variety. doesnt sell well because of the problems above. (in office)

Delivery can always be done by maybe 3 or 4 groups. It will still reach the place within the time. It can be divided into areas. But doing so will increase the cost if u planning in smaller scale of business then this wont work.

Mostly the problem will be what if i do not like what was being prepared? Often ppl will just get bored over maybe 2 months or more.

For me, 90% of the time i will just simply grab something nearby without driving out. Only 10% unless i got an appointment outside.

This post has been edited by mugenz: Aug 24 2011, 04:42 PM

Well. what if we target the offices that have in house pantry, and have an extensive menu.

Funny thing about meals is alot are very fickle. If the meal becomes very routine, no matter how many variations we can change, we can never beat the various type of food available outside that is available around the area. Lunches are mostly taken around the office and very seldom they want to actually drive out unless there's a special occassion. If it is this, this is also a negative factor to your scheme. even on home cooked meal delivered to homes (tiffin carrier types), most also cancels after a few months and will resume after another few mnonths or some don't start again. They also orders 2 persons for 3 persons consumption.

A factor is, other than MacDs, Domino and Pizza Hut many other fast foods are also starting to have delivery and some cafes around the office areas also caters for delivery. So, if you can't really offer variety, it is not really advisible. According to your friends, the may say it is good but how sure are you as youa re like doing them a favour. what happens if you really charges the profitable rates and they are not friends but customers, opinions can differ. Even reknown establishments gets negative feedbacks.

But, who knows, it might work and since the capital outlay for this kind of venture is not really high, it worth a try. who knows, it might work.

agree very much with the part where they might cancel after few months

basically, there's nothing much can be done on it, no matter how good your food is, or how cheap, after sometime people will tend to think to eat outside for awhile

hence, it's very important to constant looking for new customers. however, never overstress yourself or taking orders that you can't manage. set a target like maybe 100 customers per day or so. If more than that, don't accept. If too little, then need to work hard to get new one to replace the old one

I would recommend u take canteen instead. So far the KL companies that I worked with have those canteen at underground car park. then u can choose to deliver or have walk in customer as well.

This post has been edited by UpCar: Jan 17 2013, 01:59 PM

i would agree with the canteen. Especially in KL where parking is so limited and expensive. Ppl would rather eat within their area.

Then once u get frequent customers then u can start to approach them whether would they like the food to be delivered to their office instead of them coming down to the canteen.

i don't mind if the food is nice and have variety.

What you could do is make it such that the box can be put into microwave oven for warming. This way, you don't need to deliver the food while it's hot. Can deliver early as customers just need to warm it up to eat. Those who are busy can keep it until 3pm or 4pm cause sometimes they might be too busy to eat.

You can look for disposable boxes. If can't find any that is suitable for microwave and keep food fresh, then get customized boxes. Take deposit from customers...for eg charge RM10 for the food + box. When customer return the box, refund back RM5. Assuming the box cost RM5.

Just my 2cents. Cause this thing have potential. It is successful in some parts of Asia. However, I have seen many people try this in Malaysia and failed.

Thanks for the many thoughts. Yes, I am supplying in the microwaveable container. Below is the list of menu that I have came up with

Wk01
a) Singapore Bee Hoon (with seafood)
b) Nasi Goreng Kampong & Tumeric Fried Chicken & Fried Egg
c) Steam Rice with Dried Chilli Fried Chicken
d) Nasi Padprik & Fried Egg
e) Steam Rice with Sweet Sour Chicken

Wk02
a) Fried Kueyteow (with Prawns)
b) Nasi Goreng Tomyam with Fried Egg
c) Steam Rice with Cashew Nut Prawns
d) Spagetti Bolognese
e) Steam Rice with Ginger Chicken.

I am able to innovate the menu every now and then... but for a start what do you think?

Most of the dishes you planned are one dish meal and available from most outlets nearby any office complexes. I mean why would they go for yours and why not at the nearby outlets where they are prepared at the spot. I think 'Bento' boxes concept is more appropriate and more attractive. There are 3 compartments microwaveble containers (they sell for 80 sen each, minimum of 50 pcs) and set meals with separate dishes are more suitable. You can make Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanese, Malay, Indian etc. for each day of the week, even Western. Office staffs won't mind if they cost a little bit more if the food is attractive and taste nice. Remember in food business, food presentation makes 50% of the taste as our eyes will feast on the food first.

I don't want to pour cold water onto your scheme but if you go with one dish meals as you plan, I think you will not make it.

For me i will not place order coz these are the food that i m eat for lunch.

I have home delivery aka catering for dinner. We just switched to a new provider and i can say not even a month we got bored over it.

great menu there
wish you all the best

when i order a boxed meal , i expect it to be like a economy rice menu. so i get to select some dishes out of the various dishes available at that day itself.

and probably some daily set lunch for more budgeted people like myself.
some sort like a today's special or pre-fixed monday special, tuesday specials.

just my 2 cents

For meal box..I will go for budget & nice...well probably RM4 for 3 dishes? I must be cheaper than chapfan lor

Thanks for all of your input. I was at a dilemma of choosing the menu. At first, I wanted to go for high end kind of meal to make it for attractive, but I realized people are getting economical, and I had to get the price to a least RM5. I cannot go more than that. Therefore, I was not able to go for the high end kind of meal( eg Western, Japanese, Indian etc).

Yes, I noticed that my menu may be similar to most restaurant but the benefits are:
a) Cheap and affordable. Value for money as home cooked meal are cleaner, nutritious and have more ingredients. You would easily spend RM10( with drinks) if you go to a shop in KL or PJ area.
b) No need to drive out, and look for parking. You get your meal at your doorstep. Sometimes spend of parking fee.
c) Minus travel time- you have longer lunch hour to rest.

These are my thoughts....

did u even consider doing healthy menu? those really calculated carbs meals.

Really good for OL nowadays. Coz i notice girls just eat fruits for lunch

1. They are usually expensive coz its healthy.
2. More specialised target group of ppl hence the scale/start up can be easier and smaller.
3. Everyone's doing organic this healthy this. less sugar this and that.



This post has been edited by mugenz: Aug 26 2011, 03:53 PM

Mystic Asia

I'm sure you're familiar with "http://www.mangkuktingkat.com/"

Currently, they're our potential venture in-order to supply to over 250 staff in our company to facilitate (Dinner) for them to take home to their family.

At average, we're looking at each family having 2 adults and 2 children which makes an order of over 1000 sets per day (Dinner only).

This plan is to be executed next year in Q1 if everything goes well. We'll be in-touch again soon for this and just for reference, I would appreciate if you can provide me with your contact and email. I have PM'ed you.

Thank you
-Splynt

Guys, it has been long since I dropped into this forum. Based on soem of your opinion I did try to venture into this idea. Have started well, and of course, it has its challenges. But so far, I am satisfied that everyone has complimented my food. I have started a facebook page and started marketing onto facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php...100002973905849

Feel free to visit or add me...