A packed lunch (also called sack lunch or bag lunch in North America, or bagging in Lancashire, Merseyside and Yorkshire in the UK is a lunch prepared at home and carried to be eaten somewhere else, such as school, aworkplace, or at an outing. The food is usually wrapped in plastic, aluminum foil, or paper and can be carried ("packed") in a lunch box, paper bag (a "sack"), or plastic bag. While packed lunches are usually taken from home by the people who are going to eat them, in Mumbai, India, tiffin boxes are most often picked up from the home and brought to workplaces later in the day by so-called dabbawallas. It is also possible to buy packed lunches from stores in several countries. Lunch boxes made out of metal, plastic or vinyl are now popular with today's youth. Lunch boxes provide a way to take heavier lunches in a sturdier box or bag. It is also environmentally friendly.
A box lunch delivery service is a welcome treat for workers who have neither the time to pack snacks before they leave for the office, nor the budget to afford restaurant meals and take-out fare on a daily basis. This service also appeals to employees who typically work at their desks during lunch, or who don't have easy access to local eateries. Although start-up costs to open a box lunch delivery service are low, this small business venture does require reliable transportation, good organizational skills and a sufficient customer base, preferably in a high-density metropolitan area.
Lunch box catering companies typically serve businesses, community organizations, schools, event planners and other groups that must feed large groups of people. A successful business may be an offshoot of an existing restaurant or catering business, or an entity into itself. The size and scope of the business can vary based on your available space, budget and target demographic.
Pre-Start-up Responsibilities
Just as with any business, before launching your company you should obtain the appropriate licenses and permits required. Visit your secretary of state's office or local business licensing office to learn about the particulars you'll be required to have to legitimately operate your company. You’ll also be required to follow health department standards in terms of food preparation, storage and transportation. You may also be required to carry insurance coverage specific to the food service industry.
Find Vendors and Suppliers
Identify food industry vendors from which to purchase your supplies and materials. You'll need cost-effective packaging, such as individual containers, disposable silverware, food wrappers, napkins and condiments. Depending on whether you'll be preparing food or using prepackaged edibles, you may also need food preparation equipment and a means for safely transporting box lunches, like a refrigerator truck.
Determine Business Logistics
You may need to hire employees to help you market your business, fulfill orders, create meals and deliver them. Creating a business plan and a marketing plan can help you figure out these logistics as well as help you identify specific product offerings and price points. For example, consider a low-end deli sandwich lunch box with a cookie and bottled water as a base pricing structure and work your way up to offer gourmet box lunches that include offerings such as pasta dishes, flavored sparkling water, containers of fresh fruits and vegetables, and delectable desserts.
Market Your Business
Market services to your target demographic. This could include schools, universities, large business complexes, corporations and event planners. Price your lunch box meals competitively and look for ways to develop long-term contracts and build repeat business. For example, inking an agreement to provide box lunches to every local chamber of commerce luncheon or college registration day will net you greater profits and more referrals than catering something like a one-time elementary school class field trip.
A box lunch business can be the perfect business idea for someone who enjoys cooking food and doesn't mind working hard. People are always looking for new options for lunches brought right to the office. Even in today's recession, you can be successful running a box lunch business by following these tips:
- Develop a business plan for managing and growing your new company. Identify your goals and lay out all the financial requirements. Figure out what kind of initial investment you will need, based on any equipment or other necessary purchases.
- Determine where your delivery boundaries will be, and what you will charge. Consider the costs of transportation and the speed with which you can make deliveries.
- Plan a simple yet tasty menu that will entice people to order. Keep your ingredients cheap enough to make a profit, but delicious enough to draw lots of business. Find food suppliers to lower your costs. Continually seek feedback from your clients about how to improve your menu.
- Advertise yourself so you can find your first customers. Drop flyers in mailboxes around your delivery area. Put up posters around commercial centers and office buildings. Fax menus to other local businesses. Put an ad in the yellow pages, newspapers and on the Internet. You can offer coupons to attract new business. It's up to you to generate your own business.
Other Instruction:
Step 1
Identify your target market and the service area you can comfortably cover between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Research whether there are existing box lunch delivery services, what they offer and how much they charge. Distribute questionnaires to potential clientele to gauge their interest, identify their food, drink and snack preferences, determine how frequently they would use your service, and how much they are willing to pay.
Step 2
Write a business plan based on your research. This should include the estimated monthly cost of your lunch box ingredients and packaging, the cost of transportation and insurance, business license, catering license and permits, registering your business name with the state registrar, establishing a payment system, designing a website and promoting your box lunch service through business cards, mailers and menu brochures. Since you will be handling and preparing food, you will also need to notify your state health department and make your kitchen and food preparation area available for routine inspections.
Step 3
Locate grocery wholesalers like Smart & Final, Sam's Club and Costco that can give you the lowest prices on bulk meats and cheeses, chips, cookies, soft drinks, fruit cups and cold salads like potato, macaroni and Cole slaw, napkins and plastic utensils. Purchase inexpensive packaging, like lunch sacks and take-out boxes that can hold an entire lunch. If you are only going to deliver handmade sandwiches, plastic wrap or clear sandwich bags will suffice.
Step 4
Design a website that lists the box lunch items you offer, and the prices for each. Make it easy for your customers to place their orders online as well as to let you know whether they have any allergies or dietary restrictions. Consider providing discounts for large groups, regular customers or introductory referrals.
Things Needed
- Transportation
- Insulated coolers
- Food assembly area
- Packaging materials
Tip
- Distinguish yourself by filling a niche your competition is missing. Examples include vegetarian box lunches, ethnic cuisine and signature salads.
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