If you were to order fresh ready meals delivered to you

[itwasadarkandstormy]

How much would you be prepared to pay per meal. I am considering offering this service locally and wondered if £7 per meal (roughly) was a reasonable cost.

I cannot find anyone who offers this locally and so have nothing to compare it to....

Tia

I use a service on Plymouth called Greenbox. You can find them on Facebook. They charge £4/meal: m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1072336852941423&id=817708125070965

Whereabouts are you OP?

South East

Thanks silver, will do

We get guosto, for 4 it is £47 for 16 meals which is pretty good value.

£7 is very high

£5 per meal is probably my maximum.

What's your proposed method of heating the meals? Are you looking more at a drop off these meals on a Monday for the week with heating instructions or more like a meals on wheels service?

I remember a thread like this before. Was it you op ?
If it want it might be an interesting read, although I can’t remember the op [helpful]
I think it very much depends on the quality of the meal and what it is. I for one would quite like to buy a family size lasagne or similar, not sure how much I would pay though tbh.

I’ve ordered Cook meals before (they’re really popular here) - maybe have a look at their prices for the type of meals you are considering offering and how they compare?www.cookfood.net

Cook do things like family size lasagne etc which are handy.

Is cook good prosecco?

What a brilliant idea, I wish GreenBox was on my patch. Thanks Silver.

I was thinking of doing family sized ones - and, no, the previous thread wasn’t me... Yes, I’ll look at cook, thanks for the recommendation

It is good - the stews and lasagnes are similar to how they are if I have time to make them, so that is handy. I think the desserts are excellent.

I tried out an Italian cook-it-yourself one called Quomi which sent you the ingredients for 2/4/6 portions and a recipe sheet. The website was attractive and they had generous quantities of bio meat and ingredients. I was impressed with a whole bio lemon when only one slice was needed, things like that. I could get three people’s meals from their 2 portions and it took away the mental stress of shopping while still serving gourmet style food two nights a week.

With special offers it worked out about €6 per portion delivered to your door in an insulated box with cool blocks etc.

However, I stopped when the weather got warmer, my hours became erratic and I couldn’t guarantee delivery slots.

quomi.it Here it is.

But you’re taking it a step further, OP and delivering fully prepared stuff. A bit like that service Ronnie Corbett used to advertise for OAPs. I have to admit, I liked the idea...

Yes, I’d be delivering it, 3 times a week if necessary

Meant to say before OP I do like the idea and I can see that there would be a market for it - it’s getting that price point right and getting the word out I guess. I see what you’re suggesting as comparable to both the Cook meals I mentioned earlier and the meals my local farm shop stocks (though the farm shop doesn’t deliver). I think I have typically paid around £15ish for a family size lasagne, probably £5 or £6 per head for stews and things (though portions have usually been pretty generous). I particularly like stuff that is a full meal (with the addition of just a bag of salad or ready prepped veg) as if I am buying in a nice ready meal it is because I am stretched for time and want something yummy but don’t want to have to think about it.

This is really interesting. I've been toying with the idea of setting up a similar local business, mainly focused on delivering during the after-school slot.
We have a Cook and a lady who offers fresh ready-made meals at our farmer's market once a week, but I think there might be an even more local market where I live (Oxford area)
Where are you based in the South-East out of interest?

Berkshire/Surrey border. I wanted to really focus on the lunchtime office market too - delivering salads and broth noodles as an alternative to sandwiches and crisps. And then offer power juices and smoothies from the delivery vehicle. But, as you’ve all said, it’s about the price point...

You’re not anywhere near Aldershot are you OP...? I was literally saying to DH the other day I would so happily pay someone to do this! Not sure on exact pricing though. £7 does sound a bit steep but you’re in an expensive area.

I wouldn't order frozen ready meals off someone but I have always wished there was a takeaway service for a decent (not awfully unhealthy) meal and I'd pay £7 a meal happily for that! Maybe locally you could offer that?

Sadly not close enough Ave