Hello Rodinhoods,
I am an engineer by profession and have no clue about the food industry as such. I am looking to start this venture in Kolkata. Idea is based on delivering highly nutritional food to schoolchildren.I would like to address following questions:
- How do I get people to believe in my product when all I intend to do is source materials from the local market?
- How does not having my own kitchen to prepare the food set me back? Also having no experience in catering (though am a food buff) , should I go ahead with having one of my own?(Referred this article https://www.therodinhoods.com/forum/topics/how-i-doomed-my-1st-venture?commentId=6328457%3AComment%3A143602)
- I see a huge market potential for the product and would like to have a team. Whom do I appraoch considering the importance of a team and that with people having different skillsets?
P.S. Open invitation to interested rodinhooders preferably in the eastern part of India . I have a short survey that I would like to get filled .It would take just a few minutes of your valuable time.Your responses will be highly solicited. I would follow up the survey results with a discussion about it in the forum once I receive sizeable response. Anyone can fill the survey but parents with school going children would be preferred :). Click below
Neharika Roy
Hi,
Why do you want to cater to school children? You would have to ensure great quality of food, and children can be very picky eaters. (the less healthy- the better for them) I remember as kids we used to take bread-jam-cheese sandwiches (which we hated) on most days. That is a hassle-free meal, so I’m not sure my mom would outsource it (especially when she would not be sure if it was prepared in a hygienic way).
You should probably ask your friends who have kids and prepare a meal plan for the week. Can you not use the kitchen where you live? Maybe you should start small and cater to 2-3 kids in your neighbourhood. See how they like it, see how much their parents are willing to pay for your services, and see if you can make a decent profit out of it.
By the way, I hope you know how to cook.
Ananta Kumar Roy
Thanks a lot for the feedback Neharika. The concern that you have voiced about the hygiene prompted me to write my second question about having my own kitchen . I very well understand the need of it. When i thought of such a thing,immediately the USP that came to my mind was delivering Hygiene and nutrition and leveraging from it. So, I very well appreciate your concern .Plus the fact about picky eaters is very well known and that seriously brings questions in my mind whether i really do need a chef in right at the start. Anyway, the ultimate thing is to start this myself and see how it fares.!!!
Karan Pandhi
Hi Ananta,
1. If you are going to outsource the cooking it means basically you are a sabziwalla, as you aren’t cooking nor do you know who will cook for you.
2. If you don’t have your own kitchen, I as a school principle how would I know that it isn’t from the slum nearby and is made under hygienic conditions.
3. If you see potential then why not have your own kitchen, see do anything pressures will be there, some fail some succeed. The first step of any business is risk.
4. If you want a team, I feel getting the right people who believe in your project and have the same views, I have heard a lot of co-founders and co-partner issues .
5. I’m a foodpreneur myself in Mumbai. And cooking is the only part you need to learn to make great food.
Khana khana sab ko acha lagta hai aur sab food buffs aur kya nahi bante, but boss us dish ko banane mein kuch logo ki halat kharab ho jaati hai.
I remember when I had done my first event, I didn’t have lunch or dinner properly looking at so much food. So you have to cook to give the best, and not trust on someone else.
Regards,
Karan Pandhi
T : +91-9699-246-444
E : karan.pandhi@gmail.com
Tweet @karanp17
I hope this helps
Ananta Kumar Roy
Thanks a lot Karan sir for your insight!! Would definitely go for it and share my experiences on this forum.