Indian Food (samosas)

[Designr]

Hello all. Just a question to ask regarding Indian Food (samaosa) Would you buy them from the supermarkets (fresh and/ or frozen?) Mail-order? (via a website) Do you eat many?

The idea came from friends who always tell me "Your wife makes the best samosas they have ever tasted" and them coming round and basically helping themselves.

I have to admit, they are very, very good :) So, just stubling across the idea of perhaps selling them via mail-order initally and then then wholesaling them.

Any comments?

Cheers

[MarkPearson]

Can food be sent via the post?

I would say that these food items are already available in most UK supermarkets

[Ravenfire]

I love Samosas althoug have tbh most of mine come from my local Indian as the shop bought ones that I have had just arent as nice.

I know you can sell food and post it although not sure what it would be put in but I think you would have to have more than the one product to make it viable. Good luck if you decide to go ahead

Toni

[Designr]

Thanks for the replys. Yep, most supermarkets will sell these already, but I think that covers most things. (glasses, games, multimedia...etc)

Toni: Was thinking about selling them in multiples of 3-20. Your right, not worth the bother only selling 1 at a time. Maybe I should get a batch made for "free sampling" to generate interest/ sales.

Cheers

[Whistle Ink]

My mum makes some. Really really tasty they are an all!!!!!!!!! Couldn't put a price on them!! :D

But no seriously, I think take aways already have that covered, they can bring you nice hot somosas very quickly, for little cost really. And if you wanted frozen ones, then supermarkets have got it covered.

bye

paresh :D

[Claire B]

could you try them out at local markets first (like that bloke from River Cottage), just to test the market.

Pasty shops are big business now, very fashionable with franchises being set up left, right and centre (Oggy Oggy, Morris Pasties and The Real Pasty Company) so samosa could become a more 'exotic' version of that.

You could even get yourself along to a posh farmers market (you're probably not a farmer, but I expect your samosas have got peas in them :lol: , so same thing)

I say it's a great idea, design some upmarket packaging, get them Soil Assoc. certified and go for it

I'm really hungry now, could you send some to me, I will be your tester!

[fastfences]

Hi Des,

You could send it by express courier and market it as 'Fast Food.'

Sorry, couldn't help myself :lol:
Cheers, Nigel

[robbie williams]

a few years ago now their used to be a sandwich truck - hang on I'm sounding American! - I mean a roll van, which used to have some home-made samosas that were well scrummy.

Perhaps pitch into a local sandwich shop or something like that and give them a go. Hey you have nothing to lose if they really are that tasty.

I do not think the mail order will work purely for samosas...

[YEM]

I love indian food. I buy frozen ones from an Indian supermarket or from a stall on the market that does indian food. I wouldn't buy them from your regular supermarkets though!

[SillyJokes]

What you should consider is just how many samosas can you wife make in a day - it's never going to make you the sort of money you might like that way.

Is there any other way your wife can turn her somosa making skills into a more scalable business? What about writing a cookery book - perhaps becoming the equivalent of Nigella Lawson but with cumin.

For instance I like eating Indian food and even went to an Indian Cookery class at night school, but apart from knocking together a chicken curry I don't have much in the way of skills and couldn't make a samosa to save my life. But I'd love reading or watching someone else do it.

(Night schools pay quite well per hour and your wife may have a skill there that is required locally)

[YEM]

I have an Indian Cookery book and love making the recipes. They are generally much tastier than the take-away and you feel a sense of pride when your dish looks like its supposed to

[DuaneJackson]

Since moving out of London I miss a lot of the food I can't get near home anymore, samosas included.

Not sure about ordering food mail-order though.

[Designr]

Cheers guys. The mail-order idea is so anybody, anywhere can order them. These would come fresh and sealed in a platic type container and you simply put them in your freezer. Once you want them, simply thaw and fry.

I will run a few ideas past the missus. :)

[vincent_fan]

I do not think the mail order will work purely for samosas... I gree with you. But go ahead, man. changing your method.
-V

[SillyJokes]

tell you what, send a few over to me and I'll see what I can come up with ;)

[TWD-Tony]

I don't want to put a dampner on things - Because I love a good Samosa or three :lol:

The cost in setting this up would be quite high... You would need all the required Food Hygene certs for a start, then you would need your "kitchen" or food prep area inspected - and you need all sorts of stuff to pass the test (different coloured knives etc, correct storage methods to stop any chance of cross contamination.... the list goes on) then you need to find a way to transport the goods, if you are planning on freezing the product then you will need a "blast freezer" to quickly freeze the product (you cannot just bang it in the freezer), if you are going down the fresh route then you will need a chilled way of transport - rather costly to send a couple of Samosa's across the country!

I originally come from a food background - so you can toss any ideas around with me if you like :wink:

[fastfences]

tell you what, send a few over to me and I'll see what I can come up with ;)

Hi Des,

This, believe it or not, is probably the best 'tester' for you. An impartial judge, as well as shop owner extraordinaire and all round critic. One has to be wary of those who complement wife's cooking because a few scenarios require investigation. Now, of course with the greatest respect, and with wholehearted attempt for helping you; your wife's cooking may be 'crap' and your mates are just being nice.

If I'm totally out of order here, fair enough. More constructively though, do you have the facilities for making large quantities and have you done a cost exercise to access viability? Also, if some will be sold 'fresh', have you considered how many 'unsold' will be discarded (and the cost consequence) and whether you will collect unsold or trust the retailer, in which case there's an avenue for putting one over you.

Cheers, Nigel

[Designr]

Thanks for the replys. At this momnet, it's just a thought and I am looking into things regarding supplying these. Well, yep, fair point, but I dont think my friends would come round almost every other day and eat the lot if they didnt like them.

The idea actually came to me when I was at my car club meeting. A few friends came round and waiting for me to jump out the shower. The wife, being polite, fries up some samosa for them. Everytime we go out, all I get is "Can we place an order for samosas"! Works out quite well, as I always tend get to drive some very exotic cars :)

Fast cars and fast food lol

[fastfences]

A few friends came round and waiting for me to jump out the shower. The wife, being polite, fries up some samosa for them.


Yeah, but only so she can save you the embarassment of them seeing you hop out of the shower!!!!!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

[SillyJokes]

...I dont think my friends would come round almost every other day and eat the lot if they didnt like them.

The idea actually came to me when I was at my car club meeting. A few friends came round and waiting for me to jump out the shower. The wife, being polite, fries up some samosa for them. Everytime we go out, all I get is "Can we place an order for samosas"! Works out quite well, as I always tend get to drive some very exotic cars :)


Your wife must be a living angel. Not only does she allow your ne'er do well single friends to hang about the house cluttering the place up but she even cooks them elaborate finger foods and then she lets you out to live it up while she cleans up the house, straightens the kitchen and prepares the next batch of samosas, never knowing what time you and your hungry gang will be back. :shock:

And now you want to put her to work in the kitchen for profit. :lol:

[Designr]

lo.. Mind you I do my fair share. Once Im out with the lads, she either goes out and her friends come round. God only knows what they get up to...and I dont want to know !!! :)

[ruster55]

hi
i like to make indian food so if you get any good receipe of it then please inform me