Baby food delivery service

[Preemieboutique1]

Hello,
I have posted before regarding my start up idea of a delivery service which provides parents with healthy, homemade and organic baby and toddler meals delivered to their door.

I would aim to keep the costs low and in line with the high end of supermarket competitors. The usp of my service will be that they’re not only home made and freshly prepared, but they’re made using organic ingredients with a lower sugar and salt content than that of supermarket big names.

All the food will be catered to the babies development and age. For example, 6 months olds food would be smooth purees with little texture and for older babies, there would be more texture and flavour.

I would prepare the meals from fresh and then deliver to the customer so they can freeze them and use them as they please. Customers can either buy a weeks worth of a months worth. Along with the meals, there will also be the option to buy healthy, homemade finger foods such as fish fingers and fruit muffins etc.

I have seen other businesses that offer this same service and I am confident I can make it better than what they’re offering, not only on price but on quality too. These businesses post the food with the intention of it being frozen when it reaches the customer. I assume this is using a next day delivery service. Preferably I would like to post food opposed to hand delivering it as i will then be able to reach a wider client base opposed to being restricted to my area.

I have some questions, however

1- What qualifications and checks would I need in order to be able to do this myself and not hire a third party to prepare the food for me?

2- Am I able to use my own kitchen (providing hygiene checks are done) or would I be required to use a commercial kitchen?

3- Does it sound possible to post the food opposed to hand deliver? How would I ensure the food is kept in good condition through its postal journey?

I appogise if they seem like fairly straight forward questions. I am in the very early stages of planning this, I am on maternity leave again so I would like to use this time to have a go at this venture.

Thanks

 

[ethical PR]

You say you have a USP is to offer home made, organic baby food and then in the same post that others offer exactly the same service. This means you don't have a USP. You will only be able to demonstrate quality and value through your brand - as your competitors will say the same. In exactly what way are your products of a better quality - what do you do that is better/different?

1. Have you looked at the Food Standards agency and local council website for environmental health to see what training you need and standards required for your food preparation space?

2. See above - does your kitchen comply with standards specified?

3. I don't know you would need to talk to whichever postal deliver service you are looking to use.

In your situation, if your market research shows you have a viable business model, and you have the budget and know how to market your products I would look at local food markets and using a delivery service to build up your brand, rather than looking at posting nationally.

 

[Mr D]

May be worth looking at creating packs of food. Postage will be similar or the same whether sending one pot or 7. Decent packaging, sterilisation etc can help with keeping item fresh on delivery. Just be aware the item can be held up a week or so at the post office awaiting collection.