REDUNDANCY LOOMING!

[Multi-store]

I’ve been in sales for over a decade and been successful. I’m finding it hard to be motivated to start another sales role “from the bottom” as it were, with senior positions few and far between, and often out of reach having not actually been a manager of people before.


Might sound daft, but I’d like to run a café, or similar. With premises being expensive I’m wondering if a non-customer facing, daily delivery service would be more viable. Delivering to large office blocks etc. around the town centre. My question is would I need any form of qualification, or would a basic food hygiene be sufficient?


Plus any other suggestions, advice would be great.

 

[Gecko001]

Seems like a good idea. It is probably less risky than the very competitive business of cafés.

However, you will be selling your business on the quality of the food more or less alone (with perhaps also speed of delivery) and not on a combination of a food quality and café experience as with the face to face business so you probably need to be very interested in cooking.

I am not an expert in food hygiene standards, but they would be at least as high as with a high street café if not higher. Even if you are doing the cooking from home, you need to have inspections etc.

 

[Scalloway]

Starting a food business guide from the Food Standards Agency

https://www.food.gov.uk/business-industry/startingup

 

[Vincent79]

Have you considered franchising a kitchen from say a pub that currently does not do food and paying them a percentage of turnover. Would strongly advise against buying a cafe. I travel a lot and use quite a few, all seem to be struggling and on their last legs. Definitely need some qualifications for selling food, Food Hygiene course can be done on line and is very easy to pass.

 

[Deleted member 283937]

As this is a new industry for you I would recommend you go down the delivery route and avoid taking on a property and lease. You can then learn your trade with less risk.
You could also consider a market stall or food wagon and do festivals.
In answer to your question, you don't need a qualification. But its a very good idea to do your level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate.
If you use your kitchen at home to cook the EHO will need to know and they will come and check you once a year.
Good luck.

 

[The Byre]

We get at least one, often two or three such business ideas from rank outsiders to the catering business on this forum every day!

At the same time, thousands of cafes, hotels, B&Bs, restaurants and pubs are on the market without any takers, having been through umpteen owners who were rank outsiders who failed.

As Cafe Course said, learn the trade first - then decide what, where, when and how!

 

[Alan]

Might sound daft, but I’d like to run a café, or similar

It doesn't sound daft, it is daft. Think of another idea.