CHICAGO -- Dinner by Design, a meal-assembly company, has unveiled a new package of convenience foodservices. Dinner by Design's services will save an average family up to 35 hours a month or 10 hours a week in menu planning, shopping and meal preparation, said company president and CEO John Matthews, former vice president with Clark Retail Enterprises, president of Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches and national marketing director for Little Caesar's.
With added variety, the average cost is only $3 to $5 a serving, less than many fast food meals. Specifically, the company's convenience services [image-nocss] include:
New delivery services allow people to pre-order entrees and side dishes and have them delivered to their company, daycare, school or other organization. Based on a test marketing effort, Dinner by Design already has more than 300 group delivery clients nationwide, it said. Pick Up Meals are for busy people who don't have delivery service. "Take & Bake" entrees, desserts and side dishes are pre-made, can be picked up anytime during expanded business hours, and orders can be placed online, emailed, faxed or phoned in. Dinner Tonight Selections are designed for people who need something for dinner without defrosting time. This service helps meet the needs of people who don't think about dinner until just before preparing it.Group delivery, Pick Up Service and Take & Bake selections are already available and are operating successfully at most locations nationwide.
Dinner by Design has also announced the development and opening of a new prototype kitchen in Gurnee, Ill. This location is serving as the test site for a streamlined business model that focuses on the convenience services. It features home delivery, group and corporate delivery, enhanced consumer retail space and additional freezer space for Take & Bake and Dinner Tonight selections. Home delivery is scheduled to debut in mid-March.
In addition to the new convenience services, Dinner by Design customers in other locations can schedule in-kitchen meal assembly sessions, fundraising events and private parties. Dinner by Design has nearly 60 kitchens opened, and agreements for another 40 locations in the United States and Canada, it said.Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.