A Lifelong Love of Food

Olivia has been working as a food stylist and recipe developer for over 15 years. She’s even authored two cookbooks! Her passion for food began in childhood and took her to Le Cordon Bleu for her culinary education. When she moved to Maplewood with her family a few years ago, she befriended many other parents of small children who struggled to find time to cook wholesome meals for their families, but dreaded the existing takeout options. Olivia shared some of her home cooking with friends, and the excitement over her dishes kick-started her desire to bring a dinnertime solution to more families. 

Balancing Niche with Wide Appeal

Meal prep is definitely trending, so how does a new entry into the market carve out a place for themselves? One key to building and retaining a customer base is finding a niche audience while offering enough variety to keep them coming back. For Olivia’s, that niche is family-friendly meals. Comforting but healthy. Familiar but with a flavorful twist. And they alway ensure there’s something on the menu to suit choosier kids. 

Keeping It Real

If you’ve seen Olivia’s website and social media, you’ll have seen her skills as a food stylist. Her dishes look drool-worthy and are great advertising. But pretty pictures don’t keep customers coming back. Olivia’s recipes are solid, and so is her business management. Beyond the delicious food and the convenient and reliable delivery service, is Olivia’s down-to-earth attitude. The tone of Olivia’s website and social media is friendly and a bit cheeky. Olivia welcomes us as family. And Olivia listens to her family of customers. She checks in with her audience to learn what they have a hankering for and makes the effort to meet those requests. 

An Eye on the Environment

With two young children, Olivia is mindful of the earth their generation will inherit. Olivia’s uses compostable, biodegradable, and recyclable packaging. And they source their produce and meats locally when possible. Garden State Kitchen has employed a composting company since we opened, so all of the food scraps produced in our space are collected and composted. 

Starting Up at Garden State Kitchen

As in demand as Olivia’s is, they don’t need commercial kitchen space seven days a week (yet!). Garden State Kitchen keeps their costs down to what they need and use. We have the ranges, the ovens, the charbroiler, the mixers, the sheet pans, and almost all the other appliances and gear you need to start cooking on Day One in our kitchens. We have dry, cold, and frozen storage available. And best yet, we do the dishes and the cleaning. Whether you’re going home for the night or going on vacation, you won’t have a facility to worry about or repairs to arrange. We take care of the kitchens so that you can create!

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Brick City Candy is a social enterprise with a powerful goal: to provide training, support, and employment opportunities to previously incarcerated individuals, helping them forge a new path forward. Inspired by Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, they spread their message by creating, producing, and selling delicious candy creations. We at Garden State Kitchen couldn’t be more proud to provide the kitchen they need to support their important work.

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Our members who run meal prep companies cook for families, vegans, fitness trainers, and more. They say access to an affordable commercial kitchen is important, but there’s more to it than that. We checked in and put together a list of the top 10 things they need to succeed. Here’s how our members save time and money when it’s time to cook for their customers.

#1 – Fully Loaded Catering Kitchens

Meal prep companies tell us our large kitchens have everything they need to fill weekly orders – and then some. They also use them to prep for parties or cater weddings or other special events. Flow and functionality is what they appreciate most. Our kitchen layout is efficient and all the equipment you need is right there in the space you rent. There’s a sink, refrigerator, 6-burner range, flat top, 5-rack convection baking oven, and two stainless steel prep tables. There’s also a deep fryer if you need one, or a char broiler – the best way to grill all those chicken breasts just the way your customers like them.

Our members also tell us it feels like you’re working in your own kitchen, even if just for the day. While there are other kitchens in the building, the one you rent is yours – no competing for space or equipment.

There’s also plenty of room when it’s time to portion and pack up your food. You can rent a speed rack at the last minute, too, if you need temporary storage. This means you can roll large orders into the walk-in and chill them overnight. They’ll be ready to go when you return in the morning to start delivery.

#2 – We’re Open 24/7

Are you a night owl? Come in and prep all night. Early birds, we’ve got you too. Garden State Kitchen is open 24 hours. We are ready when you are, no matter what time it is, or what you’re cooking up for your customers.

#3 – On-site Dishwashing!

Yes, we do the dishes – your dishes! All our members tell us that working in a full-service kitchen – the only one in NJ – is a huge perk. They say the convenience of on-site dishwashing saves them time, and even reduces stress. After cooking for customers all day, the last thing they want to do is wash dishes. We get it. That’s why we take care of it. Our professional cleaning staff washes all the pots, pans, equipment, utensils, and more. They also make sure everything is sanitized, organized, and ready to go for our members. It’s a no-brainer.

#4 – Collaboration and Community

We take pride in our collaborative community of food entrepreneurs. While each meal prep company that cooks here has its own specialty, they share one thing in common: They are all growing food businesses cooking to keep their customers happy.

Since our kitchens are next to each other, members can meet and work together if they want to. This happens all the time. We see companies share tips on suppliers, staffing, food packaging, and more. We’ve even seen companies team up to bring their customers something new. One made dinners that featured a member’s special spice mix. Another offered seasonal desserts as an add-on. They cross promoted to boost customer awareness and strengthen both businesses. It’s a classic win-win situation.

#5 – A Big Selection of Small Wares

Sometimes you forget to bring a peeler. Or maybe you just need another one to get the job done faster. We have a large selection of kitchen tools ready for you to use while you’re here. Our shelves are filled with knives, spatulas, tongs, funnels, measuring spoons, just about any type of small ware, just in case. These are clutch for that time you didn’t know you’d need a grater. Or when your employee forgot their chefs knife. It’s all here if you need it.

#6 – No Monthly Fees

We understand the importance of flexibility when you’re starting to grow your business. Our kitchen on demand model means you don’t have to commit to monthly fees or a certain number of hours. You pay only for the time you need, starting with our four-hour minimum. This works well for our member meal prep companies who have different needs on different days. When their filling orders for family dinner, they spend a full day in one of our catering kitchens. Later in the week, they may just need four hours to prep and pack light lunches. At Garden State Kitchen you pay for what you need, when they need it. Nothing more and nothing less.

#7 – Storage Shelves

Since meal prep companies tend to make many types of meals on the same day, they like to store their spices and staples at Garden State Kitchen. Some also use our dry storage area to hold to-go packaging, bulk ingredients, special tools, whatever they need to cook and fill orders. They say it’s worth it to not have to store everything at home and then move it back and forth each time they come to cook. To save even more time, some rent space in our walk-in refrigerator. They say it’s nice to have everything ready and waiting for them.

#8 – Coworking Space

Sometimes you need professional space that isn’t made for cooking. Our coworking loft with desks, wifi, and a printer, is yours to use at no extra cost. Bring your laptop and confirm orders or reconcile billing. Or just take a quick break and have a snack.

#9 – Member’s Pantry

Did you forget your salt? No problem. We have a box and you can use some at no extra cost. We keep a selection of basic items on hand for our members to use in a pinch. They tell us this is a true convenience. It’s much easier and cost-effective than running to the store while you’re paying for kitchen time.

#10 – Maintenance and Repairs Are Covered

When a Vitamix breaks, we fix it. When it snows, we plow the parking lot. And if a scale stops working, we replace it. We take pride in maintaining our space and making repairs as quickly as possible. We also cover these hidden costs of doing business so you don’t have to. Our meal prep customers tell us they prefer to spend time cooking instead of worrying about equipment and repairs. We’re happy to make sure everything works when it’s supposed to.

Come See What We Mean

If you’d like to learn more about any of our kitchens, or the services we provide, we’d love to show them to you. Why not take a tour? You can check out our video here. Even better, book a time to come see us in person. It’s the best way to decide if Garden State Kitchen is the right place for you to grow your food business.

The post 10 Reasons Meal Prep Companies Love Us (and You Will Too) appeared first on Garden State Kitchen.

#1

Your Food Is Delicious

Whether you have a family recipe, a catering operation, or a special secret sauce, you love cooking and make a great product. Why not share it with the world? Everyone eats, and everyone craves delicious food. Get started now before you see someone else run with your idea.

#2

The Local Economy Needs You

Small food businesses tend to keep capital in the neighborhood and boost local economies. They also create community because food brings people together. This means your business could have a positive impact right in your own town.

#3

You Don’t Need a Storefront

Buying our leasing cooking space is a big commitment, but you can launch your business without it. If you bake, you may qualify to run a home-based business as a licensed cottage food operator. If not, don’t worry. You can rent space by the hour in a licensed commercial kitchen like ours.

#4

Be Your Own Boss

As a food entrepreneur, you’ll work hard, but you can do it on your own terms. You’ll be the person in charge which means you decide when, where, and how you work. You’ll also hire employees, buy ingredients, and choose which suppliers will get your business – and which ones won’t.

#5

Bring Your Passion to Work

Since it’s your company, you can make your passion part of your business model from the very beginning. If you are committed to sustainability, choose to compost your food scraps (like we do at GSK). Or, donate a percentage of sales to a great cause. Your customers will appreciate your efforts.

#6

Because You’ve Always Wanted To!

There’s never going to be a perfect time to launch, but there will be a good time, and it might be sooner than you think. Don’t let fear, procrastination, or imposter syndrome keep you from your dreams. If you want to take one small step toward making it happen, come tour Garden State Kitchen and see what’s possible.

Want to see what it’s like to cook in a licensed professional kitchen? Watch our video here, or schedule a tour!

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