The Inspiration Behind SareFood

27 Feb 2019

 

I’m Vinny Sharma, the founder, and owner of SareFood.com, and you can say I’m a bit of a food snob. The idea for my business came to me after trying several food delivery services and realizing that none of them checked all my boxes.

 

I expect a lot from what’s on my plate, whether it comes from Grandma’s kitchen or from a box. I want meals that are wholesome, fresh, and convenient. I want ingredients that don’t use lots of wasteful packaging. I want to support my community and the hardworking people in it. And of course, I want convenience, especially for those times when I need a healthy meal but just don’t have time to cook. Is that really too much to ask?

 

After trying, tasting, and signing up (and canceling) many meal service subscriptions, here’s where I found the most room for improvement:

 

Some of the foods are mass-produced.

 

The most convenient heat-and-eat foods are usually frozen. In an effort to prioritize profits over quality, many of these meals are mass-produced and have been in the freezer for weeks. Needless to say, this isn’t the best option for families looking for a quick dinner option that’s also fresh.

 

There’s a lot of excess waste.

 

Boxes, jars, cold packs, and plastic wrap … there are plenty of meal delivery services that offer convenience (and pre-portioned ingredients), but unfortunately, this can result in excess waste. Add to that the fact that some companies ship their products all over the country, and this only increases their carbon footprint.

 

There aren’t many customizable options.

 

Sure, many services let you choose from a menu … but can you alter them to accommodate allergies, sensitivities, special diets, or taste preferences? When meals are pre-made and mass-produced, you can’t customize them exactly as you want.

 

You get stuck in a subscription.

 

One week you want dinner delivered to your door, but the next, you may prefer preparing everything at home. Most meal delivery services require you to sign up for a subscription, and while you can often skip or pause deliveries, managing your orders is just another task on your to-do list.

 

You still have to cook.

 

Many of the services that offer fresh, locally-grown food still require you to cook. While pre-portioned ingredients and recipes make the process easier, you still have to dirty your dishes and spend time in the kitchen.

 

There’s no personal connection.

 

Food should nourish the body and soul, and in my opinion, that’s personal. When you’re ordering from a large company, do you ever really know who’s cooking your family’s supper? I like to know who’s putting food on my plate, and who my money is helping support.

 

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Needless to say, there was a gap in the market for a meal delivery service that does more than deliver good food; there were no companies that went a step further to do good for my local community while providing wholesome home cooking. That’s why I founded SareFood.com, the St. Louis-based meal delivery service that produces fresh, quality, made-to-order meals. They’re all cooked by local chefs in a commercial-grade kitchen, then mindfully packaged and delivered with our carbon footprint in mind.

 

SareFood.com is proud to be a different kind of meal delivery service. This is what sets us apart from the rest:

 

Our meals are made to order.

 

No mass production here! Our meals aren’t prepared until after they’re ordered, ensuring that they’re made fresh, and just the way you like them. Needless to say, they’re never frozen.

 

Our dishes are customizable.

 

Do you follow a keto or paleo-centric lifestyle? Are you a vegetarian or pescatarian? Looking to cut sugars or sodium? Have a family member with a peanut allergy? We have you covered. Since every order is made just for you, simply pick your meals then tell us your preferences -- we can accommodate almost any request. Plus, our in-house dietician offers free consultation to customers, without any commitment to buy.

 

We’re conscious of our carbon footprint.

 

At SareFood.com, we want to eliminate as much waste as possible, so we decided to ditch the boxes. Our meals are delivered in a canvas cooler and filled with ice packs, and it’s all reusable. The food containers are also reusable, but they’re yours to keep.

 

Since we keep things local, we source ingredients from our neighbors whenever we can. Your order only travels from our St. Louis-based kitchen to your doorstep (as opposed to halfway across the country), reducing the carbon footprint even further.

 

Our prices are reasonable.

 

Quality food isn’t cheap. We work hard to keep our prices fair so you can feed your family on the fly without turning to takeout. What’s more, when you opt for SareFood.com instead of heading to a restaurant, you’ll save money by enjoying our professionally-prepared, gourmet dishes in the comfort of your own home.

 

Your orders help support the community.

 

That’s right: when you buy our food to feed your family, you’re also supporting the families of the talented chefs who are cooking for you. And since we source ingredients locally whenever possible, you’re ultimately helping local farmers, suppliers, and artisans, too.

 

There’s no commitment.

 

Cooking at home this week? Just don’t order, and you won’t be billed. SareFood.com isn’t a subscription service, so you don’t have to worry about skipping, pausing, or managing a subscription. Just order what you want when you want, and we’ll deliver your week’s worth of meals to your door.

 

You know who’s cooking for your family.

 

We believe that food is personal, and when you share a connection with the cook, it tastes even better. With SareFood.com, you can choose and chat with your chef so you can get to know the person who’s cooking for your family. Many of our cooks specialize in the cuisines they grew up with, so you can pick plates inspired from cultures all over the world.

 

With the ability to connect with your cook and customize your plates, ordering from SareFood.com is like having your own personal chef, but without the exorbitant cost.

 

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At SareFood.com, our aim is to do better: for the environment, the community, our employees, and of course, our customers. Our goal is to make a positive impact in multiple ways while allowing you to spend less time in the kitchen and more time with your loved ones. Let us help you nourish your family so you can enjoy wholesome, home-cooked food, even on the busiest days.