Restaurants that sell food on the internet and/or mail order

browe

I'm curious to know how places like Corkys and Rendezvous sell their BBQ over the net as well as mail order. Do they cook it at the same restaurant, chill, pack, and ship or some other method? I know of at least two places that are interested in doing this but do not know where to start to be "legal".

BBQMAN · Posted: May 06 2009 Post subject:

Local HD has no control over those types of sales B.

But to be legal, the facility has to meet USDA regulations, and be inspected by the feds as such.

In Florida, raunts can cook on just about anything they want IF it's for their raunt.

For USDA approval, you will need a separate operation with NSF certified equipment.

The big names you mentioned above have big name recognition and make $$$ by shipping out volume, and purchasing their products at a volume discount.

That volume also comes with a discounted shipping rate.

Shipping alone for most of us (2nd day air works) doubles the cost of the actual product (I know becuase I've checked, and have also mailed food to out of state friends and relatives).

Just my two pennies worth. I've looked into this and have not found it to be profitable for me.

The only way to make this work for the small guy is to find someone with a lis facilty that is willing to work with you like a co-packer.

If you come up with some other way to make it work, please let me know!
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BBQMAN
"I Turned A Hobby Into A Business".
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marvsbbq · BBQ All Star Joined: 15 May 2005 Posts: 6186

Also, because of the shipping costs (no volume discount for us small fry), those same shipping costs pretty much discourages most any potential buyer from ordering your food.

The one and ONLY time I shipped some ribs to my brother in Las Vegas was $56.00 from WA state.. That was 1 slab of ribs and 1 bottle of sauce.. Shocked

Pit Boss · Posted: May 06 2009 Post subject:

marvsbbq · BBQ All Star Joined: 15 May 2005 Posts: 6186

BBQMAN · Posted: May 07 2009 Post subject:

The big names that ship in Memphis also have the advantage of having THE Fed-Ex hub in their back yard.

Still waiting for the merger with UPS so we can finally have Fed-Up. Laughing

Last time I shipped two slabs and sauce to Ca. the shipping bill was $36.00. That was a few years back....................
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BBQMAN
"I Turned A Hobby Into A Business".
Providing "IMHO" Since 2005.

Harry Nutczak · Posted: May 07 2009 Post subject:

The restaurants that I know of that ship out prepared food is usually in a different facility altogther. (Lou Malnati's Pizza, Uno's Pizza, Saltlick BBQ) just to ease the congestion in the restaurant.
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BigOrson · Posted: May 07 2009 Post subject:

I know that Corky's and Tony Roma's process their ribs in separate facilities on production lines inspected frequently.

Shipping costs are often the margin of profit for my retail sales. I negotiated a 40% discount on shipping with my rep for ground shipping, but even then it's sometimes cheaper to go flat-rate from USPS.

I can do ground shipping because I have a non-perishable product line. BBQ is much more perishable and would have to be shipped overnight.