Meal kits were all the rage when they first hit the market, but sales began to drop in the summer of 2019 — and then the pandemic hit. With restaurants closed or at limited capacity for dine-in service, the need for cooking at home, delivery and grab-and-go options made meal kit popularity skyrocket once again. And while independent companies were the ones that initially spearheaded this trend, hospitals were quick to jump aboard.
Meal kit service is a convenience to employees, patients and families alike. If you’re thinking about offering meal kits to create convenience (or boost nutritious options, increase sales, satisfy a variety of palettes, or whatever your motivation), this post will help you map out the basics of how to get there.
Three main types of meal kits
There are three main types of meal kits on the market today: take-n-bake options made to quickly pop in your oven, already cooked meals that are packaged and ready to eat, and pre-portioned kits designed for minimal prep work on the part of the consumer. To determine the type of meal kit that’ll work best for your operation, you’ll want to assess your staffing capabilities, customers' preferences, and the equipment you’ll need to get the job done.
Just what the doctor ordered
There’s also a buzz about specialty outpatient meal kits that provide the convenience of a doctor or dietitian-ordered diet. A recent study showed that providing very low sodium meal kits at home for those with heart failure decreased rehospitalizations. Hospital meal kits could expand even further to accommodate needs such as keto diets for people with seizure disorders, carbohydrate-aware diets for diabetics, or low-protein meals for those with phenylketonuria (PKU). These kits would go beyond traditional hospital food and provide elevated options with less work for those that need to stick to a strict eating regimen at home.
Easy ordering and convenient locations
Online ordering is a convenient tool for patients or families confined to a hospital room. It’s also great for busy staff that want a quick way to order a meal for their break or for dinner at home with their families. If your current point of sale (POS) software doesn’t support online ordering, there are other easy-to-use solutions available. Streamlining the purchasing process can help build customer buy-in and loyalty to your program. In addition to your hospital cafeteria or cafe, having kits available on-demand at strategically placed kiosks in high traffic areas of the hospital could be an answer for increased visibility and revenue.
Menus and marketing builds momentum
Offering popular menu items and multiple options for pick-up times and locations (cafeteria and kiosks) can help drive customer interest, satisfaction and sales. If you have the advantage of a hospital-wide email list, try surveying some of your potential customers (hospital staff and other contacts) for feedback on which kits, menu items and service times appeal to them most. Lastly by incorporating friendly email marketing campaigns, signage throughout the hospital, collateral, and other helpful daily reminders, you can continue to generate awareness and keep people coming back for more tasty, nutritious food.
Equipment needs for excellent outcomes
Once you’ve settled on your meal kit type and service details, it's helpful to inventory what equipment you currently have on-site. This helps determine what kind of equipment you'll need to purchase for successful service. One of the most challenging aspects of foodservice is holding food while preserving the quality. Convenient and durable hot and cold holding equipment will be a necessity for keeping meal kits at an optimal temperature during production. And temperature-controlled display units, cabinets, and a range of other food merchandisers can solve holding, serving and display needs for your cafe and kiosks while keeping your food high quality and your customers safe.
Show some love.
There’s the saying, “love people and cook them tasty food.” And it’s true; the best feelings come from enjoying an amazing dinner created with care. Providing meal kits in your hospital cafe or cafeteria is just one way to support staff, patients and families while simultaneously increasing sales and revenue. Interested in showing your customers more love? Take a peek at how to Create Comfort Food Crowd-Pleasers with the Snack System.
