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Local networks might be the only way to make this cheap enough to drive enough customers to use it. The programs are too expensive for me to justify, and a big part of that is the packaging and shipping costs.

Local networks doing daily delivery don't need dry ice, can use minimal packaging, can batch orders and send out with their own delivery drivers/routes. They could even pick up the packaging for reuse upon delivery of the next order. This only works at scale though, and is going to be nearly impossible to build a business on, unless in high density living areas.

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I have been considering this idea for some time now. Local food networks which flip the paradigm from "on-demand" to strictly in advance. Right now, if I want to order food from a restaurant, I can only do this "on-demand". If you want to join this on-demand food preparation world as a chef, maybe start with a food truck. However, operating "on-demand" is difficult. Why not only in advance? (of course, on-demand food will always be here to stay...)

In advance enables batch orders, predictable quantities of ingredients & labor, no need for insane packaging and ice, etc. These "meal-kit" services do this, but as many other comments say... you still need to do your own prep and cook it.

Some people are already doing this model (i.e. there's a couple in my city offering a bulk meal paid for and prepared once a week), but they built it their self from the ground up. Can we not build a network to enable this? The door would then be opened to an individual chef to contribute to providing people with food. Existing restaurants could of course offer their best seller or most easily prepared bulk meal. Yes, as you say: nearly impossible to build. There are many obstacles. But the benefits are numerous.

Sounds like you've thought about this a bit already? Mind if I pick your brain?

Sure, shoot me an email at jhugh5000@gmail.com