Tasty, healthy meals in Guelph are no longer a chore for anyone that doesn’t have the time or doesn’t like to cook.
A call to Delicious Direct gives you access to individual or family meals with options to satisfy every taste. Diabetic-friendly and vegetarian options are also available. Meals range from homestyle favourites (chicken parmesan, roast beef, liver and onions) to the eclectic (coconut crusted haddock, rosemary lamb, turkey Creole). Meals are available for pickup or delivery.
Company founder Dan Baker has a long history in the hospitality industry. After seeing the frozen or institutional style ready-meals on the market, he wanted to fill the gap with fresh, healthy, home-style choices. The idea stayed in his mind while he launched and operated a series of restaurants, but it was six years ago after purchasing a catering company that it all started to come together.
“That is when I set up Delicious Direct as a part of the catering company I had bought. I ran both brands jointly for two years. In 2019 I decided to focus on the meal delivery side over catering.”
Months later COVID hit.
Baker calls his decision “fortuitous.”
“Catering came to a standstill and is just starting to come back. Had I stuck with catering and dropped the meals I would have been out of business!”
However, at the same time most restaurants across the city also switched to meal delivery. Baker’s competition grew tenfold overnight. Delicious Direct stood out with its healthy meals and accessible options. Despite the competition, business grew and continues to do so.
Part of the reason Baker was inspired to create Delicious Direct was seeing how his mother stopped cooking after the passing of his father. “Mom didn’t like cooking for one. She was a good cook, but she basically just stopped and started ordering out. That isn’t the healthiest way to go but she felt alone in that situation. Providing meals for her helped inspire and drive Delicious Direct.”
Baker’s intuition was on point; about 75 per cent of his clients are living on their own or are seniors.
If you have been reaching for takeout menus instead of cooking nutritious home-made meals, have Delicious Direct make these home-style meals for you. Review the ordering deadlines and menus on their website and review their blog for ideas on eating mindfully and affordably.