A young entrepreneur, 23, is launching a new web based company called FOODHOST this summer.
The twenty-three years old who has a background in marketing and journalism graduated from the University two years ago.
Before starting the company, he worked in the catering industry for five years, working with some of the biggest brands including Kelloggs, Tesco, and KFC which he said has given him a lot of experience in customer service and food distribution.
The Idea.
"The idea came from listening to a podcast about peer to peer markets, and I notice how no company has yet stamped its mark on the food space worth £150bn annually according to Google. So I asked everyone I could to see whether this concept was viable, but you really only need to turn on the television to see the amount of cooking programmes validating an existing audience. Since the recession the rise of Supperclubs has been phenomenal and I really believe this is the next step to the evolution of social dining.
The startup
FOODHOST is an online marketplace for people to create and share local dinner parties in their area. In a period of economic woes, FOODHOST offers a platform for user's to save time, money, and effort; whilst making new friends and enjoying great meals.
How it works
The concept is simple; users sign up free and scroll through a list of events happening in their cities. They can book a place by purchasing a credit which allows them to receive the host's contact information, or set up a brand new event for others to join in. Members have a chance to message any questions they may have beforehand, and users can rate and review the occasion afterwards.
There are two formats to choose from, a "Series" event or a "One off" event. In the former, each individual takes a turn in being the host and the guest at the parties. The latter lasts for one night only where everyone contributes something different i.e. drinks, dessert, or entertainment.
Advantages
The idea is cost-effective, customers can save money on utility bills, and weekly food shopping through bulk buying. They get to try out new dishes instead of eating the same ones again and again. Wasted food can be put to good use and not in the bin; and it minimises the effort of shopping / cooking / and washing up all week.
Unlike restaurants with huge overheads to cover, there are no bills to pick up, no tips to leave, no waiters rushing to finish, and even no parking fees.
Future Developments
FOODHOST is also working with local independent suppliers to help promote their businesses for free, so users can get a richer experience knowing where to source the best products locally whilst helping the economy.
Prices start as low as £2 per successful booking for each user, whether it is a "Series" or a "One off" the overall event is the same price.
The Launch
The site is due to launch in late August 2011 and customers are signing up now on the holding page.
Final words
"For the average price of one meal out in the UK (£20), up to 60 dinner parties can be attended at FOODHOST saving over £1000 equivalently. If 1 in 500 people liked the idea then it was worth making it happen, it turned out to be 1 in 5." - Christopher Tau, CEO.
