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Just in time for the holiday party season, a catering startup has launched an online marketplace for business customers to order its food.
HUNGRY, which launched last year, opened its online ordering system earlier this month.
Customers can now log on to its website, fill in details on the number of people they expect to cater for, a delivery date and time and their zip code. HUNGRY then works to provide personalized choices, including different cuisine types and showing the chef who would prepare them.
The website also shows the average price per person for the locally-prepared dishes, and gives a sample menu.
“We partner with incredible local chefs that prepare amazing variety across all types of cuisines and affordable prices, making HUNGRY’s model the future of office-centered catering,” Shy Pahlevani, HUNGRY president, said in a statement. “The new marketplace makes online ordering a simple three-step process as our proprietary Smart Catering Engine recommends the ideal menu for your team based on your ordering preferences. This technology enables the consumer to feel more connected to their unique meal experience as they learn more about the chef that made their meal.”
Food options include seasonally-inspired salads and custom burger stations to modern takes on classic sandwiches and ethnic dishes. The marketplace also remembers past orders and interests, and factors those into its options for returning customers.
HUNGRY works with more than 50 chefs, who are provided kitchen space and marketed to interested customers, with the company taking care of delivery and logistics.
Earlier this year, it added four new D.C. area chefs to its stable, including Patrice Olivon, a former White House chef and Adam Greenberg of the Coconut Club and a “Chopped” champion on the Food Network.
“HUNGRY’s new marketplace provides access to more than 50 top-notch local chefs, giving our clients even more variety and authentic options to choose from,” Eman Pahlevani, HUNGRY founder, said in a statement. “Our growing chef network includes James Beard Award nominated chefs, former Iron Chef and Chopped champions, and even a former White House chef. The marketplace will be a catalyst for connecting these renowned chefs in our area and businesses together in a way like never before.”
Images via HUNGRY