Meal Assembly Beyond 2008?
June 23rd, 2008 | 
Author: From the poll results it would seem so. But it does pose an interesting duality. On the one hand a majority of owners would rather put meal assembly behind them and move on with their lives, but according to latest results, a majority feels that meal assembly will carry on beyond 2008. And of course, 2008 is when I expect the whole industry will collapse, or at least a significant portion of it.
So how do we reconcile the two opinions? Are we saying that meal assembly will continue as a small, niche market with perhaps one store within a metropolis, carving out a small existence for a determined owner? Or is there some sort of turnaround coming? Wishful thinking that the pendulum is going to swing the other way and meal assembly will find itself back in favor with a renew economy at its heels?
I just find it interesting; many want out, but many feels MA will be sticking around for awhile…
Other Articles of Interest:
- Meal Assembly not recommended as an investment
- Dream Dinners – The Bell Tolls For Thee
- What’s Cooking Software – Where are they now?
- The Ghost of Meal Assembly Past, Present and Future
- Meal Prep Blunders of 2009
- Starbucks’ 4Q Profit Down 97%
- It’s been a long time
- Meal Prep Dominos
- Survey Says: Most people want out of meal assembly
- Survey Says: Summer Could Be Scary
Posted in Commentary
If your lease extends past 2008, you have to believe.
I was one who answered yes to this question, and yes, I think it is because of the niche markets, not that the pendulum will ever swing back. I closed my store June 1st, knowing I could not afford to subsidize the store through another summer, no money left! I think at least half of the existing MA stores will have to close because of the slow summer months. Press is turning, stories are about the what happened to the MA business. A reporter from my local paper called me today, wanting to interview me about why my store closed. Dream Dinners is struggling, even though they won’t admit it, and nothing happening this summer convinces me that a turn around is coming. But, I do think it will take longer than 6 more months for the industry die out.
I agree with bigmeg. I answered yes too, not because I think it’s a viable business for the vast majority of business owners, because I feel it will become a specialized VERY niche market industry-franniezors are done.
I think the poll was skewed by people who WANT to believe it will continue and those who feel like bigmeg and I do that it will not completely die out.
The economy shows NO sign of getting any better, with news coming out that grains, dairy and yeast of all things are going up-not to mention the flooding tragedy in the breadbasket of the US. Gas prices will not be getting any better any time soon either.
All of this will just speed up the death process for MA’s.
I voted yes as well. But that optimism has everything to do with a couple of Indies in my area, whom I have watched quickly and constantly adapt to a changing marketplace. They have proven themselves to be quick, clever and flexible….exactly the qualities they will need to survive. If anyone can survive and even thrive, it will be them!
But as for those bogged own in franchise contracts, that’s a whole ‘nother critter. The very nature of a franchise prevents store owners being able to quickly implement the kinds of smart, creative change it will take to keep them going.
I don’t pretend to know how long all of this will take to wash out. Obviously, 2008 is a watershed year not only for meal assembly, but also for a lot of different kinds of industries and for consumers as well. With lawsuits pending, etc., I can see this dragging out for awhile yet. But I don’t see a turn around for the franchises, I’m sorry to say.