If you work in tech, you’re likely to be busy. Really busy. Finding time for a nourishing lunch — far beyond the brown paper bag — can seem impossible. These food startups are working to make it easier to have a legit lunch, and they’re eliminating “the usual” from standard lunch-counter cuisine. These companies, which all operate in Boston and do everything from providing catered local meals to expediting the dine-in process, are bringing lunch to life.
More businesses are looking to include catered lunches in their benefits packages. But it’s hard to find the right vendor to meet your people’s preferences. EzCater, an online marketplace of catering companies, gives businesses many more options at their fingertips — and it also provides reliable catered meals, on demand, for businesses in cities across the U.S.
Dining at a restaurant during working hours is a rare luxury for most professionals, who often opt to throw something in the microwave and call it a meal. Allset aims to make eating out more streamlined. Users select a restaurant, make a reservation, place an order and pay for the bill before they arrive, eliminating the wait and maximizing meal time.
There’s nothing worse than ordering a savory delivery, only for that gourmet burger to arrive lukewarm and soggy after a long wait. DoorDash works with restaurants to shrink delivery time so lunches arrive faster and fresher. Users can even follow their meal on the app to estimate delivery time and make the most out of their lunch hour.
Fooda brings restaurant-quality food to the office. The startup’s platform connects local restaurants with businesses to provide meals that range from healthy to indulgent. Employees browse and order from the menus of local restaurants, and can even order for the days ahead.
When it comes to office catering, it’s tough to suit everyone’s dietary needs and tastes. As a result, companies end up with trays of leftovers, which get picked at and thrown away. Forkable aims to make everyone happy and eliminate lunch waste with its intelligent, customizable meals. The process is simple: employees select their meal preferences and receive a single-serving dish. As the platform gains more data, it crafts better meals for each individual.
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