Comments on: Is Super Suppers for Stupid Suckers? And Other Meal Prep Franchise ???s http://www.everyjoe.com/articles/is-super-suppers-for-stupid-suckers-and-other-meal-prep-franchise-s/ Sports News - Tech Reviews - Entertainment - Life Tips for EveryJoe Sun, 06 Dec 2009 13:13:37 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Harvey http://www.everyjoe.com/articles/is-super-suppers-for-stupid-suckers-and-other-meal-prep-franchise-s/comment-page-1/#comment-305198 Harvey Sun, 25 Oct 2009 23:49:03 +0000 http://www.franchisepick.com/is-super-suppers-for-stupid-suckers-and-other-meal-prep-franchise-s/#comment-305198 Another post resurrecting this very old thread, but thought I would post anyway as hindsight is 20/20. My wife and I were very, very close to pulling the trigger on a franchise in the Orlando market in the Spring of 2006. My wife decided to pass on the deal because she really felt running a business wasn't something that she really wanted to do. You have to remember that at the time, these franchises were going fast and there was a mad-dash in some markets to get a territory. We did a lot of research and a lot of planning, and even though we met the minimum net-worth requirements, we would have had to lay everything on the table to do the deal. Note that the franchiser didn't exactly go out of their way to stop us. In any event, someone else picked up that location, in the same shopping center, using a smaller unit than we had planned. That location closed about a year or so later, as well as most of the other locations in our area. What I've learned looking back on things: 1. Entrepreneurs are probably best suited for the stress associated with starting a business (not us normal people) and the true entrepreneur probably would do better without a franchise. 2. Debt is a cruel master. The debt service we would have had to carry would have kept us from ever making money. If you can't buy into something with cash, walk away. Visit Dave Ramsey's website for more anti-debt rantings. 3. If you have no expertise in the industry, it's not smart to buy a business in that industry. Neither my wife or I had any culinary skills or experience...we just wanted a business to run. In hindsight, we must have suffered from temporary stupidity. 4. Plans fail for lack of counsel. We sought counsel from multiple people, but I think we should have sought more counsel from those willing to say, "hey, putting everything on the line for this is a very, very bad idea." Owning your own business is something that's really a good fit for some people, but I think most people overestimate the profitability and underestimate the risks and work. I concluded that my lifetime earnings in my chosen profession would greatly outpace the money I would likely make in most franchises (at least any that I could afford). This is especially true when you factor in insurance and other benefits. I feel bad for those who lost out in the MAK game...it seemed like a good idea at the time to us, too. I can say that of the franchises we checked out, we weren't comfortable with SS or MGFK. I will also say, as with everything else in this life, buyer beware... Another post resurrecting this very old thread, but thought I would post anyway as hindsight is 20/20. My wife and I were very, very close to pulling the trigger on a franchise in the Orlando market in the Spring of 2006. My wife decided to pass on the deal because she really felt running a business wasn’t something that she really wanted to do. You have to remember that at the time, these franchises were going fast and there was a mad-dash in some markets to get a territory. We did a lot of research and a lot of planning, and even though we met the minimum net-worth requirements, we would have had to lay everything on the table to do the deal. Note that the franchiser didn’t exactly go out of their way to stop us. In any event, someone else picked up that location, in the same shopping center, using a smaller unit than we had planned. That location closed about a year or so later, as well as most of the other locations in our area.

What I’ve learned looking back on things:

1. Entrepreneurs are probably best suited for the stress associated with starting a business (not us normal people) and the true entrepreneur probably would do better without a franchise.

2. Debt is a cruel master. The debt service we would have had to carry would have kept us from ever making money. If you can’t buy into something with cash, walk away. Visit Dave Ramsey’s website for more anti-debt rantings.

3. If you have no expertise in the industry, it’s not smart to buy a business in that industry. Neither my wife or I had any culinary skills or experience…we just wanted a business to run. In hindsight, we must have suffered from temporary stupidity.

4. Plans fail for lack of counsel. We sought counsel from multiple people, but I think we should have sought more counsel from those willing to say, “hey, putting everything on the line for this is a very, very bad idea.”

Owning your own business is something that’s really a good fit for some people, but I think most people overestimate the profitability and underestimate the risks and work. I concluded that my lifetime earnings in my chosen profession would greatly outpace the money I would likely make in most franchises (at least any that I could afford). This is especially true when you factor in insurance and other benefits.

I feel bad for those who lost out in the MAK game…it seemed like a good idea at the time to us, too. I can say that of the franchises we checked out, we weren’t comfortable with SS or MGFK. I will also say, as with everything else in this life, buyer beware…

]]> By: Anne http://www.everyjoe.com/articles/is-super-suppers-for-stupid-suckers-and-other-meal-prep-franchise-s/comment-page-2/#comment-304736 Anne Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:54:50 +0000 http://www.franchisepick.com/is-super-suppers-for-stupid-suckers-and-other-meal-prep-franchise-s/#comment-304736 Know this is an older article, but wanted to let any unsuspecting and trusting people know that I paid ahead to my local Super Suppers (Crofton, MD). They were offering a special of pay a certain amount of money and you could make meals. I went to the location and found the doors locked and lights out. No information on door. Several weeks later there is now a for rent sign at location. I sent two emails to corporate office asking about being refunded. Corporate has not had the decency to respond. Know this is an older article, but wanted to let any unsuspecting and trusting people know that I paid ahead to my local Super Suppers (Crofton, MD). They were offering a special of pay a certain amount of money and you could make meals. I went to the location and found the doors locked and lights out. No information on door. Several weeks later there is now a for rent sign at location. I sent two emails to corporate office asking about being refunded. Corporate has not had the decency to respond.

]]> By: Guest http://www.everyjoe.com/articles/is-super-suppers-for-stupid-suckers-and-other-meal-prep-franchise-s/comment-page-2/#comment-296924 Guest Sun, 14 Sep 2008 16:09:10 +0000 http://www.franchisepick.com/is-super-suppers-for-stupid-suckers-and-other-meal-prep-franchise-s/#comment-296924 chile bistro-now is NOT the time to be delving into the food business.. There is NO marketing appeal for MAK's to families, at least none that produces consistent customer retention. I don't care what MAK talking head or "expert" tells you, MAK is NOT a viable concept in ANY form. But if you're like most people you'll think you have the "answer" the right "formula" and you'll go for it anyway... Please be my guest and jump, I hope for the best for you. chile bistro-now is NOT the time to be delving into the food business..
There is NO marketing appeal for MAK’s to families, at least none that produces consistent customer retention. I don’t care what MAK talking head or “expert” tells you, MAK is NOT a viable concept in ANY form.
But if you’re like most people you’ll think you have the “answer” the right “formula” and you’ll go for it anyway…
Please be my guest and jump, I hope for the best for you.

]]> By: chile bistro http://www.everyjoe.com/articles/is-super-suppers-for-stupid-suckers-and-other-meal-prep-franchise-s/comment-page-2/#comment-296901 chile bistro Sat, 13 Sep 2008 22:00:36 +0000 http://www.franchisepick.com/is-super-suppers-for-stupid-suckers-and-other-meal-prep-franchise-s/#comment-296901 Wow! what an informative hour of reading. I have learned more about MAK industry that I bargained for. I have been researching it because of the marketing appeal to working famlies and college students. Is there an identified viable business concept in the food industry that meets this demographic? Or is it all like Boston Market and MAK - a quick sell that barters a semi-convenient, lower quality product for a short ride? Wow! what an informative hour of reading. I have learned more about MAK industry that I bargained for. I have been researching it because of the marketing appeal to working famlies and college students. Is there an identified viable business concept in the food industry that meets this demographic? Or is it all like Boston Market and MAK – a quick sell that barters a semi-convenient, lower quality product for a short ride?

]]> By: Kelly aka MM http://www.everyjoe.com/articles/is-super-suppers-for-stupid-suckers-and-other-meal-prep-franchise-s/comment-page-2/#comment-297391 Kelly aka MM Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:36:31 +0000 http://www.franchisepick.com/is-super-suppers-for-stupid-suckers-and-other-meal-prep-franchise-s/#comment-297391 Interested Bystander-great question! -the answer is: Meal Assembly stores can't compete, that's why they are failing by the hundreds across the country. Take Jan who was a Super Suppers proponent-she was a store manager at a store in Michigan-that store has closed, while she was singing the praises of her franchise, she knew her store was on it's way out. It's sad really that more people in the Meal Assembly industry don't understand that they will not be able to compete on a scale that will enable them to make a profit with Markets like Whole Foods, Costco, BJ's Sam's or even your local Meijers, Krogers or Albertsons. The reason is the economy of scale and the enormous foot traffic already built into grocery stores and Food warehouses... When a young mom or harried working mom or dad goes in to buy milk, bread & eggs, the impulse is to just buy something quick there. This concept was set-up for failure because it doesn't have a big enough base of customers to draw from. As the economy worsens and gas prices continue to go up Meal Assembly kitchens who already have a 45-50% food cost will go up and will no longer be able to tout themselves as a money saver. Loyalty will only last so long in a lengthening recession. Interested Bystander-great question!
-the answer is:
Meal Assembly stores can’t compete, that’s why they are failing by the hundreds across the country.
Take Jan who was a Super Suppers proponent-she was a store manager at a store in Michigan-that store has closed, while she was singing the praises of her franchise, she knew her store was on it’s way out.
It’s sad really that more people in the Meal Assembly industry don’t understand that they will not be able to compete on a scale that will enable them to make a profit with Markets like Whole Foods, Costco, BJ’s Sam’s or even your local Meijers, Krogers or Albertsons. The reason is the economy of scale and the enormous foot traffic already built into grocery stores and Food warehouses…
When a young mom or harried working mom or dad goes in to buy milk, bread & eggs, the impulse is to just buy something quick there.
This concept was set-up for failure because it doesn’t have a big enough base of customers to draw from.
As the economy worsens and gas prices continue to go up Meal Assembly kitchens who already have a 45-50% food cost will go up and will no longer be able to tout themselves as a money saver. Loyalty will only last so long in a lengthening recession.

]]> By: interested bystander http://www.everyjoe.com/articles/is-super-suppers-for-stupid-suckers-and-other-meal-prep-franchise-s/comment-page-2/#comment-297710 interested bystander Fri, 01 Aug 2008 21:35:10 +0000 http://www.franchisepick.com/is-super-suppers-for-stupid-suckers-and-other-meal-prep-franchise-s/#comment-297710 Just a question - I have seen several of these meal prep places come and go in our area (not many however) and the question here is what is the attraction in comparsion to say, going to Whole Foods and buying healthy *organic* prepared meals - right when you want them. I work a full time and part-time job and frankly even 2 hours out of my schedule to assemble "X" amount of meals is tough for me. I don't see any mention of fresh, organic ingredients either. I might pay a little more for Whole Foods but I can get fresh bread, fresh organic salads etc at the same time to supplement the prepared item(s). How can a business model like this expect to compete with Whole Foods and the other grocers who are providing fresh ready to eat meals? Just a question – I have seen several of these meal prep places come and go in our area (not many however) and the question here is what is the attraction in comparsion to say, going to Whole Foods and buying healthy *organic* prepared meals – right when you want them. I work a full time and part-time job and frankly even 2 hours out of my schedule to assemble “X” amount of meals is tough for me. I don’t see any mention of fresh, organic ingredients either. I might pay a little more for Whole Foods but I can get fresh bread, fresh organic salads etc at the same time to supplement the prepared item(s). How can a business model like this expect to compete with Whole Foods and the other grocers who are providing fresh ready to eat meals?

]]> By: Kelly aka MM http://www.everyjoe.com/articles/is-super-suppers-for-stupid-suckers-and-other-meal-prep-franchise-s/comment-page-2/#comment-298941 Kelly aka MM Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:00:13 +0000 http://www.franchisepick.com/is-super-suppers-for-stupid-suckers-and-other-meal-prep-franchise-s/#comment-298941 Supper Thyme is set to open a new store in Stuart Fla. on June 11th-not the best time of the year to open an MAK(it's called the blood bath season in the "biz") This store has been coming soon for about 8 months-to a year (I think, time flies SO quickly when you're having bankruptcy fun!). Anyhoo- one opened Supper Thyme, three closed with more to come in the summer slow-down that is typically the Meal Assembly/Meal Prep/Studio kitchen/Easy Meal Prep/Home Meal Replacement/ Kitchen Outsourcing(I think I got them all) blood bath season. Meal Assembly/Meal Prep/Studio kitchen/Easy Meal Prep/Home Meal Replacement/ Kitchen Outsourcing Stores usually close in late spring, or early fall due to lack of operating capitol (which generally means store owners have maxed out all of their credit cards, home equity line and are considering dipping into their 401k's OR have talked their landlords into cutting back their rent or deferring it for a while, for say like eternity). On a bright note...I mean sour note... I've heard an interesting rumor on the mean streets of the MAK uni that one of the Supper Thyme Franchisors remaining dynamic duo has had to go and get a real job to support their family-now I don't know about you but that REALLY sucks...that they haven't been able to sell enough new franchises for replacement of closures/failures to support themselves in the manner in which they have become accustomed?? Jeez, what IS this world coming to? Supper Thyme is set to open a new store in Stuart Fla. on June 11th-not the best time of the year to open an MAK(it’s called the blood bath season in the “biz”) This store has been coming soon for about 8 months-to a year (I think, time flies SO quickly when you’re having bankruptcy fun!).
Anyhoo- one opened Supper Thyme, three closed with more to come in the summer slow-down that is typically the Meal Assembly/Meal Prep/Studio kitchen/Easy Meal Prep/Home Meal Replacement/ Kitchen Outsourcing(I think I got them all) blood bath season.

Meal Assembly/Meal Prep/Studio kitchen/Easy Meal Prep/Home Meal Replacement/ Kitchen Outsourcing Stores usually close in late spring, or early fall due to lack of operating capitol (which generally means store owners have maxed out all of their credit cards, home equity line and are considering dipping into their 401k’s OR have talked their landlords into cutting back their rent or deferring it for a while, for say like eternity).
On a bright note…I mean sour note…
I’ve heard an interesting rumor on the mean streets of the MAK uni that one of the Supper Thyme Franchisors remaining dynamic duo has had to go and get a real job to support their family-now I don’t know about you but that REALLY sucks…that they haven’t been able to sell enough new franchises for replacement of closures/failures to support themselves in the manner in which they have become accustomed??
Jeez, what IS this world coming to?

]]> By: almostover http://www.everyjoe.com/articles/is-super-suppers-for-stupid-suckers-and-other-meal-prep-franchise-s/comment-page-2/#comment-299014 almostover Fri, 30 May 2008 22:16:00 +0000 http://www.franchisepick.com/is-super-suppers-for-stupid-suckers-and-other-meal-prep-franchise-s/#comment-299014 Soon to be - I totally agree with you. I believe they deserve to make great money. But when you take out great abundance of money instead investing it back into your company.... All I know is all the zors need to stop selling franchises. Enough is enough. Soon to be – I totally agree with you. I believe they deserve to make great money. But when you take out great abundance of money instead investing it back into your company…. All I know is all the zors need to stop selling franchises. Enough is enough.

]]> By: Kelly aka MM http://www.everyjoe.com/articles/is-super-suppers-for-stupid-suckers-and-other-meal-prep-franchise-s/comment-page-2/#comment-299091 Kelly aka MM Fri, 30 May 2008 15:57:30 +0000 http://www.franchisepick.com/is-super-suppers-for-stupid-suckers-and-other-meal-prep-franchise-s/#comment-299091 Almost over, Are you ex-SS or soon to be? The New UFOC is that with 2007 figures? How does the new UFOC show the opposite? I understand all about the greed & dishonesty and it's not just limited to the Byrds and SS...it travels across MAK "party" lines, all the ZOrs are guilty of it. Don't misunderstand me, I'm all for capitalism; it's what makes my world go round, but there has to be honor,moral standing, responsibility & integrity that goes along with the privilege of being the leader of a movement, organization or business. Unfortunately those things seems to be the first casualties when greenbacks are involved. Making 6 figures is great and I don't begrudge anyone using our great system to make money, but IMO-for the Byrds SS failure will be a tax write-off, for those of you in the trenches it will be financial devastation. Almost over,
Are you ex-SS or soon to be?
The New UFOC is that with 2007 figures? How does the new UFOC show the opposite?
I understand all about the greed & dishonesty and it’s not just limited to the Byrds and SS…it travels across MAK “party” lines, all the ZOrs are guilty of it.
Don’t misunderstand me, I’m all for capitalism; it’s what makes my world go round, but there has to be honor,moral standing, responsibility & integrity that goes along with the privilege of being the leader of a movement, organization or business.
Unfortunately those things seems to be the first casualties when greenbacks are involved. Making 6 figures is great and I don’t begrudge anyone using our great system to make money, but IMO-for the Byrds SS failure will be a tax write-off, for those of you in the trenches it will be financial devastation.

]]> By: almostover http://www.everyjoe.com/articles/is-super-suppers-for-stupid-suckers-and-other-meal-prep-franchise-s/comment-page-2/#comment-298950 almostover Fri, 30 May 2008 00:32:35 +0000 http://www.franchisepick.com/is-super-suppers-for-stupid-suckers-and-other-meal-prep-franchise-s/#comment-298950 Kelly, don't get me started about Green, OH. That store should never have been sold. That is total greed on the SS zors part. They knew without out a doubt 6 months ago that there was a problem, but yet again they let someone lose everything they have. The OH store also had to buy all of there equipment brand new from corp so they could get there cut. (they only want the best for us zees) there are stores closing all over with new equipment, but no... they had to buy from them. I also believe if the Byrds believed in us and there franchise, they would reinvest in it. The new UFOC shows the opposite. They are getting as much as they can while they can. I don't have a problem with them making 6 figures. I do have a problem with excess. Greed and dishonesty make me sick! Kelly, don’t get me started about Green, OH. That store should never have been sold. That is total greed on the SS zors part. They knew without out a doubt 6 months ago that there was a problem, but yet again they let someone lose everything they have. The OH store also had to buy all of there equipment brand new from corp so they could get there cut. (they only want the best for us zees) there are stores closing all over with new equipment, but no… they had to buy from them. I also believe if the Byrds believed in us and there franchise, they would reinvest in it. The new UFOC shows the opposite. They are getting as much as they can while they can. I don’t have a problem with them making 6 figures. I do have a problem with excess. Greed and dishonesty make me sick!

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