Meals made easy: Meal-preparation industry prime for explosive growth

摘要

The "What's for dinner?" question has been the bane of many a working parent. As the stressors of dualincome families continue to mount and their free time diminishes, many are welcoming the 1,450 meal-preparation stores that have opened across the country. Typically, customers select meals from a list of dishes that rotates on a monthly basis. They make an appointment for a cooking session, and follow a recipe with the convenience of ingredients that have already been chopped, diced, cut and peeled. The customer brings the meals home to refrigerate or freeze for later use. The meal-center formula appeals to busy families by eliminating the need for menu planning, grocery shopping, food preparation and cleanup.