Cheap Food

QwertyFinger

Would anyone think this would be a good idea, people are poorer nowadays, so much poorer, people want CHEAP and tasty fast food, how much money would you think would there be in a cheap and easy fast food restaurant which everyone could afford?

Zonua

QwertyFinger wrote: »

how much money would you think would there be in a cheap and easy fast food restaurant which everyone could afford?

That's such a vague question, I don't think you can possibly get an answer to this based on your post. Maybe you should be better asking if it's a good idea, or for some specific help or tips. The restaurant business is so hard out there. I ate very cheap tasty healthy food in Dublin city today.

However when it comes to late-night fast food, I've often wished and wondered why there is nowhere to get anything tasty (IMO) and healthy in Dublin city centre.

QwertyFinger

QwertyFinger wrote: »

Would anyone think this would be a good idea, people are poorer nowadays, so much poorer, people want CHEAP and tasty fast food, how much money would you think would there be in a cheap and easy fast food restaurant which everyone could afford?

I reckon if you had some new ideas in terms of what food your offering, it could be successful.
I remember being on and island off croatia years ago, and the late night food was a guy in a nice stall making toasted ham and cheese sandwiches, which I thought was a nice alternative to a hotdog/burger for example. All the tourists were loving that stand. Im sure some similar healthy options would attract people.
If you are offering cheap prices though, your margins will come down most likely so that would have to reflect in all your other costs - premises etc, unless you were able to bring in the extra volume of punters to cover the margin loss.

maxer68

QwertyFinger wrote: »

Would anyone think this would be a good idea, people are poorer nowadays, so much poorer, people want CHEAP and tasty fast food, how much money would you think would there be in a cheap and easy fast food restaurant which everyone could afford?

The costs of operating a food outlet are horrendous. About 30% of what you pay is for the food itself, the other 70% are the costs involved especially staffing costs.

QwertyFinger

Thinking about renting in Santry, a hot dog/chips with cheap drinks. Think similar enough to IKEA, hot dogs for 1 euro, jumbo dogs for 2 euro, quick and easy to cook, warm water will do the trick and then you're sorted. Drinks for 1 euro which would be knock off coke and fizzy lemonade and the types with free refills, and obviously have the option to buy brand names. Chips would ust be big industrial jammy chips which would cost nothing for about 5 kilos worth and would cook in no time. Staffing wouldn't cost much as it would be a minimum wage job in which would be 9-5, 2 people could do it which would include myself. Just gave out my whole idea there. But I don't have the money to do it now, it'd need about 5-8k input for rent/new signs advertising alone. Its a pipedream, but one day I think I'll do it. Standard expenses would be low and its an easy job.

Zonua

QwertyFinger wrote: »

Thinking about renting in Santry, a hot dog/chips with cheap drinks. Think similar enough to IKEA, hot dogs for 1 euro, jumbo dogs for 2 euro, quick and easy to cook, warm water will do the trick and then you're sorted. Drinks for 1 euro which would be knock off coke and fizzy lemonade and the types with free refills, and obviously have the option to buy brand names. Chips would ust be big industrial jammy chips which would cost nothing for about 5 kilos worth and would cook in no time. Staffing wouldn't cost much as it would be a minimum wage job in which would be 9-5, 2 people could do it which would include myself. Just gave out my whole idea there. But I don't have the money to do it now, it'd need about 5-8k input for rent/new signs advertising alone. Its a pipedream, but one day I think I'll do it. Standard expenses would be low and its an easy job.

I dunno if that's a good idea. Although people have less disposable income, there is also a huge push towards more healthy food, if you researched restaurants and menus in Ireland, you'd see this.
Also, I think that your underestimating the costs. If you think you can pay your staff minimum wage, well this isn't a new thing - most fast food outlets are paying staff close to minimum wage. And the chips that cook in no time, well, all chips cook in no time really. And buying in bulk - well that's standard/necessary - not a 'new cost-saving idea'.
I could go on, but . . .
Personally, I'm worth minus-money, but still wouldn't consider eating a one euro hotdog and industrial chips.

Jenroche

Zonua wrote: »

I dunno if that's a good idea. Although people have less disposable income, there is also a huge push towards more healthy food, if you researched restaurants and menus in Ireland, you'd see this.
Also, I think that your underestimating the costs. If you think you can pay your staff minimum wage, well this isn't a new thing - most fast food outlets are paying staff close to minimum wage. And the chips that cook in no time, well, all chips cook in no time really. And buying in bulk - well that's standard/necessary - not a 'new cost-saving idea'.
I could go on, but . . .
Personally, I'm worth minus-money, but still wouldn't consider eating a one euro hotdog and industrial chips.

You'd be surprised what people will eat after a few pints. Healthy eating goes out the window. Soakage ftw!

Zonua

Jenroche wrote: »

You'd be surprised what people will eat after a few pints. Healthy eating goes out the window. Soakage ftw!

100% agree. I've surprised myself in the past :cool: . . . but in this case the OP says it's 9-5.

maxer68

QwertyFinger wrote: »

Thinking about renting in Santry, a hot dog/chips with cheap drinks. Think similar enough to IKEA, hot dogs for 1 euro, jumbo dogs for 2 euro, quick and easy to cook, warm water will do the trick and then you're sorted. Drinks for 1 euro which would be knock off coke and fizzy lemonade and the types with free refills, and obviously have the option to buy brand names. Chips would ust be big industrial jammy chips which would cost nothing for about 5 kilos worth and would cook in no time. Staffing wouldn't cost much as it would be a minimum wage job in which would be 9-5, 2 people could do it which would include myself. Just gave out my whole idea there. But I don't have the money to do it now, it'd need about 5-8k input for rent/new signs advertising alone. Its a pipedream, but one day I think I'll do it. Standard expenses would be low and its an easy job.

IKEA have an advantage in that they don't have to price in rent / rates / charges into the food operation. They also have huge footfall.

For this to work, you would need to find a similar situation and santry is not it. You need a location that has a different customer group each week, so that your fast & cheap food is a once off treat (every week and it becomes boring), you also need big footfall. And finally, you'll need a lot more than 5-8k.

But find the right location and you'll find there will be some people willing to take a punt on you.

Gloomtastic!

^ Outside sports venues?

ted1

not many people drinking outside the home. so you've a smaler market of pissheads.

also time smay be bad but people are looking for high quality healthy food.


not much profit on a €1 euro hot dog. you'd have to sell about 30 an hour to cover the cost of product, VAT and one staff.

antoinolachtnai

It is easy to underestimate what is involved in running even a basic food business.

A new entrant in particular will need to be pretty savvy to make a go of it.

Unless you are planning to open a major furniture store, it would be unwise to model your business on the ikea food operation, which does not look to me like it is designee to be very profitable

michelledoh

This would be a great idea if you were to set it up on Leeson or Harcourt St at night, outside any sporting event, at a festival or maybe in the phoenix park on a nice day. You should buy a small cart or van rather than a fixed premises! Its the kind of food that you need to bring to the people rather than have them come to you!