Food delivery became a billion-dollar industry when it was introduced in tandem with modern-day online accessibility. The same might be in store for a new type of service, which sends private chefs directly to your homes for an extravagant meal experience. London-based startup YHANGRY does something similar, it is a private chef booking platform that offers a unique premium experience, without charging a premium. You can also call it a Booking.com for chefs!
Launched in December 2019, YHANGRY faced COVID-19 head. However, it managed to serve over 7,000 Londoners despite periods of inactivity caused by lockdowns. The company has now raised a notable £1.09 million in its latest funding round. In a conversation with UKTN, the company’s co-founders reveal more about the startup, how it started, what hardships it faced during the lockdowns and more.
Further expansion on the cards
The latest seed funding round for YHANGRY was led by investors including Carmen Rico from Blossom Capital, Eileen Burbidge from Passion Capital, Antler’s Orson Stadler and Martin Mignot from Index Ventures. Made In Chelsea star Ollie Locke, plus fellow tech founders including Jack Tang, Adnan Ebrahim, Alex Fitzgerald, Georgina Kirby, Deepali Nangia, and active YHANGRY customers also participated in the funding round.
The company will utilise these fresh funds to double its current team size by the end of 2021. Recruitment for a range of roles is already underway including roles such as product development, operations, customer success, business development, social media, and designers.
Premium dining experience, delivered
YHANGRY was founded by former Barclays sales and credit trading colleagues Heinin Zhang and Siddhi Mittal. “We were always eating out in restaurants with friends and never really spending time at home and wanted to enjoy casual get-togethers at home with friends, but neither of us had the time or skills to cook,” says Mittal. However, with a rise in food home delivery, one can order almost anything at home.
That’s when the idea of YHANGRY was born. Mittal adds, “We wondered why there isn’t something to create the same ambience and ease of the restaurant experience, at home? That’s when we came up with the idea of YHANGRY and booking a private chef to your home for an evening with friends.”
While the idea revolves around delivering a premium dining experience with a chef at your home, it is quite cost-effective. The company’s services start at as low as £17 per person for six people or starting from £100 all in for your group. One gets to choose their own menu or select from pre-set menus on the company’s website.
There’s also a new, limited-edition-themed menu every month so that regular customers get to try something new. The startup operates with a focus on London, within the M25. Customers outside this area can get in touch with the company directly to see if they can offer their services.
The booking price covers everything, including the cost of fresh ingredients delivered to the customer’s doorstep, personalised menus sent by post, and the chef’s time. Customers can then add extras, such as wine pairings, after-dinner chocolates, waiter service and even someone to clear away and clean their plates, for a small additional fee.
Pivoted during Covid-times
YHANGRY launched around the time COVID cases started rising in the UK. Soon after, lockdowns happened and the company was able to operate only for four out of the past 12 months. During this period, the company faced numerous cancellations, however, it quickly pivoted to offer virtual cooking classes during lockdown that apparently were a hit with businesses.
“When the restrictions were lifted, chefs were allowed to cook at customers’ homes. All our chefs are trained in COVID protocol and they adhere to strict rules such as always wearing a mask,” notes Mittal. “We’ve grown throughout the lockdowns and are expecting heightened demand once restrictions are lifted and people are allowed to socialise outside their bubbles again.”
The market is huge to capitalise on
The restaurant industry in the UK is worth £11.7bn whilst households are expected to spend £11.2 billion on takeaways this year alone. According to YHANGRY, they don’t have any direct competition in London. “Indirect competitors for us are the likes of restaurants, takeaway apps or even cooking yourself. Existing private chef services like Take A Chef or DineIndulge focus on fine dining and are expensive. We focus on casual dining and are much more affordable, so it’s a larger market at a lower price point.”
The startup also has a planned roadmap ahead to become a global business in the future. “We have big ambitions to become a category leader in this space and to be active in every major global city,” Mittal says. Commenting on partnerships, she concludes, “We have partnered with commercial apartments provider Alto Vita and Majestic for wine. We have other partnerships such as Wunderlust wine pairing and Blackline Drinks for bottle cocktails. There really isn’t a limit to what we can offer. There are a lot of near-term synergies that we’re looking to capitalise on, from a band playing during a dinner or event or a cocktail bar at your home. So, watch this space.”
The post This London startup bags £1.09M for delivering private chefs at home appeared first on UKTN (UK Tech News).
