Could Opening Up a Deli Be in Your Future?

Growing up, some neighbourhoods were blessed to have a ‘sandwich shop’. In it, you had various cuts of meat, dry-cured and salted herb slices of cold cuts, you also had various home-baked breads, plenty of cheeses and sausages as well as pies and quiches to choose from. On top of this, you might even get some homemade wine in some delis as well. The deli truly took off in America, more specifically New York. Many Italian neighbourhoods had several deli sandwich shops to choose from because they were so popular among local people. You got an authentic product but you didn’t need to bust your wallet paying for it. Now in the modern day and age, a deli business is easier to start up than ever. It’s perhaps the epitome of a small business in the food industry. So if you like what you hear, then you should consider the thought of opening your own.

Start off small

A deli doesn’t need a lot of space to get going. The added advantage of this kind of business is that it’s kind of fast food but it’s not. People buy what they want and they can leave with their products. There’s no need for indoor seating. You can sell both sandwiches and food that people can have for their breakfast or lunch, but your meats and other kinds of food can be used for their dinner. It’s a very fast-moving business, as all kinds of people will be coming and going at all times of the day. You don’t need to open later on in the day as delis are competing directly with coffee shops these days. So the size of your premises can be around 300-400 square feet and you will have room for your counters and enough space for customers to queue up.

Behind the counter

From behind the counter is where you’ll be working and serving. It’s not that difficult to select the kinds of equipment you will need. Take a look at your options for a commercial kitchen design whereby you have cutting stations, cold storage as well as preparation counters. The majority will be stainless steel but you have different options for the flooring and walls. Ventilation is a big deal as you will be working with meat and many different customers. Therefore extracting and pumping in fresh air will need to be a priority. Together with this, you will also have fixtures for lighting.

A strong market

Coffee shops have lately been trying to do it all. They offer panini sandwiches and small salad pots. However, that’s nothing like what a deli can make and provide for customers. The market for a deli business is incredibly strong as more and more people want something more than just a cup of coffee. If you can make some high-quality snack foods and lunchtime sandwiches to go with a decent cup of coffee, you can really give coffee shops a run for their money.

In a busy world, people always make time for quality. That’s what a deli is all about, handmade and homemade good wholesome food to have for breakfast, lunch and even dinner.

This is a collaborative post.