For a new salad delivery business, the three keys to success are freshness, cleanliness and display.
Three generations work together to deliver custom salads throughout the area. The idea came to Cindy Beck after she searched for something similar without success.
"I looked everywhere for a decent salad at a decent price," Beck said.
Article Photos
ALYSSA MURPHY/Sun-Gazette
Ann Hinston prepares a salad for Simply Salads, operating out of St. Matthew Lutheran Church.
When she could not find one, she decided to create a sheet of different salad options so that people could receive the exact salad they wanted.
All the salads come with free delivery, but must be ordered the night before they're made. Beck buys all of the needed ingredients daily.
"There are no preservations," she said. "I marinate the fresh meats overnight and grill fresh the next morning."
Fact Box
Simply Salad
279-2585
320-0593 (fax)
simplysalads@verizon.net
By appt.
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Mon. to Fri.
One reason why she said the business has done well so far is that people are health conscious.
The time she starts depends upon the number of orders in a day, which can widely vary.
"There have been days that we started at 5:30 in the morning," she said.
Most of the orders she receives come from businesses and factories. On her busiest day, her family helped make 90 salads.
Jessica Betz, Beck's daughter, also helps make the salads. She said after making 90 salads in a day, anything less than that seems slow.
Simply Salad offers extra large catering salads for meetings, gatherings and entertainment.
Beck began test runs of making and delivering salads in November and December to make sure it was something that people wanted. By late January and early February, the business began.
At the bottom of the order form, Beck included a line for special instructions. She uses the line for ideas to add if something seems to be popular that she would not have expected. Some people use the line to request onions fried or lettuce more finely shredded.
One of the most surprising special orders she received came from someone who wanted, after the salad was made, Beck to close the lid and shake it.
"We're very big on presentation," Beck said. "We want the salad to look good."
Including in making the salad look good is using only fresh ingredients.
"Freshness is key," Beck said. "I would not put a salad out that I wouldn't eat."
Ann Hinston, Beck's mother, helps with presentation by hand cutting the lettuce leaf by leaf.
Beck will deliver salads anytime between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., depending on when the customer wants the salad.
In the future, Beck said she wants to open a storefront. Right now they work out of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 2233 Line St.
"We just want our own restaurant where people can come in," she said. "A place that's ours."
So far, Beck has enjoyed her new career.
"It's really been a fun experience," Beck said. "I get to work with my mom and daughter."
Simply Salads delivers between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Orders can be sent through email at simplysalads@verizon .net, faxed at 570-320-0593 or called at 570-279-2585.
