Proving its potential, Matsudai entered into a takeover of kitchen at Cardiff venue Blue Honey, which was forced to close after just a few weeks due thanks to the first national lockdown. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Similarly, while other restaurants and venues around transformed into takeaways, this wasn\u2019t as easy for Chant. \u201cRamen doesn\u2019t travel well as a takeaway hot food\u201d, he noted, closing it off as a potential revenue source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Having already supplied a few frozen ramen kits for friends and family, he realised that he already had the basis for an idea which could help his business not only survive but thrive. Offering kits for around \u00a310 per person, his business was quick to take off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s hard to make a lot of money from. We\u2019re really busy and we\u2019re just about keeping our heads above the water”<\/p>James Chant, founder of Matsudai Ramen<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\nOffering delivery for Cardiff residents, the business continued to grow substantially, allowing for James to move operations to an industrial unit in Taff\u2019s Well. During the move, James was also able to hire two new staff to join him in what had previously been a single person operation from his kitchen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Continuing to grow, it launched delivery for the whole UK this February, with their first monthly rotation stock completely selling out. This expansion has also allowed him to hire even more staff, as well as a second unit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, while his entire business is currently centred around the kits, he has acknowledged that the system isn\u2019t without its flaws. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to make a lot of money from. We\u2019re really busy and we\u2019re just about keeping our heads above the water,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the heat-at-home kits have always been at the forefront of his business, it isn\u2019t the business\u2019s endgame, as opening a flagship restaurant has been his dream since Matsudai began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
Kapow Ribs and Rocket & Rye,<\/strong> Cowbridge<\/p>\n\n\n\nPhoto credit: Kapow Ribs<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Chef John Cook and his wife Ceri had an idea for a new street food business last year. With branding and concept ready, they were ready to kick off before Covid-19 restrictions brought their idea to a screeching halt. John, like so many others within the industry, noted his worry for paying bills, staff, mortgage and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With nothing to lose, armed with a few racks of ribs and a \u00a310 burner phone, they floated their newfound business to see if there was any interest there; it was an immediate success, selling out their entire stock. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since then, the business has continued to expand, with their latest release of 200 racks selling out almost immediately, with whole racks priced at \u00a314 and sides around \u00a35 each. As their capacity has expanded, their operational range has equally enlarged; originally only delivering to Cardiff, Kapow has since added the Vale of Glamorgan, Bridgend and Rhondda Cynon Taff to their delivery range. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following Kapow, John and Ceri announced last year their newest restaurant, Rocket & Rye, was to open its doors on Cowbridge High Street last December, following months of gutting and renovation work. However, they were met with unfortunate timing as the Welsh Government\u2019s firebreak lockdown was introduced just a week prior to their planned grand opening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Renovation, innovation<\/h5>\n\n\n\n With an empty brand new restaurant, they were stuck. In response, they launched their \u2018Rocket boxes\u2019, utilising their knowhow of DIY kits they\u2019d gained from Kapow. These kits aimed to give hopeful diners a taste of what was to come and build a name for the brand for around \u00a350, while simultaneously bringing revenue into the restaurant, whose doors are still yet to open to the public despite starting work 6 months ago. Equally, while renovations have made good use of the new venue, the number of covers will remain limited to their compact space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The boxes have proved popular among customers, with their collection only service being recently expanded into delivery for residents of Cardiff, and remain the new business\u2019s only main revenue stream. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once Rocket & Rye is able to open its doors, it’s unlikely that it is still going to produce any kits, due to time constraints. However, Kapow\u2019s popularity has made it clear it intends on continuing business regardless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Restaurants glooming, takeaway booming<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While people were forced to stay home, the takeaway sector has seen a huge rise in revenue over the last year. However, many restaurants have been critical of the growth in takeaway via companies such as UberEATs and Deliveroo due to their high commission rates, claiming a 30% cut of all orders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are some key statistics around the takeaway sector boom:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
JustEat\/Takeaway.com saw a 170% rise in the number of orders, resulting in a 62% growth in revenue year-over-year<\/strong><\/li>UberEATs saw a 134% growth in year-over-year revenue compared to 2019<\/strong><\/li>Delivery Hero, who manage various smaller delivery operators across the world, saw a 70% increase in revenue<\/strong> across all of their markets<\/strong><\/li>Domino’s saw only a 10% growth in revenue in their UK and ROI market<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
While many restaurants have adapted to using heat-at-home kits and takeaway, for many businesses it hasn’t been so easy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":526,"featured_media":58086,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[200,201,260],"tags":[7344,7343,7342,7345],"coauthors":[7090],"class_list":["post-57813","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","category-business-home","category-business-lead","tag-cardiff-heat-at-home","tag-heat-at-home-kits-wales","tag-restaurant-diy-kits","tag-restaurant-heat-at-home"],"yoast_head":"\n
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