Pizza store\truck interest?

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Shindig

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#253048 23-Jul-2019 09:44

Hey,

I have worked in IT all my career, studied at high school and university and have IT related qualifications; technology does excite me and my chosen career has got me to where I am today, with financial position, lifestyle and the social aspect.

However, there has always been a passion for food, the thought of creating something that people really enjoy is an awesome pleasure of mine. For my 30th I threw a party for close friends and family, I cooked alongside a chef friend of mine.. in a commercial kitchen... it was awesome.

I'm in a position now to venture into something new, I'm ready for another journey in a completely different industry.

I'd like to put it out there, if anyone else has a burning desire to go into a partnership and devise, create and bring to life a small boutique pizzeria or truck, then PM me. This idea isn't about shifting careers, its about thinking and focusing on something new.... its about starting something where passion and the love of cooking fuels the ideas.

Based in AKL, happy to meet for coffee or wine and discuss...

cheers

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freitasm

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#2282044 23-Jul-2019 09:59

I can't go into it but all the best. Pizza and wine are something I really enjoy, when well made. Look at Wellington's Pizza Pomodoro for inspiration.

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networkn

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#2282046 23-Jul-2019 10:00

I am quite surprised by the number of people in IT who have an affinity for food, usually cooking of it. I'd love to open a restaurant one day, but it's such an expensive and risky prospect.

I wish you well in your endeavour.

freitasm

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#2282048 23-Jul-2019 10:04

networkn:

I am quite surprised by the number of people in IT who have an affinity for food, usually cooking of it. I'd love to open a restaurant one day, but it's such an expensive and risky prospect.

I have thought of enrolling on a Cordon Bleu diploma. I enjoy cooking and appreciate good food. Most people I know will think my food is good.

Maybe a private chat with @nate on running a food business maybe a good idea too.

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networkn

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#2282054 23-Jul-2019 10:09

freitasm:

networkn:

I am quite surprised by the number of people in IT who have an affinity for food, usually cooking of it. I'd love to open a restaurant one day, but it's such an expensive and risky prospect.

I have thought of enrolling on a Cordon Bleu diploma. I enjoy cooking and appreciate good food. Most people I know will think my food is good.

Maybe a private chat with @nate on running a food business maybe a good idea too.

Same. I actually considered spending a year in France, but now with a young family, it's not a realistic thing (even though I think it would have some amazing experiences for everyone).

Working in a commerical kitchen I have been told many times by many chefs and friends who exited the food business is incredibly stressful, the pay at the lower end of the food chain is low and the hours are long. As someone who has worked in IT, I am familar with most of those, but also, not that keen to do it again :)

I can picture my restaurant in my head, I know a lot of the type (of food) I'd love to serve.

Sorry to the OP for getting off topic slightly, and don't take my comments as a reason not to get involved. :)

SirHumphreyAppleby

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#2282055 23-Jul-2019 10:11

If you're planning on doing the daily markets around Auckland, be prepared to start hundreds of dollars in the red every day before you even start to think about making a profit. Auckland Night Markets charge $100-250 per night for a food stall. In my area, the 'good' food doesn't last. We've had a couple of rib stalls, a pizza stall and one excellent burger stall each turn up for a few weeks, never to be seen again. I just don't think there is enough profit in it to justify selling a premium product.

I too share a passion for food. For me, as with many things, it's a desire to develop an understanding of how things work which draws me to food. I am also looking at buying a pizza oven (a light commercial unit), although it's on the list alongside a freeze dryer and pressure fryer. Currently cooking most meals with a sous vide circulation cooker. I highly recommend getting one if anyone is looking for a way to precisely cook things.

nate

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#2282059 23-Jul-2019 10:18

Happy to do a coffee somewhere in Auckland if you want to chat.

I owned a Mt Eden cafe for 7 years (with my wife) before selling it. Have had my software company for 14 years, so definitely have a strong business background.

PM if you want to catch-up. Cheers.

networkn

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#2282061 23-Jul-2019 10:20

For stuff not related to the OP's topic in case anyone was interested in more general discussion of food..

https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=48&topicid=236035&page_no=2#2016991

trig42

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#2282071 23-Jul-2019 10:30

I wish you all the best for this, hope it turns out well. Can be a bit scary jumping off into something new.

Not sure what area you are in, and what other (pizza and other) options are available around you. It seems to me Pizza goes one of two ways - cheap and cheerful (feed the kids, birthday/work parties) and 'proper' decent bases and good toppings. It's about getting the value proposition right from a customer POV. I have no issues buying a pizza for $20 if it has a good thin crispy base with delicious toppings. $30 is a bit much and I would avoid.

There is a Food Truck (well, a trailer actually) on Waiheke doing wood-fired pizza and calzone - they are delicious (Dragon Fired I think they are called). Good value for what you are getting, and really tasty. I've seen the trailer being towed to locations, fire already burning in the oven.

I've wanted to do an American style smash-burger grill, simple burgers, with a good char, a good cheese and good buns.

sen8or

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#2282100 23-Jul-2019 11:09

Not to put a dampener on your enthusiasm, but have you researched the viability of what you are proposing?

Food and hospitality is a tough business to be in, theres a reason why there are hundreds of businesses for sale on trademe and sadly, lots of failed food and beverage businesses with gear being hocked off at turners and/or trademe for a mere fraction of what it cost to begin with. Even experienced restaurateurs struggle to make ends meet and things are even tougher for entheusiastic people with a passion for something but limited to no experience on the other side of the fence.

In Pizza, you would be coming up against some very weighty big players, Hells, Dominos and Pizza Hutt. Whilst they aren't boutique, their mass market fare caters to just that, the mass market. It can be nice to carve out a niche in a crowded market, but the $ are rarely found in the niche markets, they are in the mass. Add into that the restaurants and/or bars that do wood fired pizzas etc and there is even more competition.

If you have done your homework and found a gap, best of luck