Comments on: Outsourcing cooking

By: priyesh

priyesh — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 07:03:14 +0000

hmmm. good post and good comments.
I think, the theme of Mashed Potatoes aptly symbolises all such simple-to-cook food items I see here in the food stores in Japan as well… and sigh, ” I sould have brought my Mom and the cooking bai along with me here… she would have made a wonderful business with no big deal..” But then, thinking over the packing, preservatives, quality norms.. it would have costed an enormous deal of efforts just to sell it in packed condition.” I am still amazed how these MBAs get off such ideas to their head honchos and attract sponsorships from investment firms. No wonder, it will sell at Indian foodmalls in recent future. The uncontrolled, price fluctuations of the retail potato business versus the stable, controllable, wholesale buy-in-lot smashed potato one, maybe… Possibly, it is more of creating new markets rather than beating around the bush of discovering existing ones leading to yet another merry-go-round of this fashionable modern materialistic world..

By: roop

roop — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 21:18:57 +0000

haha hear hear

everything and anything sells in america. billy may earns his bread and butter doing that.

I am waiting for cooked rice next

By: Reema

Reema — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 16:50:17 +0000

I was equally amazed when I saw packets of cut vegetables like cauliflower, peas etc etc were being sold in Pune. The assortment was for pulao cooking. I have always seen my mom and all other aunties cut vegetables themselves and cook. So I was amazed.

I must confess- I have used frozen, cut veggies many times Not cauliflower, but diced okra and green beans which take 20- 30 minutes to cut.

By: Shefaly

Shefaly — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:14:58 +0000

Lekhni

I think the large distances probably stymie deliveries of online groceries in America. Britain is minuscule so it is easier. You remember Peapod? They almost went bust then someone (don’t recall who) bought them..

On NEETs and cyclicality: I agree. Although about the cake, I am tempted to ask – are they baking the cake from scratch, making it from Betty Crocker mix or buying it from the supermarket?

As for outsourcing – people can only outsource those processes that they know how to measure and manage. Otherwise managing the outsourcer is an unqualified nightmare too.

Yes, if gas prices remained consistently above $4 or $5/ gallon, then it would make sense for people to order online and pay extra for home delivery. Not now, when it’s less than $2/ gallon again.

On the cake, given that, by definition, they have no skills, baking is out, has to be buying

By: km

km — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:55:24 +0000

Outsourcing *digestion* is what I am hoping for.

And sleeping? If someone could sleep 8 hours for me, how much more productive I’d be

By: Dinesh

Dinesh — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:44:23 +0000

This is a nice post. I see this happen a lot in the west. People want their lifestyle more than anything. To them cooking is more like an everyday chore or hassle, while relaxing is something they want to do in the jacuzzi. Cooking can be as much relaxing to the mind as anything else and when you cook from scratch it feels great. Granted, there are times when you need food fast, but still even for these occasions there are stuff that can be made quick from the scratch without relying on ready made or frozen food. As you said they are not healthy and not eco-friendly. BTW, a Samurai sword is not held away from the body, but is held as a part of the body, as an extension of your arm (saw that on a TV show).

That’s true, it’s mostly a mindset issue.
I didn’t know that about the samurai sword, thanks I meant more like fencing.

By: Arby K

Arby K — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:05:41 +0000

Time for some MBA speak. Stick to ur core competency. Specialize few menus that u realy like and outsource the rest.

I agree! But doesn’t outsourcing only make sense when someone else can make it cheaper/ of better quality/ the product is not a critical component?

By: Shefaly

Shefaly — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:16:12 +0000

Lekhni

You mean people are still driving to get groceries? I order nearly everything on-line and can set the time to the nearest hour for delivery up to 11pm. Even organic veggies and fruit – mostly local produce – now can come to our doorstep. But as I said, it is probably American exceptionalism at work again.

The economics unfortunately does stack in favour of processed foods. See Marion Nestle’s work in this area.

As for someone being proud of being unskilled, I think that is more prevalent than we think. How else would one explain the 16-25 year old NEETs in the UK? They are so prevalent we have a term for them!

*NEET – not in education, employment or training

Strangely, online grocery shopping is not a major industry in the US! There are a few companies who deliver, but most people drive to the grocery shops.

I hadn’t heard of NEETs! I guess as societies get wealthier and unemployment benefits get better, there is less of an incentive to work. But it’s a cycle – if enough people do this, they will have to bring in labor from outside, or outsource work, either way driving down wages. The irony is that people think they can have their cake and eat it too..

By: ??!

??! — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 08:32:45 +0000

Girds loins, checks his attack-vest is tightly fitted, dons helmet – and gets ready for some flak.

As much as I prefer – and like – to cook from scratch, there are times when the ready alternatives do make sense. Like for parties. So yes, I’ve used readymade mashed potatoes (although the type you get is different – you just add boiled water to these flakes and seasoning – so far quicker), and I’ve eaten frozen waffles. Because it was quicker than making it from scratch.

That said, they’re always only going to be alternatives.

Actually, I’ve even tried frozen waffles – and they are not really quicker than making them from scratch Plus, frozen waffles exist in only 2 states – soggy or hard.

Maybe you should try using ready-to-eat pancake/ waffle mix (that might save a few minutes). It will take 2 minutes to make a waffle, you can add blueberries or whatever you want, and it is much softer and tastier.