Inspiring Conversations with Kerri Carter of Dream Dinners Georgia

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kerri Carter.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Founded in 2002 by Stephanie Allen and Tina Kuna in Snohomish, Washington, Dream Dinners pioneered the “meal assembly” franchise industry. The concept was born from Allen’s personal practice of prep-freezing meals to reclaim quality family dinner time. It quickly exploded into a national phenomenon. They began franchising in 2003 and the Cumming store was opened in February of 2004. I am the 4th owner of the store and became a guest myself back in 2012. In the fall of 2021 the then current owners approached me about purchasing the business. I dismissed them and said I would be praying for them to find a new owner. Fast forward to the following fall and my husband and I were talking about the idea of owning a small business and one can say the rest is history. I purchased the store in Novembver of 2022. The franchise disolved in December of 2024 and we are now 100% locally owned and operated.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Owning a small business is not for the weak, that’s for sure. I have had many obstacles and challenges along the way. Navagating becoming 100% locally owned and operated was the hardest of them all. No franchise to fall back on or to support you any longer- all you and your team. Thankfully over the past three and a half years I have built a very strong and talented crew that helped us survive our first year being independent in 2025.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Our mission is to help families and friends gather around the table with easy, homemade meals—spending less time in the kitchen and more time connecting with the people who matter most.

We prepare fresh, ready-to-cook meals that are conveniently frozen for your schedule. Simply pick up, have them delivered, or have them shipped right to your door.

We handle the shopping, chopping, prepping, and cleanup so you don’t have to. Most meals are ready in 30 minutes or less and include simple, step-by-step cooking instructions.

As the original meal kit company, we’ve made home-cooked dinners easy and convenient. Our family-friendly recipes are designed for busy households and are available whenever you need them—no subscriptions required.

Stop by and shop our freezer anytime during business hours, or take advantage of our delivery and shipping options for even greater convenience.

What does success mean to you?
I define success as being proud of what you have built and what you provide to your customers.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dreamdinnersgeorgia.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dreamdinnersgeorgia