Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Wright.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Stephanie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
After graduate school, Ken and I moved to Atlanta. Ken started working in IT and I applied to culinary school. Having grown up with two southern grandmother’s and parents who loved to cook I had always wanted to go. I was “accepted” but then told that because I was in a wheelchair, it would be too difficult for me. I was crushed. We then decided that every day 9-5 was not what we wanted in life. We lined up what credit cards we had and decided to open a paint your own pottery studio. It was great!
At the end of the day, when customers would come up to the counter, we would overhear them complain/argue about what to have for dinner. We had seen a show while in Northern California that gave us the idea to open Dinner A’Fare. We knew this would be a way to help families get dinner on the table and I would get to do what I always wanted in the culinary world! We saved up money from our pottery studio and opened Dinner A’Fare in 2004. It began as a kitchen where people would come in and assemble their own dinners at stations set up with a recipe and all of the ingredients prepped. But after 2008 and the recession, we knew that it had to be easier for families to get their dinners. It was a tough time for everyone and getting dinner on the table was even harder, so we decided to make the dinners for them and start delivering our meal kits.
We now delivery locally and ship nationwide delivering over 300,000 dinners a year!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It was definitely not a smooth road! After being told I couldn’t attend culinary school and going through the recession, I have realized that pivoting and continuing to move forward is the most important thing you can do. When the recession hit, I knew that Dinner A’Fare was important in our customer’s lives. Our employees were important to us, like family and I knew that we had to everything we could to stay open. By changing our entire business model (delivering dinners instead of customers coming in), we took a huge risk, but it paid off. Sometimes, taking that leap will get you where you need to be. Playing it safe doesn’t move you forward in business. That doesn’t mean going out and spending tons of money but maybe changing up what you do a little if things get stagnant. The world around you evolves and your business must too to stay relevant.
Please tell us about Dinner A’Fare.
Dinner A’Fare was the first meal kit company out there. We have been open for over 14 years and are still going strong. We are different in what we do compared to the other companies that are opening now. Our family sized dinners are designed to be completely hassle-free. We have pre-prepped all of the ingredients so that there is absolutely no chopping or slicing or measuring needed! Best of all the dinners are designed to be frozen so that you use them when you need them. We don’t deliver a box a groceries that sits in the fridge and goes bad.
Families’ schedules change and dinner has to be able to change as well. We are a convenient option that is always there when you need it. Last year, I won a Stevie Award for female entrepreneur of the year. I work very hard to help make mothers and fathers be successful in getting it all done. Many women are working and have guilt about not being able to do it all. Dinner A’Fare helps them get this done with the peace of mind that dinner is healthy and home cooked.
Were there people and/or experiences you had in your childhood that you feel laid the foundation for your success?
I was paralyzed when I was 15. Sitting back and letting life happen wasn’t an option. My parents were very supportive. I distinctively remember when I was in the hospital after it happened my mother said to me, “Well, let’s get to it. You have a life to get back to.” It made me realize that life moves on and you have to keep moving with it no matter what obstacles are in your way.
I was also very lucky to have had two southern grandmothers growing up. My father’s parents lived on a 300-acre farm in Murphy, North Carolina. (Just north of Atlanta.) They owned the only grocery store in town, raised chickens, cows had two huge gardens, an orchard, beehives and lived off the land. Their Christmas tree every year came from somewhere on the farm and they reused everything. I had a very special relationship with my grandmother. She taught me many things and watching her through her relationships with her family, her husband her family, food and the land were invaluable lessons in life that I am forever grateful for. I talk about her a lot and our ten-year-old daughter often says to me that she wished she had gotten to meet Grandma Susie. These experiences with her brought out my love for food and it’s connection to the rituals of daily life with family and loved ones.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3495 Peachtree Parkway
Suite 115
Suwanee, GA 30024 - Website: www.dinnerafare.com
- Phone: 770-662-3001
- Email: Delicious@dinnerafare.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dinnerafare/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dinner101
Image Credit:
Stephanie Wright
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