Today we’d like to introduce you to Nannette Wright.
Nannette, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My name is Nannette Wright, otherwise known as China Wright. Raised by my grandmother, Queen Wright, in a small town called Lumberton, NC. My granny made her living cooking and cleaning for many prominent business owners her entire life. I often spent my summers and weekends helping and it brought me great joy to assist, watch and learn new recipes from the wives and their family members. Though I would suffer many horrible events and childhood struggles, what I remember most was that her cooking made everything alright. It brought me joy, peace, and in my adult years became my thing. In 1997, at age 20, I joined the US Army as a means of financial support, removal from project living, and education funding. By 1998 I had married my childhood crush. A short time later in 2000, I was honorably discharged due to pre-existing medical conditions. With that happening, we went back to what we knew, our small town with our 1st son, Brian. By the next year, we had our 2nd son, Xavier, and the family of 3 were planted in NC much longer than expected. I returned to retail, management, and later a Loan Adjuster with BBT bank until an abrupt separation in 2004 took place landing my sons and I in Atlanta, GA.
More years of retail management, nursing assistant, and later became a licensed stylist working at a salon part-time, and corporate, as it often took many jobs for my single-parent household. At my corporate job and promotional groups, I acquired paid followers who shared my passion and enjoyed my cooking, motivated me, patronized me, and it felt great. March 2017, my corporate job went through many cuts leaving me there with an uneasy feeling as they were shifting roles and jobs to India. Having also worked as a catering assistant part-time a couple years, I felt ready and created MealsByChina, LLC and later a fully insured business. I started chef school at Le Cordon Bleu 2016 but was unable to finish. I did however, certify in all my food, safety, sanitation and many courses that enhanced my then basic recipes often not from scratch. Seven months later, my job was cut, and I left in tears that minutes later were joy. I was free! Free to be me! Free to make my own decisions in every part of my life! Now, I come to give you all, “An angelic dining experience.” From catering, meal preps, and offering a variety of pan dishes to go. I have arrived. Stay tuned cause my story is still being written.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It was definitely not a smooth road as it takes money to make money. I needed business cards, menus, packaging, warming units, staff assistance, and commercial kitchen rental etc., and had no investors, loans, grants, or help as this was my dream. No hand outs. I literally was using my corporate money and part-time hair money to invest in myself for about a year. I would make money and put it back into the business until I was fully capable of serving up to 150 people comfortably.
Please tell us about MealsByChina.
My business 1st started serving friends, neighbors, elderly, co-workers, and later groups like church organizations, fraternities, Boy scouts of America, to name a few. They would order pan dishes or plates or specified days which were mainly my pasta entrees, veggies for those with specific dietary needs, or seafood. I currently am a full-service catering company specializing in all types of events from birthdays, graduation, corporate, and weddings.
I am commonly known for my signature China Mac, and various pasta entrees such as lasagna, and my jumbo stuffed shells. Also providing meal preps for all reasons from weight loss, gain, or simply preparatory for hard-working individuals. As 1 of many catering companies, I pride myself in personally engaging with my clients. It’s our event and our day so I strongly and comfortably let them know I have their best interest, excitement and vision at heart. When you enter your event, you feel nothing but great energy and smell pure love from your food.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
One of the main lessons I learned was knowing my financial worth. I knew my worth as a person, but financially I started with a mindset of helping and looking out for so many that I later realized it was hurting my profit. Eventually, my menus were created and set in place without negotiations that would cause me losses. Business is business. If you are an owner of a food business, then you have to know how to calculate your expenses, check inventory daily, pay your staff their worth, and charge accordingly.
Pricing:
- I offer 5, and 10 meal prep options ranging from $65 to $150.
- You may order family dishes in 4qt and 8qt sizes ranging from $25 to $65
- Our catering menu pricing starts at $12.50 per person up to $18.50 per person and includes 2 hours of serving, salad, and a beverage (excluding other request)
Contact Info:
- Address: Lithonia Georgia
- Website: www.mealsbychinallc.com
- Phone: 6785390216
- Email: mealsbychina@gmail.com
- Instagram: mealsbychinallc
- Facebook: mealsbychinallc
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