Supper Thyme Usa Cooks Up Recipe To Bring Families Back To The Dinner Table

With 40-hour work weeks, business trips, soccer practice and ballet lessons, parents often turn to pizza and burgers in front of the television instead of sitting down at the dinner table around home-cooked meals. Supper Thyme USA, a meal preparation concept in one of the hottest and fastest growing Franchise segments*, is bringing back the tradition of family dining with a strategic U.S. expansion plan calling for more than 48 sites by the end of 2008.

Currently with 21 locations, the Supper Thyme USA concept was developed by dual-career couples Keri and Brett Willenborg and Cher and Jim Stenger in Omaha, Nebraska in January 2003. With nine children between the two families, the young couples were all too familiar with the struggle to balance hectic schedules, nutritious meals and quality family time. The tradition of family dining was getting lost along the way, and homemade meals were replaced with nutrient-starved fast foods eaten in front of the television. According to the Journal of the American Dietetic Association**, children aged 11 to 18 who eat meals with their families consume more fruits, vegetables and other nutrient-dense foods than children who don’t. Family dining allows parents to make sure their children are eating the right foods, while sharing their lives together.

“Our goal is to help families come back to the table to pass around memories, values and a family-friendly, home-cooked meal,” said Keri Willenborg, director of franchise development for Supper Thyme USA. “We are committed to giving our customers more time for themselves and their families, and providing delicious, nutritious homemade food.”

Two Hours, 12 Meals, More Family “Thyme”

The Supper Thyme USA concept makes preparing dinner fast, fun and entertaining. In one efficient two-hour session, up to 12 delicious entrees can be prepared, packaged and ready for the freezer. This allows customers to avoid the headache of buying ingredients, chopping veggies and scrubbing pots and pans. All the guesswork and “mess work” is eliminated. Each entrée feeds a family of four to six people, depending on appetites. Pricing for Supper Thyme USA’s sessions vary by location. Six meal sessions range between $90 - $110, and 12 meal sessions range from $175 - $199, making the cost per serving around $3.00. Private sessions are also available for groups of nine or more.

Registering for a session is as easy as clicking on the Supper Thyme USA web site. Customers pick their session dates and times, as well as the entrees they want to prepare. Once they arrive at their Supper Thyme USA location, everything is ready for the client in the kitchen, including ingredients, bowls, utensils and recipes. A session leader is available to help customers prepare meals and guide them through the process. Supper Thyme USA recently introduced their own line of insulated bags and containers, so that customers can transport their food home without worrying about spillage.

Family-Friendly Fare!

What separates Supper Thyme USA from competitors is their commitment to bring back the tradition of dining as a family, and the food itself. The menu was created to be nutritious and nourishing, and appealing to children as well as parents.

“With nine children between us, Cher and I know what kids will eat and what they will not,” Willenborg added. “Customers in our test kitchen in Omaha give us feedback on recipes before we roll them out system-wide. And they aren’t shy about telling us what they think!”

Popular entrees include pepperoni chicken rolls, blackened salmon, chicken pot pie, pot roast, chili, stuffed manicotti and a variety of casseroles. Fun items such as the Captain Crunch Chicken Strips are a favorite for kids, and all recipes can easily be altered to fit dietary needs and personal preferences. Menu items change monthly to incorporate seasonal ingredients and offer variety to repeat customers. Complete descriptions of menu items are available on the company’s website, as well as nutritional information for parents to make informed decisions about what they are preparing and feeding their families.

A “Delicious” Franchise Opportunity

With a franchise fee of $35,000, the initial investment to own and operate a Supper Thyme USA franchise typically costs between $114,000-$180,000 for a 1,800-2,000square foot location with working capital.

Supper Thyme USA provides franchisees with an intranet site containing marketing materials and a recipe and entrée database that is updated weekly. Through their food distributor, Sysco, franchisees can order ingredients online 24 hours a day and delivered the next day, which helps easily manage inventory and determine profit margins.

Prior to a location’s opening, Supper Thyme USA provides new franchisees with site selection assistance and onsite training. They are guided through their first food order and first few sessions, and are supported through their grand opening. Ongoing support includes weekly calls and quarterly site visits, as well as a mentor program that pairs existing and new franchisees.

Specifically geared toward busy mothers, empty nesters and families, Supper Thyme locations are strategically located in suburban areas near B retail areas. The company is targeting locations near family recreation sites including ice skating rinks, parks, dance studios and gyms.

Franchisees typically come from corporate backgrounds and are well-connected in their communities. As part of their corporate culture and philosophy, Supper Thyme USA encourages all franchisees to give back to their communities. Supper Thyme USA recently started working with Ronald McDonald Charities to donate meals to various Ronald McDonald House locations across the country.

About Supper Thyme USA

Since their launch in 2003, Supper Thyme USA has been committed to "Bringing Dinner Back to the Table" by giving customers more time for themselves and their families and providing wonderful, convenient homemade food - all embraced by the spirit of traditional values.