FoodChéri

FoodChéri operates as a “virtual restaurant” and connected canteen, focusing on improving the lunch break for corporate employees by delivering fresh, balanced, and varied meals. The company was established in 2015 by co-founders including Patrick Asdaghi, who was motivated by the lack of quick, affordable, and high-quality evening meal options for urban professionals. Asdaghi, an engineer with an MBA from Harvard Business School, brought experience from the telecom industry and the startup Lafourchette (acquired by TripAdvisor) to the venture.

The business model is vertically integrated, controlling the entire process from in-house recipe creation and cooking in its central kitchen to delivery. This full-stack approach differentiates it from competitors who often subcontract food preparation. Initially targeting individuals in Paris for dinner, the company pivoted to focus on the B2B market, providing meals for employees of client companies. Revenue is generated from the sale of these meals, which are eligible for French meal subsidy vouchers, making them an affordable option for employees. In January 2018, the global services company Sodexo acquired a majority stake in FoodChéri, a move designed to help Sodexo adapt to modern consumer trends and to support FoodChéri's national expansion in France.

FoodChéri's services include delivering pre-ordered meals to corporate offices via click-and-collect-style counters and previously offered connected fridges. A key feature is its commitment to sustainability and health; approximately half of the menu is vegetarian, and it prioritizes seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients, including organic vegetables and high-quality meats. The company provides detailed nutritional information, including Nutri-Score and Eco-Score ratings for its dishes. Expanding its reach, FoodChéri launched a subsidiary brand, Seazon, in 2018. Seazon operates on a flexible subscription model, delivering a weekly box of chef-cooked meals to individuals across France, broadening the company's services beyond the corporate canteen model.

Keywords: corporate catering, meal delivery, foodtech, virtual restaurant, employee lunch, B2B food service, healthy meals, sustainable food, prepared meals, online food ordering, subscription meal service, connected canteen, Parisian food startup, Sodexo subsidiary, Seazon, corporate wellness, office food solutions, fresh meal delivery, food logistics, eco-responsible catering