Housebites

Housebites.com was a UK-based food delivery platform founded in 2011 by Simon Prockter, an entrepreneur with previous success in the online dating sector with SpeedDater. Prockter identified a gap in the takeaway market, which was saturated with fast food but lacked high-quality, chef-prepared meal options for home delivery. His experience in building online communities was foundational to the Housebites concept, which aimed to disrupt the then-£1.6 billion UK delivered food market by connecting local, independent chefs directly with consumers.

The business operated on a marketplace model, creating a platform for chefs, many of whom had experience in top London restaurants, to run their own takeaway businesses from their home kitchens. This model offered chefs a potentially higher income and more flexible working hours compared to traditional restaurant roles. For customers, Housebites provided a diverse and upscale alternative to conventional takeaway, offering gourmet meals delivered to their door at comparable prices. The platform facilitated the entire process, from showcasing chef profiles and menus to handling orders and payments, taking a commission on each transaction. Revenue was generated from this commission-based structure.

The service initially launched in London, with a key value proposition of delivering restaurant-quality food from a variety of cuisines, thereby expanding consumer choice significantly. Social proof was integral to the model, with customer ratings and feedback playing a crucial role in promoting chefs and ensuring quality. Despite early recognition as a promising startup, including being named in the Real Business Future 50, and backing from investors like Paul Birch of Bebo, Housebites eventually ceased operations. The venture tapped into the nascent 'collaborative consumption' trend, applying a model similar to Airbnb or peer-to-peer lending to the food industry, positioning itself as a normal takeaway service rather than a luxury private chef offering.

Keywords: food delivery, chef marketplace, online takeaway, gourmet meal delivery, Simon Prockter, collaborative consumption, London food scene, ghost kitchen precursor, independent chefs, home-cooked meals, food tech, restaurant alternative, UK startup, venture-backed, peer-to-peer food, local food delivery, meal delivery service, online food ordering, failed startup, delivery platform