Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsey Hall.
Hi Chelsey, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Working in the grocery business for more than thirteen years as a store manager, I was ready for a change. At the time, in 2014, I was really into running and high endurance workouts, specifically Spartan Racing and Cross Fit. With my love for fitness and nutrition, I really enjoyed meal prepping for myself, family and friends. It was this unconventional side job that ultimately led to the creation of Muscle Grub.
I gathered a small team that consisted of family and a few friends and we started cooking out of my home and delivering healthy, prepared meals twice a week to our clients.
We have such a passion for food, family, and fitness that we couldn’t wait to share our way of clean eating with everyone in Bakersfield!
Six months later, after obtaining some momentum and a growing client base, my Mom- Amy (an amazing chef), and family friend, Marcie (the best full-time bookkeeper in Bakersfield) joined the team. One year later, we officially opened our doors at our current location complete with a commercial kitchen and a storefront where we cooked and packaged up to 1200 meals a week. In 2018 we re-branded by changing our company name to MODERN GRUB. The acronym stayed the same, but this tiny upgrade really opened a lot of doors and opportunity for us. It got us away from targeting the so-called gym junkies and allowed us to target a much broader market. We really just feed people who are too busy to cook! BUT, the allergen free menu allows us to serve people with food allergies, life-threatening illnesses and even cancer patients. We also launched an in-house Gluten-free Bakery and have since then hired a full kitchen staff of seventeen employees. We have been open to the public for almost seven years now, have almost outgrown our current location and are getting ready to expand again by opening a bigger storefront. We are now packaging up to 900 meals a day and we still absolutely love what we do. I didn’t write the business plan with a Pandemic in mind, but Boy are we thankful that we are in the business we are in during such a weird time. We have been fortunate enough to be able to help so many people!! AND, we didn’t have to shut down at all because we are not a sit-down establishment.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
NOOOO, small business is never smooth. It was a tough climb the first three years. Bakersfield, CA is not known for being a “healthy” and “active” community. Our customers didn’t quite understand why we were Gluten, Grain, Dairy and Soy-Free. We had to educate our town on the importance of eating an anti-inflammatory diet. We had to prove to everyone that you can still eat delicious comfort food by just making small substitutions.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are Bakersfield’s ONLY Clean Meal Prep Company, Gluten-Free Bakery and at Home Delivery Service. We do not add salts, sugars or preservatives to our meals. Everything is made from scratch! Gluten, Grain, Dairy and Soy-Free. We offer a rotating menu (Four Week Rotation). New Menu every Sunday and Wednesday. We are also open seven days a week for walk-ins, like a grocery store!
Any big plans?
We are excited to open a bigger Store Front in the Future and are hoping to open a commissary kitchen for other small business and startups to rent space. We love helping local startups! Bakersfield is full of so many creatives and hardworking entrepreneurs.
Pricing:
- $10/Meal. No tax because it’s all take-out!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: eatmoderngrub.com
- Instagram: modern_grub
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moderngrub
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/modern-grub-bakersfield?osq=modern+grub
Image Credits:
Gwen Corona Photography – Bakersfield, California
