Today we’d like to introduce you to Sophie McNally.
Hi Sophie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m a native New Yorker with a background in the food and hospitality industry. Growing up, both my parents owned restaurants, providing me with an early immersion into the world of culinary business. Throughout my professional career, I worked extensively with my father, Keith McNally’s, restaurant group, and wholesale bakery. I gained experience in diverse roles, ultimately serving as interim CEO for 18 months and spearheading a successful restructuring of the company.
Though not a chef by profession, I’ve always been an ardent home cook and baker. My interest in food extends beyond its preparation to its nutritional aspects and the role it plays in education. This led me to join the founding team of Edible Schoolyard NYC, an organization dedicated to transforming the way children eat and learn about food. After leaving the organization’s day-to-day operations, I was invited to join its board for five years, where I served on the executive committee.
In 2020, I relocated to Santa Barbara with my husband and two young kids. Here, I embarked on Kitchenette, a company that provides high-quality frozen meals to busy families. This new venture allows me to apply my passion for food and hospitality as well as my industry experience to offer a convenient and nutritious solution for busy families. My goal is to redefine the perception of frozen food and highlight its role in facilitating delicious and nutritious shared family meals.
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?
One of our biggest challenges from the outset has been overcoming perceptions of frozen food. There’s a negative bias around the frozen category in the U.S. because it has historically been associated with low-quality ingredients. That doesn’t have to be the case, and at Kitchenette, we’re turning frozen into a convenience without compromise. Many people don’t know that frozen fruits and vegetables can have even greater nutritional benefits than fresh produce because it spend less time perishing on a shelf or even in the refrigerator. Preserving foods closer to peak ripeness also makes them tastier (once heated!). We want to help our customers rethink their freezers and lean on them as much as they do their fridges and pantry.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Kitchenette?
Kitchenette is a modern frozen food company based in Santa Barbara, California. The company’s thoughtfully sourced, made-from-scratch, family-style meals and side dishes are flash-frozen at peak freshness to preserve maximum flavor and nutritional value. Kitchenette helps to answer the age-old question of “What’s for dinner?” with a solution that’s more convenient than meal kits and meal prep, less expensive than takeout, healthier than fast food or traditional frozen food, and less wasteful than all of the above. Kitchenette’s ready-to-heat meals that effortlessly go from freezer to oven to table are designed to help people spend more quality time at the table with loved ones instead of in the grocery store or kitchen.
How do you think about happiness?
Hearing from customers who are loving Kitchenette keeps me (and the rest of our small team) incredibly motivated. We receive a lot of unexpected emails, particularly from busy parents, who say our food has been a game-changer on busy days and that even their picky eaters love our food.
Pricing:
- Our prices start at $12/portion
Contact Info:
- Website: www.getkitchenette.com
- Instagram: @getkitchenette
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/getkitchenette
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/getkitchenette
Image Credits
Photo credits go to Blake Bronstad
