【We've started a bento service.】

It all started with a survey from one of our users.

At our day service, we conduct a survey once a year for our users and their families. We receive evaluations and opinions on various aspects of the day service, such as staff responsiveness, rehabilitation content, and meals.

The survey is basically rated on a five-point scale, but we also provide a free-space section where they can write their opinions freely.
That is where we received this comment from one user.

“I want you to make bento boxes that I can eat for dinner.”

When I asked for details, I learned that the user was a man whose wife had been admitted to a facility, and he was now living alone.
Since his wife had always cooked his meals, he didn't seem to know how to cook for himself, and it was quite difficult for him to go shopping alone, so it seemed he was relying on meal delivery services or eating things like cup noodles for dinner.

Actually, there had been requests for bento boxes before.
Some people said that it was difficult for those living alone to prepare dinner, and that it would be a great help if they could receive a bento box while using the day service.

However, when I heard the words 'selling bento boxes,' I thought the hurdles would be quite high due to issues like hygiene and business permits.
Also, there are many meal delivery services available now, and in some cases, you can use them very cheaply if you apply to the city or other organizations.
I thought there was no need for our company, which has absolutely no know-how in making bento boxes, to go out of its way to get involved, so I didn't look into it or take any action regarding 'selling bento boxes.'

However, I recently had the opportunity to talk to the user who requested the bento box.

I sometimes act as a driver for the day service shuttle. The other day, I happened to be taking that user home, and the topic of bento boxes came up.

“Delivered bento boxes are somehow flavorless. It gets depressing if it's every day. You know, the lunch here at the day service is delicious, isn't it? So I would be happy if you could make dinner for me too.”

It's okay if it's impossible, the user said with a smile.
Hearing that directly to my face, I thought I really couldn't just do nothing.
Even if it turned out to be impossible, I decided I would properly look into it once.

Our day service is adjacent to a residential facility, and the day service lunch is made in the residential facility's kitchen.
If we were to sell bento boxes, we would need to obtain a business permit for the residential facility.
I decided to consult with the public health center first.
I was told that the following steps were necessary to obtain a business permit for selling bento boxes.

Even if we could obtain a business permit, there would be various other preparations needed to actually sell the bento boxes (such as appointing a food hygiene supervisor and needing food labeling), but as far as the business permit was concerned, it didn't feel like the hurdles were that high based on what I heard from the public health center.
Anyway, I decided to try applying for the business permit.

Before applying, I consulted with the staff.
While most of the staff were in favor, there were some who raised objections.

“Won't there be no end to it if we fulfill every individual's request?”

It was a reasonable opinion.
If we tried to fulfill every single wish and hope of each individual user, there would be no end to it. And that is an impossible task.
But if it is a hope that can be fulfilled, I still want to fulfill it. Besides, a day service that can sell dinner bento boxes could differentiate itself from others and contribute to acquiring new users.

Above all.
I thought selling bento boxes sounded incredibly interesting.

I explained to the staff who opposed it that it was part of our sales activities and got them to agree.
I immediately prepared the necessary application documents and submitted them to the public health center.

After a while, the public health center visited the facility for an inspection.
They checked the entire kitchen. There were a few minor points to correct, but there were no major problems.

A few days later, the business permit was successfully granted.

After obtaining the business permit and proceeding with various preparations, we were finally able to start selling bento boxes.
I named the bento boxes 'Yuai Bento'.

They aren't exactly luxurious, and the taste isn't exceptionally delicious, but I named them 'Yuai Bento' with the hope that people would at least feel a sense of familiarity with them.

The number of people ordering Yuai Bento increased little by little. Some staff members also ordered them.

The user who gave me the idea to start the bento service ordered one every single day they used the day service.

"The taste is simple, but I never get tired of it, so I like it."

I wasn't sure if I was being complimented, but I said "Thank you." Although the number of orders is still small, I hope that many people will use the service.

I have held many titles so far, such as facility director, manager, and driver, but I have now acquired a new title: 'Bento Shop Owner'.

We've started selling bento boxes.
How about one for dinner?

#DailyNote
#MyRecommendedDeliciousDish
#BentoShop