Food For Naut: Caterer Finds Niche In Caribbean Yacht Charter Market
Food For Naut: Caterer Finds Niche In Caribbean Yacht Charter Market
WHERE DO YACHT CHEFS FIND INGREDIENTS?
You are the chef onboard a St. Barts yacht charter vessel, and your guests have asked you to create a lavish meal at sea with hard-to-find ingredients. Where do you turn?
The answer is a specialty food supplier such as The Grateful Palate.
SOUTH FLORIDA CATERER
Since 2009, the South Florida-based caterer has offered provisions to discerning customers in the nautical industry. From their 10,000 square foot distribution center in the Fort Lauderdale area, the provisioning company has always sourced and shipped food items, toiletries, and other premium goods to chefs and crew on mostly Caribbean and Bahamas yacht charter vessels. They have also serviced private yachts as well.
CUSTOM ORDERS ARE IMPORTANT
The company has always specialized in working with clients seeking custom orders of the highest-quality products. Expectations have always been high, as charter chefs need items delivered fresh and on time to specific destinations.
CATERER IS NO MORE
But, sadly, The Grateful Palate is no more…..until the Fall of 2014, when they reopen in a larger facility so that they can continue servicing their discriminating clientele!
According to owner Meghan Leckey, being able to meet customers’ demands and deliver the goods resulted in a strong repeat clientele and the company’s continued growth. She said, that it was “…a growing business that [has] picked up substantially over the years.”
PASSOVER CELEBRATION
For Passover this year, Leckey’s company supplied a 200-foot Virgin Islands yacht charter vessel in St. Thomas with kosher meats, sodas, dry goods, and ceremonial supplies for the religious holiday. It also sent specialty kosher caviar flown in from Paris.
Leckey feels she understands the needs of the owners and crews of the world’s largest yachts.
“The secrets of our success are, first of all, really understanding the amazing level of quality demanded by the wealthiest yacht owners in the world and, secondly, anticipating everything the crew will need for the trip,” said Leckey. “There is no other industry in the world that demands this level of attention to quality, from Beluga caviar to toilet paper (as the luxury yacht charter industry), and few other companies in the world that can meet those expectations.”
RELIANCE ON CUSTOMER REFERRALS
The company, as does 1-800 Yacht Charters, relies on customer referrals to spread the word. “We thrive on good remarks, and repeat business is key in this specialized industry,” Leckey said.
Ms. Jana Sheeder is President of 1-800 Yacht Charters. Providing The Superyacht Experience(tm) since 1976. Private luxury yacht charter vacations in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Bahamas, South Pacific, South Florida, Miami and The Florida Keys, Italian Rivera, Belize. Megayacht charter company focused on generosity, Pay It Forward, Random Acts of Kindness, Giftivism, giving back to the ocean, to the needy, and the environment with every superyachting charter. Providing eco-friendly alternatives while on yacht charters and known for 6-star customer service, experience, and generosity. View all posts by →
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