Taste Community Restaurant Makes High-Quality Meals Affordable
Ellen Smith — March 22, 2018 — Social Good
References: tasteproject.org
One Texas-based couple believes that everyone should have access to a high-quality meal, so they opened a community-focused pay-what-you-can eatery called 'Taste Community Restaurant.'
Taste serves up some mouth-watering dishes, including butternut squash risotto, or shrimp and cheese grits, making it the perfect spot for hungry individuals and large families. The restaurant's menu contains no prices, as guests are encouraged to donate what they can in support of the restaurant, following their meal.
According to the restaurant's owners, Taste is catered toward "“the missing middle 90 percent of the hungry who are not homeless and don’t qualify for government assistance. They might be choosing between food and medical bills or medication, be a single parent trying to make ends meet, be between jobs.”
Taste serves up some mouth-watering dishes, including butternut squash risotto, or shrimp and cheese grits, making it the perfect spot for hungry individuals and large families. The restaurant's menu contains no prices, as guests are encouraged to donate what they can in support of the restaurant, following their meal.
According to the restaurant's owners, Taste is catered toward "“the missing middle 90 percent of the hungry who are not homeless and don’t qualify for government assistance. They might be choosing between food and medical bills or medication, be a single parent trying to make ends meet, be between jobs.”
Trend Themes
1. Community-priced Services - The trend of pricing services according to the community's income level, rather than the market value, is an opportunity for businesses to tap into an underserved market of low-income individuals.
2. Donation-based Business Models - Creating a system where patrons can donate what they can, rather than adhering to set prices, could open up the opportunity to reach more customers, build brand loyalty, and foster support for the business.
3. Socially Responsible Businesses - Socially responsible business models, such as pay-what-you-can eateries, not only appeal to socially-conscious consumers but can also create opportunities to give back to the community and build brand advocacy.
Industry Implications
1. Restaurants - The restaurant industry can adopt a pay-what-you-can business model to cater to the missing middle while still maintaining profits.
2. Healthcare - Donation-based healthcare centers can provide accessible care to those who can't afford it, expanding their reach and creating opportunities for philanthropy and community-building.
3. Non-profit Organizations - Donation-based non-profit organizations can appeal to donors who want to support their cause without feeling financially burdened, creating opportunities to reach more people in need and build brand advocacy.
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