The Handmade Food Co was founded after a trip overseas, where its founders were impressed by the breadth and quality of sandwiches available, particularly in the UK.
Determined to bring that experience to Australia, they established Lunchbox Solutions in Brisbane, focusing on supplying fresh sandwiches and wraps to local businesses in South-East Queensland.
As demand grew, it became clear that national customers were struggling to find a consistent, high-quality sandwich provider.
This led to the development of the Everyday Café frozen sandwich range, providing a reliable solution for customers across Australia.
The company evolved into The Handmade Food Co, staying true to its roots of crafting sandwiches the traditional way, using fresh bread and pantry-style ingredients.
Reflecting on the company’s growth, David Taylor, National Sales Manager, said, “There are actually so many differences and similarities when comparing The Handmade Food Co today to the early days.
In essence, the products are still made the same way – by hand by a dedicated, passionate team of foodies, just on a much bigger scale than the early days.”
One aspect that has remained unchanged is the loyalty and dedication of its workforce.
“It’s hard to believe, but we still have team members both in the office and factory who have been with the company since the very beginning, 20 years ago.
The longevity of a number of our staff is something we cherish and value greatly.”
Notable milestones
Over the past two decades, The Handmade Food Co has achieved several significant milestones.
Taylor recalled, “We reflect with pride on our first ever national customer, a café chain… this was a leap for us and the success we had with this customer really proved the model worked and that consumers loved our products.”
Another key moment was the launch of their grab-and-go Everyday Café sandwiches at the C&I trade show in Sydney.
“The response to a national sandwich offer for P&C was incredible,” Taylor said.
“We are very grateful that we get to do what we love and very proud to be sandwich manufacturers.”
Keys to success
The Handmade Food Co attributes its longevity to product quality and innovation.
“Most definitely, the quality of the products both from a sensory and food safety point of view.
Product innovation has been key to our success and our dedicated product innovation team work tirelessly on new products and concepts to meet our various customer needs,” Taylor said.
He also highlighted the company’s four core pillars – Food Safety, People Safety, Food Quality, and Culture – as critical to maintaining focus and achieving sustained growth.
Taylor also credited the team’s dedication, stating, “The Handmade Food Co is still privately owned and founder-led with an amazing group of talented, dedicated, and passionate people who make the company who we are today.”
To celebrate its 20th anniversary, the company gathered at its main manufacturing facility for a special team lunch, reminiscing about the journey and achievements over the years.
“It was extraordinary really to see everyone together and reflect on the journey we’ve shared.”
Industry changes and looking ahead
One of the most notable shifts in the industry over the past two decades has been the increasing acceptance of frozen sandwiches.
“If I could name just one thing, I think it’s the acceptance and desire to embrace the benefits of a frozen range.
The products just work. Customers are seeing and enjoying the benefits of what frozen brings to their business.
They have the ability to massively reduce their wastage and out of stocks without product quality being compromised.
“We are thrilled to have become an integral part of the solution to their supply chain problem and delight our consumers through a quality, delicious tasting sandwich,” Taylor said.
View article source here.
Subscribe to our free mailing list and always be the first to receive the latest news and updates.