Chef-to-consumer marketplace Shef is growing nationwide.
In a Wednesday (March 1) news release, Shef announced that cooks from throughout the nation may now apply to sell their handmade meals on the site.
The announcement stated Shef operates in 11 states and the District of Columbia after launching in the Bay Area in 2019.
“Demand for Shef has grown dramatically over the past four years — both from those interested in cooking on the platform to earn much-needed income, as well as consumers looking for more affordable, healthy ways to feed their family,” Shef Co-Founder and CEO Joey Grassia said in the release. “We’re thrilled to be able to meet this demand and fill a significant gap in the market between home cooking and takeout.”
Since customers anticipate on-demand food delivery, aggregators are spreading, according to a June 2022 research.
Wonder, a food truck-delivery business, raised $350 million in June.
CookUnity, a chef-to-customer platform, delivers award-winning chef-prepared meals.
WoodSpoon, a delivery service that delivers home-cooked meals, announced a $14 million Series A financing in August 2021.
According to the press statement, Shef expanded its network connecting local chefs with clients after securing a $73.5 million Series B fundraising round last year.
When several states clarified their regulations, all 50 states allow the selling of some handmade food as of 2022, the announcement added.
According to the statement, Shef will utilize its additional funding to grow countrywide and create preference and customisation capabilities and other products.
The news announcement says CRV led the latest fundraising round.
“Neighbors feeding neighbors is already a widely known practice throughout the world,” CRV Managing Partner Saar Gur stated in the announcement. “Now talented cooks can simultaneously pursue their passion while also providing their families with another meaningful source of income by providing homemade dishes to those nearby, something that’s even more relevant given the tough economy.”
