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Northfield Sociale Make and Take Gourmet Opening in February 2007

Edina, MN (January 2007) â€"Sociale Make & Take Gourmet is proud to announce one of its first franchise locations opening this February in Northfield, Minnesota. The Northfield location will be opened and operated by Jennifer Torgrimson. Those on the go will be able to take advantage of Sociale’s gourmet meal preparation services and specialty gourmet gift shop beginning February 2007. The new store will be located in the Heritage Square Retail Center at 2010 Jefferson Road, Suite C (along Highway 3 South). Torgrimson is excited about this new opportunity and said that it offers a great way for busy people to save time and still have home-cooked meals. “Sociale is a great meal option for busy single people and families alike because by making meals a week or two in advance and keeping them in your freezer, the question of what’s for dinner is so much easier when you get home after a busy day. You simply heat the meal you’ve already prepared. You’re eating within an hour and don’t have to deal with the food preparation and clean up messes!”
As a single mother who over the years worked full-time, attended classes at night to complete her college degree, and coached soccer and taught Sunday school, Torgrimson was constantly pressed for time. She wanted quality time with her daughter and tried to make healthy meal choices, but when you’re on the run and have a limited budget that can be difficult. “Sometimes we’d eat out several meals each week and supplement that by eating cereal for other meals. It definitely was fast but it wasn’t healthy and I missed preparing meals at home. I tried using one of those cookbooks that help you create meals to get you through two-to-four weeks…you know, you got to the store, buy a few hundred dollars worth of groceries from the list the book gives you, and then spend all weekend cooking so that you can have a dozen or so meals in your freezer. It did work, but it took an entire day of my weekend.”
“In 2005, I heard about these make-and-take meal places. Sociale Gourmet in Eagan was the first one I tried, and I thought it was incredible! I was in and out of there in about an hour with twelve meals and I’d spent less than I did when I tried to do it on my own and not only did I not spend all day. The meals were very tasty, and even friends who ate dinner with us were impressed that I’d taken time to cook such a good meal for them (my secret’s out now, though!). After that, I tried a few more make-and-take places in the Twin Cities area, but the others didn’t have the quality or ease that Sociale had, so I went back to Sociale.”
“In the summer of 2006, my grandmother died. This was a very difficult time for me because she had always been a role model and strong supporter in my life. My grandparents had owned a grocery store in Hutchinson, Minnesota and believed that it’s important to be a part of your community. When I found out that Sociale was offering franchises, I decided that this was my opportunity to make my grandparents proud and also help other busy people make their lives easier by opening my own Sociale franchise in Northfield.”
The new franchise location marks the beginning of rapid growth for Sociale. Husband and wife team, Jason and Lisa Hake, who opened the first Sociale Make & Take Gourmet in the Twin Cities in 2004, plan on making Sociale a national brand within the next five years with the goal of helping time-starved people finally enjoy meal time together. “We remain committed to growing to over 200 locations in the next three years, while maintaining a strong commitment to our customers and support of our franchise partners.” said co-founder, Lisa Hake.
As former members of the corporate rat race and parents of young children themselves, Sociale founders Lisa and Jason Hake know first hand the challenges busy parents face when it comes to making nutritious, creative, and tasty meals the whole family can enjoy. With their own experiences in mind, the Hakes developed Sociale Make & Take Gourmet specifically for this fast growing market. In just about an hour, busy customers can socialize with friends, enjoy some great appetizers, and assemble up to a dozen freezer-ready, gourmet meals for their family and friends to enjoy anytime. Don’t have an hour? Sociale also offers already prepared entrees, side dishes, and desserts that may be picked-up or delivered.

Unlike many of the other meal preparation businesses, Sociale offers several “extras” to ensure its customers the highest quality, most convenience, and best experience possible. Those extras start in the kitchen where all recipes are created and tested by a team of Le Cordon Bleu trained chefs. These culinary experts even prepare the sauces to ensure the best possible taste and help save valuable time assembling meals (Sociale meals take half as much time to put together than other meal preparation services). Equally important to taste is nutrition. That is why Sociale strives to provide the freshest and highest quality ingredients possible, while constantly expanding its wide selection of healthy entrees. Chefs are currently working on a selection of heart-healthy meals that will be among the fourteen meal choices, which change each month. The upscale touches continue in the store’s lobby where customers can find a diverse assortment of gourmet specialty items, including food and drink items, kitchen gadgets, serving pieces, unique gifts, and customized gourmet gift baskets, many of which complement the make and take gourmet menu items.
How Sociale Make & Take Gourmet works:
During a Sociale cooking session participants make their way through refrigerated prep stations that are fully stocked with all of the necessary tools and ingredients. Participants simply follow step-by-step directions, rotating through the stations until all entrées are completed and ready to take home. No grocery shopping, no prep time, no clean up! Ingredients can be varied to meet specific tastes and dietary restrictions. Entrées are prepared in servings for 2-3 people or 4-6 people, and range from $2.84 to $4.67 per serving. Sociale’s entrées come with quick and easy cooking instructions and recommendations for side dishes and desserts.
Sociale currently has locations in Minnesota, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia with several stores in development and franchise territories available throughout the country. Log on to www.SocialeGourmet.com for more information.

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