Côte at Home delivery service launched
Côte at Home is taking orders for delivery via its www.coteathome.co.uk website from 9 April, but nationwide deliveries will be available in the coming weeks.
While the Coronavirus crisis has seen many smaller outfits pivot to delivering ready-to-eat meals and other products, the majority of high street restaurants chains have closed for business entirely.
The range includes ‘freshly-prepared’ chilled dishes designed for easy cooking at home including poulet grillé, beef Bourguignon, Toulouse sausage with lentils, hachis parmentier. Each serves two with prices ranging from £9.95 to £13.95.
There is also a selection of sides, extras and desserts including creamed spinach (£3.95), frites (£3.95), Roquefort butter (£2.95) and chocolate mousse (£3.50).
The website states that all meals are prepared in Côte's own kitchen - which, give the scale of the operation - almost certainly means the centralised production unit that produces food for its restaurants.
The kitchen enforces strict safety measures that includes the wearing of masks, gloves, and ‘supervision by an in-house food safety expert’.
The website also has a butchery section offering a wide selection of the meat products used in Côte restaurants including ribeye steaks, dry-aged côte de boeuf, marinated corn-fed chicken supremes and Cumberland sausages.
It also lists a selection of Côte’s wines alongside a handful of beers, ciders and soft drinks.
Côte at Home requires a £40 minimum order but delivery is free for purchases over £80. Deliveries are made Monday to Saturday only and are made with “minimal to no contact” with customers.
Prior to the pandemic, Côte - which was lunched in 2007 - revealed it was planning further expansion following a review of its estate.
The casual dining group saw pre-tax profits climb to £5.5m, up from £4.6m, for the year to 28 July 2019. Revenue rose by 7% to £156.9m, while adjusted EBITDA increased from £17.9m to £18.4m.
