1. Have a backup plan
One of the most challenging aspects of assembling the meal boxes was finding suppliers that had enough product available over a long run period, Oakley says. “With the best of intention, [suppliers] can commit to that initial purchase,” she says. “They can commit to that certain amount of stable product, but when you get into, ‘Can you commit over time? Can you be a stable supply chain for three months, for example?’ That's when you start to run into issues.”
To combat this, Chartwells started to stock up on certain products and look for backups that could act as a replacement if any other shipments fell through. “For every item, whether it's applesauce or craisins or graham crackers, you always need to go through and then have your substitution list so that if something goes wrong—if you either can't get the supply or there's an issue with what you receive—you know what you’re going to substitute it with so you're not scrambling,” Oakley says.