Neal de Kock of The Lunch People

Neal is starting to become a regular in our offices, and we all wait in anticipation every morning to see what delicious and interesting things he is going to bring in his well-stocked crates. Gone are the days of trekking to the 7 Eleven for greasy lunches or boring rolls, or bringing insipid leftovers from home! The sandwich and snackaway is finally making a comeback, thanks to this young entrepreneurial spirit!

Having completed his schooling at Paul Roos in Stellenbosch in 1999, Neal considered studying Quantity Surveyance, however his life-long passion for food and creativity led him to register with the Institute of Culinary Arts at Spier Wine Estate. In the two years that he studied there he trained in various aspects of cookery, including general kitchen work and chef's training, with an emphasis on kitchen and business management and product development. He also spent thirteen months gaining practical experience in various kitchens throughout the Western Cape, including 0932 in Greenpoint and the prestigious Lanzerac Estate Hotel in Stellenbosch.

While gaining experience, Neal had a vision of working his way up to eventually open and manage his own restaurant, however job offers were scarce when he graduated in February 2002. He instead started work as a wine supplier, delivering wine to restaurants and venues around the Cape. It was while he was doing this that a friend of his who worked in an office complex, complained of the lack of fresh, fast and affordable lunches in the nearby vicinity, so on a day off, Neal made

a batch of sandwiches and took them to the offices, and was so well received that he decided to try for something more permanent. He spent the next two months sourcing products and suppliers, and coming up with innovative recipes for sandwich fillings, and so his little business began.

Neal offers a variety of interesting fresh products, believing in the importance of innovation, creativity and reliability: "I get my bread directly from Sasko so that it is fresher than what you get in the stores, and I try to think up new ideas for sandwiches. My most popular is the Caribbean Chicken (chicken, ginger and star-anise), and the Roast Beef with Wholegrain Mustard is also a fast seller. I also try to source my ingredients from the same companies who supply restaurants, to ensure the highest quality at all times." Neal is up at 4:30 every morning to start preparing the sandwiches in order to get them delivered by lunchtime. He believes it is important to be consistent so that people know to expect him and rely on his daily deliveries. He hopes in the next two months to employ two drivers so that he can expand his route, using the extra profit to add to his product line. He currently sells sandwiches, muffins, softdrinks, samoosas and instant soups, and wants to add to this pies, chocolates, chips and snacks.

Neal always wanted to cook for a living, and sees his new venture as a step in the right direction, also offering corporate and private catering at cost-effective prices. His attributes some of his success to his parents who have always been supportive in his career choices, and now shares recipes with his dad, also a whiz in the kitchen! He has great admiration for Jamie Oliver and his ability to make food fun, "which is what it is!" Neal enjoys the sparse free time that he has with his girlfriend, Carolyn, or going out with friends to movies, or visiting his parents and four siblings in Somerset West.

This quiet, unassuming young man is sure to become a familiar face in the office parks around the Cape - keep a look out for him and his exciting range of lunch offerings!

If you would like Neal to visit your office block, contact him on 083 448 2457.