Spokane-based meal preparation company Real Meals, a scratch-made meal delivery and pickup service, has doubled its workforce and expanded partnerships with gyms and senior living facilities as demand for convenient, prepared meals continues to grow, says Real Meals owner and chef Jenny Finau.

The expansion comes as Finau continues to scale both Real Meals and Spokane Food & Event Services, a culinary hub that operates in a 3,700-square-foot commercial kitchen at 723 N. Crestline, in Spokane. The facility serves as the headquarters for Real Meals while also functioning as a commercial kitchen incubator, catering operation, and event production center, Finau says.

Real Meals and Spokane Food & Event Services are both trade names of Sugarplum LLC.

Real Meals employs three full-time workers and five part-time employees, Finau says, adding that her team is "hungry to serve others."

In addition to supporting its own operations, Finau explains the kitchen serves as a resource for other entrepreneurs in the food industry. Eight vendors currently use the commercial kitchen space to develop and operate their own businesses.

"We've really focused on creating opportunities not just for our company, but for other food entrepreneurs as well," she says. "Many of those being women starting up businesses for the first time, and they can use all the support and kitchen access they can get."

The growth of Real Meals coincides with a broader expansion of Spokane Food & Event Services, which offers catering services, event production, commercial kitchen rentals, cooking classes, and the Real Meals program under one umbrella, Finau says. By combining these services under one roof, Spokane Food & Event Services and the Real Meals program have evolved into a culinary ecosystem designed to help both customers and food-based businesses succeed, she says.

A key component of the recent expansion has been the development of partnerships with fitness centers. The collaborations allow gyms to offer healthier prepared meal options to members while also creating an incentive for customers to return to those facilities, explains Finau.

The meals are designed to accommodate a variety of dietary needs and health goals, giving gym members access to ready-made options that align with their nutrition plans, she says. Sourcing regional ingredients helps Finau provide healthy options for prepared meals on the rotating weekly menu.

The arrangement benefits fitness center operators, who can provide an additional service to members, while Real Meals gains direct access to customers seeking convenient, healthy food choices, she says.

The company also has expanded its presence serving senior living communities, a move driven by growing demand from older adults looking for simple meal solutions. Many seniors no longer want to prepare large meals from scratch but still desire hearty, nutritious portions, Finau says.

Real Meals' products are designed to be easy to heat and prepare, allowing seniors to maintain independence while reducing the amount of time and effort spent cooking, Finau says. The service also gives seniors an alternative to large national meal subscription companies by providing meals prepared in Spokane and tailored to customer preferences.

"There are a lot of seniors in our community who want quality meals without having to cook every day," Finau says. "We can provide that convenience while keeping the service local." 

Going forward, the company is looking for additional opportunities for growth as consumer demand increases for prepared meals that emphasize convenience and nutrition.

"The need is always there, and is growing in Spokane," Finau says. "That's why we are so excited to support entrepreneurs while expanding ourselves. We can't feed everyone so we need to help others feed people as well."