Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
Randy Klegg and Wayne Curtis never imagined their Apple Spice Junction deli would grow to become one of the state's largest box lunch delivery and catering services. When it was opened in 1988, they just hoped it would be the best.
They started in a building on West Temple in Salt Lake--subletting a place that once housed the Beehive Bakery. They set up a couple of tables in the bakery's front dining area and used the kitchen to bake fresh bread for their sandwiches. From the beginning, Apple Spice Junction focused on serving the corporate community as well as state and local government. Randy and Wayne delivered their deli lunches mostly to work-related meetings and events.
Their clients liked the lunches and with that the number of deliveries increased. It also led to a new opportunity. Clients began asking Randy and Wayne if they would cater events. The idea seemed like a perfect complement to their business so they began offering catering as well.
Well today, Apple Spice Junction is one of the top off-site caterers in the state in terms of sales volume. The company caters from 15 to 20 events per day, which include corporate catering, meetings, parties and summer picnics. Apple Spice also delivers more boxed lunches than any other company in the state--about 500 to 700 lunches a day. It does barbecues as well, serving up to 7,000 people at a time. Apple Spice also operates two delis-one in the Metro Business Park; the other in Murray.
What's amazing is that the company manages all of it with a staff of only 40 people. And they do it well. Despite the many menu items, which include everything from soups, sandwiches and salads to lasagna and prime rib, Wayne told me food is not the company's main focus. Rather, it's service. He said Apple Spice prides itself on pleasing every client. That means customers get a call after each job to determine how things went.
So, it's no wonder Apple Spice Junction is the success it is. Randy and Wayne's aim to be the best was right on target.
For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.
