There are a few local companies that in our normal world would have been a “New Kid on the Block” feature. But in these circumstances, they have found ways to tweak their business models to suit the times so they are… Still Working.

Ox Verte was founded in 2015 as the alternative to the bagel-and-danish spread put out at most corporate breakfasts. Their concept: locally-sourced, health-conscious seasonal office food that clients would order if left to their own devices. And that’s what they were doing out of the storefront next to Tre Sorelle on Reade until a month ago — serving hundreds of buffet meals daily across Manhattan — when every one of their corporate diners was sent home.

“That was our bread and butter,” said Selina Ang, the company’s head of business development. (It is actually a Certified B Corp, founded by Upper Westsider Jessie Gould.) “We were then faced with this decision: shut down or make it a useful offering to where our customers were — at home.”

They did a pivot, and some tweaks. Where as before they were setting up and serving buffets in offices for up to 500 people, now they are delivering contactless, individually packed meals as well as grocery items from their distributors, all suited to small or large families.

“We knew how to make good food, we just had to change it to serve that model,” said Selina. “At the end of this we may have two different types of businesses in the same company.”

They have run the kitchen out of the Reade Street space (it used to be Okami Sushi) since 2017, having outgrown a shared kitchen in the Village. They use the front of the store for packing and inventory, and, with as many as 100 meals going out a day now, they have been able to retain seven out of their usual 10 staff members. (They are also serving frontline workers through donations to a GoFundMe page called Feed the Frontline Workers of NYC.)

The menu is seasonal, and they will be switching over to spring next week from the current winter ingredients. For now they are delivering Monday through Friday. Orders can be placed up till 11:59p the day before, and the team will deliver between 11a – 2p or 5 – 6p. There is an order minimum of $50.

Selina said they are now also extending their reach to other boroughs. “This is our third week of doing this and we are slowly growing and people are learning about us through word of mouth.”

Ox Verte
info@oxverte.com
347-949-8671
oxverte.nyc/collections/Work-From-Home
Delivery fees waived for Tribeca neighbors (10007 and 10013 zip codes). Email info@oxverte.com to redeem.