A new way of finding food on the Web
Kristine Catalogna
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Just over a year ago, Nat Turner and his friends were using the web to find delivery services that could provide them with food while they were hanging out or studying at the University of Pennsylvania.
Turner, no stranger to the web or to starting his own business, figured he could do better. And so was born his latest business: EatNow.com.
"I knew that this system could be improved," said Turner, who counts EatNow.com as the 14th business he's tried (the first at Age 10).
He started EatNow.com in April 2005 with other students at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Claims its website: "EatNow.com is the newest member of the online food ordering community."
EatNow.com draws customers by mapping out in seconds all the restaurants with home delivery within miles of the residence of the campus or homes of the clients looking for food.
Opening up EatNow.com to Boston residents and thousands of college students this past year has made EatNow.com's business boom, Turner said.
"There are more orders in Boston, today, than at my school,"
he said, estimating that the service has sold more food and drink in Boston than in any other city since its opening in April 2005.
The business continues to expand, Turner said.
"Currently, EatNow.com serves college students at over 50 schools as well as residential and office users in six major cities ,including Philadelphia, Boston, Hartford, New Haven, Providence and New York City," Turner said.
He said EatNow.com hopes to expand its customer base tenfold and its restaurant base by four- or five-fold within the year. He also hopes to make EatNow.com a part of dining services for meal plans at colleges and for it to be adopted by corporations for their employees, Turner said. Turner wants his company to reach "as many schools as possible."
After all, he says, the craving of food can only be sated with food itself.
"It is an impulsive decision to buy food," he said."Eespecially if you are studying in the library and you can't get to a phone."
Turner hopes the computer- and his company- will offer the best alternative.