Start-up nutrition company has over 1,000 customers serving 6,000 meals per week
Sachem alums Matt Riss and Mark Ciaburri both played college soccer and experienced poor health habits before and after games. They decided to do something about it and their ingenuity has led to the creation and success of X-Factor Meals.
Both played varsity soccer at Sachem North. Mark played at Buffalo State and studied dietetics, and Matt played at Brockport and studied exercise science. Between their studies and experiences, they had an idea to begin preparing pre-game meals designed specifically to be eaten on the road.
After the initial idea, Matt transferred home to Stony Brook and began to work on X-Factor. He was able to build a great working relationship with Stony Brook’s athletic performance staff.
“Together we created innovative solutions to feed their athletes such as their fueling station and training table for mens and women’s hoops,” said Riss.
As their business continued to develop they began to build out a meal prep service. This was designed to meet the needs of anyone who was looking to eat healthy and save time. The concept is to create delicious-tasting fully prepared options delivered right to doors.
After starting with only 100 meals weekly and delivering them in a Honda Accord they now make approximately 6,000 meals per week and own three vans to deliver. They also now work with Hofstra’s athletic performance staff.
What makes this any different from other companies of similar proportions?
“We take great pride in our product and it has taken years of trial and error to perfect our recipes,” said Riss. “All of our ingredients are sourced locally and prepared fresh, never frozen.”
Ciaburri has taken on the role of research and development and is on the cutting edge of meal preparation.
Riss and Ciaburri are still in the early phases of business development but have their eyes set on expanding as a nutrition technology company, and hope to open a brick and mortar retail location in the coming months. Keep an eye out because they’re targeting a location close to home in Sachem.
Another Sachem alum, Dalton Crossan, a professional football player who has spent time with the Colts and Buccaneers and is signed with Ottawa of the CFL this year, has recently started endorsing the product.
“Dalton excelled on and off the field during our time in high school,” said Riss. “We have done a great job embedding ourselves into the sports community, so naturally we jumped at the opportunity to work with an NFL athlete.”
“They are Sachem guys and are great, young, hardworking entrepreneurs who I have respect for,” said Crossan, who wants you to use the code DALTON on X-Factor for a discount. “Playing football at the highest possible level, I have learned how important it is to eat the right way, to preform your best on the field and avoid injury. I have been at top training facilities around the country and worked with meal prep companies and dietitians, and X-Factor’s food is some of the best tasting and healthiest food I’ve come across.”
To learn more about X-Factor, check out their website.
