The first picnic startup in New Orleans, Merienda, which means picnic, is officially launching just in time for summer. The startup offers curated baskets at a number of price points as well as a concierge service.
The company did a soft launch last October following a strong response to a survey sent out months prior.
Custom Birthday Picnic. Photo: Brooke Boyd Photography.
Founder Andrea Hernandez started Merienda because of her love for cooking, baking and catering.
“Everyone loves a good picnic, but planning for them can be tedious. We wanted to make it simple for people to go on a picnic and enjoy local products,” said Andrea Hernandez, founder of Merienda. “We aim to encourage people to spend meaningful time with friends and family, while exploring all the beautiful greenspace New Orleans has to offer.”
Merienda hopes to encourage outdoor recreation and the utilization of the over 3,600 acres of recreational green space in the city.
Hernandez has partnered with Brady’s Wine Warehouse and St. James Cheese Company to bring the on-demand picnics to people in New Orleans.
“It is wonderful to see small local businesses working together to uplift New Orleans and present our residents with more ways to enjoy different areas of the city,” said Christine Alexis, Director of Marketing and Communications at the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, after trying out Merienda’s French Picnic.
Picnic baskets range from the $45 “classic” to a $1,000 “platinum”, which includes fresh flowers, caviar and the champagne of your choice.
To find out more about Merienda, visit meriendapicnic.com.