Our Mission

Our mission is to make safe & delicious allergy friendly food convenient for all

Clever Deli’s

Origin Story

Our High Standards

Safety

Safety is Clever Deli’s top priority and we take it very seriously. Providing safe food for those with severe food allergies requires added space & training to eliminate risk of cross-contact. We operate from a 100% gluten-free kitchen. Our employees and guests are not allowed to bring gluten containing products into our facility.

The temperature in our coolers is monitored 24/7. If it rises above 41 degrees for an unsafe amount of time for any reason, including power or equipment failure, the cooler will lock and will not allow a customer to make a purchase, and will send us an alert allowing us to take action quickly to resolve the issue.

Certifications/Training/Licensing/Permits

All employees handling food are certified ServSafe Food Managers ensuring highly elevated safety training for preparing and handling food.

All employees transporting our products are also trained in proper procedures for cold chain logistics to ensure safe temperatures are maintained through transporting and stocking products in our coolers.

Clever Deli (our Tampa Cafe) is currently licensed with Florida DBPR as a seating restaurant (#SEA3918072) permitted for catering, commissary (for manufacturing & packaging), and optional food truck operation.

Clever Deli (FE 433529) & Clever Deli Mobile (FE 433530) hold current permits from Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) for production, manufacturing, packaging retail and wholesale as well as food truck operation.

Each Clever Deli cooler requires licensure through Florida DBPR once placed at a desired location. We handle this & cover the cost, we provide clients with copies of licenses on their property at their request.

Insurance

Clever Deli is fully licensed & insured. We will gladly supply our clients with copies by request and partner companies can be added insureds on our policy. Safety is our top priority.

Founder Story

Shay Ryan Zimmerman

As a meteorologist and host of cooking shows for almost 30 years it might seem like I wandered into the automated retail world by accident. But looking back, life has just come full circle.

Back in 9th grade, I worked diligently to get a vending machine installed at my high school. It became a small triumph for our class and even helped fund our prom. I hadn’t thought much of it since then, but life has a way of bringing things together.

Fast forward through a career sharing my love of weather, science, & food on TV, a celiac diagnosis, then more than a decade of gluten-free recipe development, blogging, and ultimately becoming Editor in Chief of Gluten Free & More Magazine.

While traveling, (and hungry because I couldn’t find much that was celiac safe), I came across a small autonomous retail store and a vending type machine. The lightbulb illuminated. There may not be enough of us with food allergies to justify a restaurant on every corner, but this technology can bring food to those who need it, where they need it. And my work began creating Clever Deli.

Work with Us

We are open to working with companies, organizations, and influencers who are passionate about making a difference & improving the lives of those of us who live gluten-free. Please reach out with collaboration ideas!