Heart to Home Meals Enters Texas with Dallas-Fort Worth Signing, Marking Brand’s Third New Market Opening in Under 60 Days

Once open, the new franchise will be the first to bring Heart to Home Meals’ chef-prepared, medically aligned meals to Dallas-Fort Worth, serving seniors in the southwest corner of the city.

The expansion comes as Texas’s senior population grows faster than nearly any other age group in the state. According to Texas Tribune reporting on U.S.

Census data, the state’s 65-and-older population grew 3.8% from 2023 to 2024 alone, outpacing every other age group, while Texas is home to 5.2 million baby boomers who will all reach age 65 by 2030.

Dallas-Fort Worth’s own senior population is growing even faster: residents 65 and older in the metro increased 15% between 2020 and 2023, nearly double the 9.4% national growth rate for that age group over the same period, even as Dallas-Fort Worth remains one of the fastest-growing major metros in the country.

“Texas has been high on our radar since we began franchising, and Dallas-Fort Worth is exactly the kind of market we’ve been looking for,” said Chris Webb, President of Heart to Home Meals USA. “The senior population here isn’t just large, it’s one of the fastest-growing in the country, and families are actively searching for trusted ways to help their loved ones stay independent at home. Entering Texas with a franchise partner who knows this community is a significant milestone for our brand.”

The need extends beyond demographics. Dallas-Fort Worth ranks among the nation’s hardest-hit metro areas for senior food insecurity: approximately 120,000 adults aged 60 and older in the region face hunger, up from 97,000 in 2022, according to the North Texas Food Bank. Texas leads the nation in hunger overall, and Dallas-Fort Worth ranks third among U.

S. metro areas for food insecurity, as rising costs of living continue to outpace household incomes across the region. Heart to Home Meals’ model of chef-prepared, medically aligned meals delivered directly into the home is designed to meet exactly this kind of need, pairing consistent nutrition with a trained driver who checks in on each senior at every stop.

Heart to Home Meals’ franchise model combines purpose with performance, offering a community-driven approach that goes beyond traditional meal delivery. Franchisees provide chef-prepared, medically aligned meals directly into the homes of seniors, with trained drivers who build trusted relationships and serve as an added layer of support and connection.

“We’re thrilled to welcome our first Texas franchise partner into the system,” said Richard Peroe, Senior Director of Franchise Development. “The DFW territory gives us a strong foothold into the country’s largest and fastest-growing senior markets, and we’re excited to see the impact this franchise will have across Fort Worth, Dallas, and the surrounding communities. Opening three new markets in under two months shows just how quickly demand for this model is growing, and we don’t expect that pace to slow down.”

Backed by parent company apetito, which generates more than $1 billion in annual global sales and has operated internationally since 1958, Heart to Home Meals combines decades of nutrition experience with a scalable, service-driven franchise model. The company currently operates across seven countries throughout Europe and North America and officially launched U.S. franchising efforts in 2024.

As one of the brand’s first 10 U.S. franchisees, the Dallas-Fort Worth territory will benefit from Heart to Home Meals’ founding franchise incentive, where the $40,000 franchise fee is reinvested directly into local marketing efforts to support launch and early business growth.

Heart to Home Meals continues targeting expansion throughout Texas, the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Florida, and other suburban markets where demographic trends and healthcare accessibility support increased demand for aging-in-place services. With three markets opening in as many months, the brand encourages prospective franchise partners, as well as families seeking meal delivery services for aging loved ones, to reach out now, as territories continue to fill quickly.