Food24
  • Recipes
    • New recipes
    • Recipe round-ups
    • Air fryer recipes
    • Easy weekday meals
    • Cooking with lamb
    • Delicious pork recipes
    • Fish and Tips
    • Braai recipes
    • Chicken recipes
    • Vegetarian recipes
    • Baking
    • Low carb recipes
    • Gluten-free recipes
    • Dairy-free recipes
    • Pasta recipes
    • South African recipes
  • News
    • Food news
  • Videos
  • Cooking guides and tips
    • Baking tips and tricks
    • Load shedding lifesavers
  • Newsletters
  • More
    • Food24 taste tests
    • Eat for good
    • Drinks
      • Non-alcoholic drinks
      • Wine
      • Beer
      • Cocktails
      • Coffee
    • Win
No Result
View All Result
Food24
  • Recipes
    • New recipes
    • Recipe round-ups
    • Air fryer recipes
    • Easy weekday meals
    • Cooking with lamb
    • Delicious pork recipes
    • Fish and Tips
    • Braai recipes
    • Chicken recipes
    • Vegetarian recipes
    • Baking
    • Low carb recipes
    • Gluten-free recipes
    • Dairy-free recipes
    • Pasta recipes
    • South African recipes
  • News
    • Food news
  • Videos
  • Cooking guides and tips
    • Baking tips and tricks
    • Load shedding lifesavers
  • Newsletters
  • More
    • Food24 taste tests
    • Eat for good
    • Drinks
      • Non-alcoholic drinks
      • Wine
      • Beer
      • Cocktails
      • Coffee
    • Win
No Result
View All Result
Food24
No Result
View All Result

Are meal-kit delivery businesses on the way out, or on the way up?

Food24
Elizabeth Mamacos by Elizabeth Mamacos
April 11, 2018
in Food News
0
Are meal-kit delivery businesses on the way out, or on the way up?
0
SHARES
911
VIEWS
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

(image: Pantry Box)

ALSO READ: 10 Amazingly helpful food and recipe apps you need to download right now

The meal-kit delivery business seems to be doing very well in South Africa. A number of these local subscription services have built their businesses around the idea of sending customers pre-portioned groceries along with a recipe. Customers then prepare these meals at home, without the hassle of shopping or fussing over portion sizes and unusual ingredients. 

Internationally, first to market meal-kit delivery businesses did very well, with the global direct-to-door meal-kit service market generating revenue of around one billion US Dollars in 2015, but more recently it seems the public is losing its taste for these services. More specifically, US-based meal-kit provider Blue Apron – which is listed on the NYSE and accounts for over 70% of the US market – has recently taken quite a knock. After testing out meal kits online, Walmart announced it will begin selling prepared meals in stores and as a result, Blue Apron stock dropped by 15%.  

This activity prompted us to ask: In South Africa, are dinner kit delivery businesses actually on the way out, or are they on the way up? 

There are a number of players in the local market, including UCOOK, DailyDish, The Pantry Box and a few smaller hyperlocal businesses. 

Bev Ownhouse, of The Pantry Box, says that SA is definitely still enjoying a boom in this industry. 

“We have not had a problem with retaining customers as yet. The international trends always hit our shores eventually, but there is often quite a big lag time and the impact may differ compared to the USA.” 

In response to queries about the dip in interest in the US market, she says, “one must remember that South Africa and the USA have very diverse eating cultures. South Africa is still very centred around cooking and eating wholesome food. The Pantry Box merges the two together: convenience and wholesome nutritious food, while takeaways and fast food are big in the USA.” 

Ownhouse notes that the majority of Pantry Box customers are “urban, middle-upper class Gen X women” which reflects international trends. 

Menno Brouwer of UCOOK says they’ve had a similar experience. 

“We’re still very much in the boom phase, as the concept starts to gain traction here in South Africa, and people become more accustomed to the idea of ordering food online and having it delivered to their door.” 

Halloumi is one of those magical ingredients that transforms completely when you fry it. This week UCOOK created a wonderful Warm Summer Vegetable Salad that lets the halloumi shine as the hero of the dish. You can order your box via the link in our bio or theirs before 12 on Wednesday

A post shared by Give a Fork (@giveaforkblog) on Dec 4, 2017 at 2:30am PST

He explains that the South African meal-kit delivery industry is, like most things, several years behind international trends. While UCOOK has been operating for just over three years, the large international players have been around for six to seven years.

“While this means that in many ways we are behind the international market, what it does allow us to do is to identify shortfalls of the business model before they affect us. International trends will undoubtedly eventually reach us, and we must thus learn from the mistakes of others.”

Co-founder of the company, David Torr says, “UCOOK’s strategy here has been the incorporation of alternative USPs like ethical eating, reflected in UCOOK’s food philosophy (organic, sustainable, meats pasture-reared and free-range) and a ‘learning and upskilling element’ reflected in the multiple campaigns and menus created by top industry professionals (Eat Out Chef of The Year, Liam Tomlin, Franck Dangereux etc.) and popular restaurants. These value-enhancing properties have allowed UCOOK to achieve a customer average lifetime value that supersedes the model’s expectations.”

It seems like we can look forward to an exciting range of new and innovative meal-kit products that will delight the South African home cook. 

Have you ever used a meal kit delivery service? Share your experience with us below in the comments section or email us!

ALSO READ: Too lazy to cook today? Have one of these 14 SA food apps and sites at your fingertips



Related Posts

Anatomy of a choc chip cookie: we tested 8 recipe versions to find the ultimate method
Cooking Guides and Tips

Anatomy of a choc chip cookie: we tested 8 recipe versions to find the ultimate method

February 3, 2023
bwell mayonnaise
Partner content

Partner content: Your permanent local mayo is here to stay

February 2, 2023
We predict 2023’s biggest food trends for home cooks
Food News

We predict 2023’s biggest food trends for home cooks

February 1, 2023
Next Post
Welcome to beer school: The critical role that barley plays in its production

Welcome to beer school: The critical role that barley plays in its production

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Food24 Team Loves

Tips on how to pack the perfect picnic

Tips on how to pack the perfect picnic

January 14, 2023
How to easily peel boiled eggs: We tested 7 hacks and there’s only one way that really works every time

How to easily peel boiled eggs: We tested 7 hacks and there’s only one way that really works every time

January 2, 2023
roast-pork-leg

6 tips for making the crispiest pork crackling

December 21, 2022
Light and healthy recipes that simply scream ‘summer’

Light and healthy recipes that simply scream ‘summer’

November 19, 2022
air-fryer-dos-and-donts

9 Do’s and don’ts when air-frying at home

October 24, 2022

Recent favourites

  • burger and fries

    It’s true – Hellmann’s Mayonnaise will be discontinued in SA

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Cracking open the myths about canned food – and why they’re great for load-shedding meals

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Secrets to making the perfect tart case

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • We predict 2023’s biggest food trends for home cooks

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Oh, grate! Turns out all four sides of the grater serve a useful purpose

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get weekly access to our best recipes, tips and tricks

Sign Up
Footer

Quick links

  • Home
  • News
  • Videos
  • Win

Collections

  • New Recipes
  • Festive
  • Baking
  • Dessert Recipes
  • Braai Recipes
  • Lunchbox
  • South African Recipes
  • Pasta Recipes

Other links

  • Advertise with Food24
  • Editorial Policy
  • How to Pitch
  • Contact us

Not in the mood to cook?

Visit eatout.co.za to find the perfect restaurant near you.

eatout.co.za

© 2020 Food24.com. All rights reserved.

  • About us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • New Media
IAB
No Result
View All Result
  • Recipes
    • New recipes
    • Recipe round-ups
    • Air fryer recipes
    • Easy weekday meals
    • Cooking with lamb
    • Delicious pork recipes
    • Fish and Tips
    • Braai recipes
    • Chicken recipes
    • Vegetarian recipes
    • Baking
    • Low carb recipes
    • Gluten-free recipes
    • Dairy-free recipes
    • Pasta recipes
    • South African recipes
  • News
    • Food news
  • Videos
  • Cooking guides and tips
    • Baking tips and tricks
    • Load shedding lifesavers
  • Newsletters
  • More
    • Food24 taste tests
    • Eat for good
    • Drinks
      • Non-alcoholic drinks
      • Wine
      • Beer
      • Cocktails
      • Coffee
    • Win

© 2019 Food24.com. All rights reserved.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Fill the forms below to register

Subscribe to Newsletter

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Close
Food24
Recipe Disclaimer

All recipe content is the responsibility of the party from whom such content originated. You agree that you use the content on Food24 at your own risk. Please read our editorial policy.
Close
Food24
Get the latest recipes delivered to your inbox weekly
Promotional Newsletter

Be the first to receive information about competitions and special offers from Food24 and it's partners.

You have successfully been subscribed!
Something went wrong. Please try again.
Make sure you have completed all required fields.
I don't want to see this again