Key Highlights
- The global meal kit delivery service market size was valued at USD 10.26 billion in 2021
- The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.3% from 2022 to 2030
- Approximately 4 million Americans subscribed to meal kits in 2022
- The most popular meal kit in the U.S. is HelloFresh, holding 39% of the market share in 2022
- The average consumer spends about $60 per week on meal kits
- 65% of meal kit customers are aged between 18 and 44
- The primary reason for choosing meal kits is convenience, cited by 72% of users
- Sustainability concerns influence 48% of meal kit customers’ purchasing decisions
- Meal kit subscriptions increased by over 20% from 2020 to 2022
- The average meal kit contains approximately 600 calories per serving
- 55% of users prefer plant-based or vegetarian options in their meal kits
- Over 50% of meal kit users have a household income over USD 75,000
- Meal kit packaging is responsible for about 10% of food industry packaging waste
The meal kit industry is rapidly transforming the way consumers dine at home, with a global market projected to reach nearly $25 billion by 2030, driven by rising demand for convenience, sustainability, and tailored culinary experiences.
Consumer Behavior and Preferences
- The average consumer spends about $60 per week on meal kits
- The primary reason for choosing meal kits is convenience, cited by 72% of users
- The average meal kit contains approximately 600 calories per serving
- 55% of users prefer plant-based or vegetarian options in their meal kits
- The most common meal kit delivery day is Thursday, accounting for 36% of weekly deliveries
- The retention rate of meal kit customers is roughly 70% after the first three months
- The most common reason for cancellation is cost, cited by 38% of users
- The average order value per meal kit is approximately USD 65
- The average household subscribes to 1.5 meal kits weekly
- The percentage of meal kit users choosing gluten-free options is around 25%
- The most common meal options chosen are pasta, chicken, and vegetarian dishes
- Meal kit delivery services see a customer satisfaction rate of 88%
- Meal kit meal preparation time averages 15-20 minutes per meal
- 70% of meal kit users say they cook dinner more frequently because of meal kits
- Meal kit subscription cancellations peak during summer months, accounting for approximately 35% of cancellations
- The main competitor to meal kits is traditional grocery shopping, used by 80% of households
- In 2023, over 65% of meal kit users shop for meal kits weekly
- About 70% of meal kit users plan their weekly menus in advance
- 45% of meal kit households have purchased additional grocery items through the service
- The average consumer uses 3 different meal kit services within a year
- The proportion of households using meal kits who also order prepared meal delivery services has increased to 35% in 2023
- 80% of meal kit users prefer organic or locally sourced ingredients
Consumer Behavior and Preferences Interpretation
Environmental Impact and Sustainability
- Sustainability concerns influence 48% of meal kit customers’ purchasing decisions
- Meal kit packaging is responsible for about 10% of food industry packaging waste
- Meal kit companies are investing heavily in sustainable packaging, with 60% adopting eco-friendly materials in 2023
- The emission reduction potential of meal kits is estimated at 15% lower carbon footprint compared to traditional grocery shopping
Environmental Impact and Sustainability Interpretation
Market Growth and Trends
- The global meal kit delivery service market size was valued at USD 10.26 billion in 2021
- The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.3% from 2022 to 2030
- Meal kit subscriptions increased by over 20% from 2020 to 2022
- Meal kit companies saw an increase in new subscriptions by 25% during the COVID-19 pandemic
- The U.S. market for meal kits is projected to reach USD 11.87 billion by 2025
- In Europe, the meal kit market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 14.5% from 2023 to 2030
- The number of meal kit delivery startups worldwide exceeded 150 in 2022
- The decline in meal kit popularity was observed in 2023 due to increased competition and price sensitivity
- Meal kits tailored for specific diets like keto, paleo, and low-carb now represent over 30% of total offerings
- The average gross margin for meal kit companies is approximately 25-30%
- The average number of recipes offered per week by meal kit companies is around 20
- The global meal kit industry is projected to reach a value of USD 25 billion by 2030
- In Asia, the meal kit market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16% from 2023 to 2030
- Business-to-business meal kit services are emerging and account for approximately 5% of total industry revenue
- Meal kits with international cuisine options have seen a 22% increase in offerings over the past three years
- The overall meal kit industry growth rate slowed from 18% in 2022 to 10% in 2023, due to market saturation
- Meal kits targeting busy professionals are projected to account for nearly 40% of market share by 2025
- Meal kit subscription growth slowed slightly in 2023 due to increased price competition
- The proportion of vegetarian and vegan options in meal kits increased by 35% between 2020 and 2023
Market Growth and Trends Interpretation
Market Penetration and Demographics
- Approximately 4 million Americans subscribed to meal kits in 2022
- The most popular meal kit in the U.S. is HelloFresh, holding 39% of the market share in 2022
- 65% of meal kit customers are aged between 18 and 44
- Over 50% of meal kit users have a household income over USD 75,000
- Approximately 30% of meal kit users are college-educated
- Meal kits with organic ingredients comprise about 40% of the market
- Meal kits are most popular among urban households, representing 65% of users
- The share of meal kit customers who are first-time users increased by 15% in 2023
- The meal kit industry employs over 10,000 people across various roles in North America alone
- Meal kit subscriptions are most common in the states of California, New York, and Texas
- About 10-15% of meal kit customers are teenagers or young adults under 25
- Major players in the industry include HelloFresh, Blue Apron, and Home Chef, with HelloFresh holding the largest market share globally in 2022
- The main distribution channels are direct-to-consumer online orders accounting for 85%, with retail partnerships making up the remaining 15%
- Meal kit adoption rates are higher in households with children, with 58% of users having kids under 12
- Meal kit delivery applications have been downloaded over 10 million times globally as of 2023
- The most common meal kit delivery channels are mobile apps (60%) and company websites (40%)
- Meal kit companies have a customer churn rate of approximately 25% annually
- In 2022, the average meal kit price per serving was $9.50
Market Penetration and Demographics Interpretation
Operational and Business Practices
- The average wait time for delivery is around 45 minutes
- The meal kit industry is forecasted to see a 14% reduction in operational costs over the next five years due to automation and technological advances
- Only 12% of meal kit companies currently implement fully automated packaging
- Customer loyalty programs are used by 30% of meal kit companies to retain subscribers
- Meal kit companies typically spend about 20% of revenue on marketing and customer acquisition
Operational and Business Practices Interpretation
Sources & References
- Reference 1FORTUNEBUSINESSINSIGHTSResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 2STATISTAResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 3NPDResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 4FOODBUSINESSNEWSResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 5ENVIRONMENTALLEADERResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 6GRANDVIEWRESEARCHResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 7APPANNIEResearch Publication(2024)Visit source