I love meal kits and meal delivery options.
I never intended to fall in love with meal kits.
But when my wife and I decided to order a Hello Fresh food subscription box on a whim one day, we quickly realized that we didn’t choose the meal kit life – it chose us! It’s a splendid solution, especially wnen you pick one of Canada’s best meal kits!
Yes, I know.
I am a typical Canadian millennial that doesn’t know how to meal prep or cook from scratch, etc.
I could be saving “so much money”… But hear me out on this one.I’d go so far as to say that my meal kits (which are delivered to my door) are worth it just for the drastic reduction in domestic arguments between my wife and myself about what to do for dinner. When you consider all of the other positives they have brought to our life, meal kits have a fantastic value.
My two favourite meal kit companies in Canada
- Calorie Watchers
- Vegetarians
- Novice cooks
- Picky eaters
- Lowest priced meal kit
- Wide variety of meals and delicious
- Excellent customer service
- Super easy meal organization
- Ships to 95% of Canada but all of it
- Calorie Watchers
- Vegetarians
- Novice cooks
- Picky eaters
- Environmentalists
- Large variety of meals
- Wide delivery service area
- Easily skip weeks as needed
- Individual packaging – environmental concern
- More expensive than Chefs Plate
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The meal kit industry took off in 2007, and was introduced to Canada in 2014
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There are 6 large companies on the market as of 2020, serving over 1
million clients -
Meal kits are boxes shipped directly to your door that include all of the
ingredients and an easy-to-follow recipe for preparing a delicious meal -
Many meal kits have options for vegetarians or others with dietary
restrictions -
Meal kits can be for singles, couples, families, and anybody who wants an easy-to-prep
meal. They have flexible options for number of servings and the sizes of each serving
Quick Overview of our Meal Kit Guide:
A side by side comparison of the leading Canadian meal kits.
An executive summary review of each of the leading meal kits in Canada.
An overview helping you understand the financial advantages of using meal kits.
Continue reading our introduction to understand how meal kits can help you improve your lifestyle.
My Personal Experience: Pulling my weight in the kitchen
I am entirely willing to admit that the main reason my wife has taken on much of the cooking in our house over the years is that I’m really bad at it. I’m not bad at it because I can’t follow a recipe or lack attention to detail. I’m not even bad at it because I’m too lazy to cook. (I should point out here in the interest of trying to salvage some degree of self-respect, that I do handle the bulk of the cleaning and laundry in order to bring some semblance of balance to the domestic chores scale.)
I’m badI used to be bad at cooking because I’m too lazy to plan and shop. The situation is not helped by the fact that we live in a rural Canadian area, so purchasing fresh produce can be difficult. Any spice or food option that isjuuuuust outside the mainstream? Forget about it.
Because I was an extremely reluctant cook, my wife would naturally get annoyed with me from time to time for not pulling my weight (which is considerable) in the kitchen. I can honestly say that since starting our meal kit delivery service, the following positives have occurred in my life:
- I cook much more because I don’t have to plan ahead.
- My wife and I haven’t had a single argument about household chores in several months.
- We NEVER throw out food anymore (and never have a fridge that smells like food that should be thrown out).
- We both look forward to getting home on Tuesdays to find three separate delicious meals waiting for us. Most of which we’d have never tried were it not for the food box subscription we have.
- We eagerly anticipate sitting down together and choosing our meals for the next week. Food preparation has gone from something to be endured, to something that brings joy to our lives.
Yes, prepped meal kits have been really good for us and depending on your circumstances, they may be good for you as well. Look at my comprehensivemeal kit comparison research below and learn the basics!
A Comparison of Canada’s Best Meal Kit Delivery Services
| Hello Fresh | Good Food | Cook it | Chef’s Plate | Fresh City Farms | |
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| Price per Serving (for 2 People) | $8.99 | $10.04 – $14.41 | $9.36 – $11.17 | $9.99 | $19.50 – $22.50 |
| Price per Serving (for 4 People) | $7.49 – $8.99 | $9.01 – $13.38 | $4.27 – $5.13 | $8.99 | N/A |
| Vegetarian plans | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Vegetarian meals | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Low carb plans | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Gluten free? | Sometimes | Sometimes | Sometimes | Sometimes | Yes |
| Delivery areas | All of Canada | Most urban areas | Most urban areas | Most urban areas | Toronto |
| Bag to table | 25-45 Mins | 15-60 Mins | 20-35 Mins | 15-30 Mins | Unknown |
| Recipes you can select from each week | 20 | 10 | 16 | 15 | 19 |
| Total meals you get each week | 3 to 4 | 3 to 4 | 2 to 5 | 3 to 4 | Custom |
| Environmentally Friendly Grade | A | B | A+ | B | A+ |
| Read Hello Fresh Review |
Read Good Food Review |
Read Cook It Review |
Read Chef’s Plate Review |
Read Fresh City Farms Review |
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With nearly two million meal kits being shipped across the country every month, more and more Canadians are signing up for the value found in a meal kit subscription box. However, Canada still lags behind markets like the USA as far as percentage of the population having tried a meal kit service – thus greatly increasing the odds that you, the consumer, can soak up some juicy promotional deals as companies fight for market share dominance! Who doesn’t love free food? Especially if you live in a major urban city, why not try several options and see which one you like best?
Which is the best known meal kit delivery company worldwide?
After considering a wide variety of editorial reviews, client opinions, our friends’ and family’s collective opinions and experiences, and our own personal experience, we have come to a conclusion that our favorite meal kit provider in Canada for the time being is Hello Fresh.
They have a tasty and diverse menu, fresh ingredients, great website and app, and they service almost the entire nation. If you’re planning to try some of these companies, then we would recommend starting off with Hello Fresh. It’s also currently one of the most popular choices, and for good reason.
The Cost of Canada’s Meal Kit Options
I want to be upfront in saying that meal kit delivery services are more expensive than going out and buying groceries. As a rough rule of thumb, I’d say you’d spend about 50% more for meal kits on a comparable item-for-item basis. (Which only makes sense given the convenience involved.)
BUT – and this is a hugeBUT – consider what you’re getting for that extra cash.
- We NEVER have to go to the store for an ingredient that we’re missing. This is especially pleasant on cold winter evenings after we stumble in the door and put on our warm PJs! (It also saves time as well as gasoline!)
- We NEVER waste food from cooking dinner meals. I hated feeling guilty looking at rotting produce in our crisper. That guilt is now gone.
- We NEVER have mental stress in the morning or after work when it comes to planning what to eat or asking each other, “Did you remember to take that _____ out of the freezer?” That relieved mental burden just makes life better.
- Our restaurant spending is down60% because our old “we’re too tired” default option was to order in, or go out. We now have a better default option!
- We’re eating healthier than we ever have in our life! (Admittedly, not the highest bar to clear.) My dinner now ranges from 500-900 calories – when it was often double that before. It’s automatic portion control, combined with delicious ways of mixing veggies into everything.
Comparing Canadian Meal Kit Costs
| Hello Fresh | Good Food | Cook it | Chef’s Plate | Fresh City Farms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price-per-Serving (for 2 People) | Under $9 | Under $15 | Under $12 | Under $10 | Under $23 |
| Price-per-Serving (for 4 People | Under $10 | Under $14 | Under $6 | Under $9 | N/A |
| Read Hello Fresh Review |
Read Good Food Review |
Read Cook It Review |
Read Chef’s Plate Review |
Read Fresh City Farms Review |
FAQ
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What is a meal kit/a food box?
A meal kit is a set of raw ingredients you receive regularly (usually several times per week) along with “how-to” recipe cards. You can choose box contents according to your food preference and enjoy original, tasty dishes whenever you want.
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What is a meal subscription plan?
A meal plan is a standard subscription option provided by a company, and is customizable among several aspects: frequency you receive a box, number of people eating the meal, dietary restrictions and preferences, etc. For example, there are vegetarian, low-carb, family-friendly plans. Usually, meal plan subscriptions can be customized.
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What is the difference between meal kit delivery and grocery delivery from a supermarket?
Meal kit delivery companies mostly work in subscription format. This means that they create kits based on your preference you tell only once when signing up and send them to you regularly (usually several times per week). You get recipe cards and all you need for cooking (except maybe very basic ingredients like salt or milk), so you can start making dinner right away. No needs to worry about food spoiling in the fridge, or forgetting to buy a crucial ingredient at the store.
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How much does a meal box plan cost?
Typically a meal box subscription plan costs from $26 to $165 per week. It depends on a number of people, frequency you receive a box, and the type of meals inside. Companies do their best to provide a competitive price and the best quality of ingredients. They guarantee that you`ll receive all fresh raw ingredients you need to start cooking right away. But pay special attention to meal descriptions on a company website and make sure that you see the final price on your screen.
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What if I change my mind? Can I cancel my subscription?
Yes, you can cancel your subscription at any time without any excuses or penalties, or skip a couple of weeks if you’ll be out of town.
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I’m not much of a chef. Do I need special cooking skills?
If you know how to boil an egg, you’ll probably be able to make dinner from a meal kit. Recipes in a box are not tricky and even kitchen beginners are able to succeed. Just follow the instructions for best results.
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Are there any offers for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes, many companies offer special vegetarian or vegan plans, as well as low-carb or no-pork ones. If you have any dietary restrictions or food preferences, visit company websites for more information. There is something out there for everybody.
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How do all the meal kit companies differ? How can I choose the best one?
There are several large meal kit delivery companies that operate in Canada. Companies on our list offer many options to cover all your needs and, yes, some plans can seem pretty similar. In order to decide what is the best food subscription box for you, you should pay attention to the varieties of meals and ingredients in a box, special dietary options (Gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, etc.), frequency of deliveries, number of people who will be eating the meal, and customization options. Company websites will generally . It also can be useful to read reviews online.
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I live in a remote area, are there still meal kit deliveries available for me?
Almost every part of Canada has at least one or two meal kit companies that deliver to them. However, not every company will serve every region, so it’s important to check their coverage areas. Note that the final price and delivery options can also depend on your address.
Atroughly $11 per serving(depending on how many meals ordered and which service you use, as well as if you go exclusively vegetarian) meal kits aren’t cheap. I also know that it’s possible in urban areas for discerning grocery shoppers to cut their grocery bill substantially.
The thing is, I don’t want to spend extra time on comparison shopping and have to be a discerning grocery shopper. I don’t even want to be A SHOPPER!
I want to sit on my comfortable couch and scroll through delicious-tasting meals that I’ve never tried before, and pick next week’s suppers and lunches in 4 swipes or less.
Let’s take a look at the cost of meal kits using a real life example. Remember that when we’re talking about the major meal kit companies, taxes are included in the cost of almost all of the food (anything that is considered essential groceries does not get charged sales tax in Canada) and delivery. So when you see an advertised price of $70 for the week, the charge to your credit card will be exactly $70! Dalhousie’s Sylvain Charlebois recently released a study that says that the average Canadian family spends roughly $250 per week on groceries. Once we factor in the fact that we’ll dramatically cutting down on our 500+ pounds of food that the average Canadian family throws out every year, not to mention halving our restaurant budget, I think it’s a reasonable to assume that we will be adding roughly $20 per week to our overall food bill (depending on how big your family is, which meal kit you subscribe to, and how much money you were spending on groceries before).
I should also take a second to point that meal kits are an especially excellent deal for rural Canadians. When you consider that a Canadian living in a small prairie farm town or fishing village in Atlantic Canada pays the same for a meal kit as someone that lives in Toronto – that alone already shows the great value of a meal kit. But it’s when you factor in that us rural people pay substantially more for groceries (for less of a selection – and less freshness!) that the value really starts to go up. We sacrifice less of our food budget than our urban counterparts – and get produce that is objectively more valuable/scarce for us!
I think that the other point that people have to consider when comparing apples to er… fresh vegetables, is that almost every single one of the ingredients in the meal kits that I’ve prepared is a premium product at the peak of freshness. So it’s not fair to compare it to a ramen noodles or canned soup inspired menu.
Finally, if you’re going to be out of town, and/or just want to save a few bucks before the next pay cheque arrives, all of the major meal kit companies make it very easy to just skip a week.
Meal Prep Delivery In a Snap
Signing up for a meal kit delivery service is super easy.
As one might expect from app-based companies, their sign up process is simple. You hook a credit card up (like any other subscription box service) and you’re good to go.
Depending on the meal kit company, you’re likely to have the option of a two-person meal option and a four-person “family size”. We actually toyed with the idea of ordering a 4-person meal for just the two of us, and then having a bunch of leftovers. It’s not as crazy as it might sound because obviously a large part of the cost involved in the delivery of the service, is the actual delivery. So ordering a large meal kit box is the way to get the most bang for your buck. That said, the two-person meal kit has always been a generous meal for us, and there are leftovers roughly 30-40% of the time. This is saying something as I’m a pretty big dude at 6’2 and 250 pounds!
Again, depending on which meal prep delivery company that you choose to go with, there will usually be 5-7 options for you to choose 2-4 meals from that week (depending on what type of subscription package you choose). Each meal will come in its own bag with everything needed to cook the meal aside from basic kitchen ingredients such as oil, salt, sugar, etc. All other materials are in individual packaging. We have yet to receive produce that was not fresh (7 months into our subscription). The only negative thing that we’ve had happen is that when it was -45 degrees outside this February, the basil leaves froze. I’m not paying for a heated meal kit box – so I’ll live with that one!
I cannot quantify the satisfaction of coming home to a box of food delivered to your door. I realize it’s a relatively simple concept, but man does it make climbing that supper preparation mountain a breeze! I was mildly concerned at first, that given our hot humid summers in Manitoba, our meat products would go bad. The engineering prowess that goes into these eco-friendly packages is pretty cool though. Just to test the limits, I left our box outside all day on a 30 degree day in August. When I unpacked it eight hours after morning delivery, the ice packages were still more than half frozen, and the package was very chilled. Needless to say, the meals were delicious and we saw zero evidence of bacteria, food poisoning, etc. Consequently, I’m comfortable saying that these kits are relatively impervious to heat, or at least the ones from our meal kit delivery company are.
The first question a lot of people have for me is,“What happens if they try to deliver my meal kit subscription when I’m not home?”
Basically, the answer is,“Whatever happens to any package you try to have delivered!” Obviously it depends where you live, but popular solutions for this problem are:
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Have it left on your doorstep or in another discreet spot. (It won’t thaw in under 10 hours if the box is insulated with cooler packs – trust me.)
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Have it delivered to your place of work. (There has been no discernible smell from any of my boxes and again, it will stay cool inside.)
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Make friends with a trust-worthy neighbour that accepts the package on your behalf. (Invite them over for a meal?)
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Kindly ask a local business that you frequent if they might accept the package for you.
Back to best Meal Kit offers and promotions
What’s In a Meal Kit Meal Box?
There is obviously variability from one meal kit provider to the next; however, the general model for food box subscription companies is to deliver a medium-sized box once-per-week with 2-4 meals packaged individually inside. (With the meat products located in a separate, cooled section).
Recipes and step-by-step illustrated instructions accompany each product. I feel that I am the perfect test case for how good these instructions are, given that my culinary skill set was previously limited to eggs, basic pasta dishes, and grilling/frying meat. Aside from some early learning pains about what “medium heat” or “small bowl” consisted of, it was a very gentle learning curve. The only meal I have screwed up in seven months was a flaky pastry concoction that still tasted good, it just didn’t get light and fluffy because I mistimed a couple of steps. That’s roughly a 99% success rate!
I will also admit that for a kitchen newbie like myself, the promised cook times are “stretch goals” to aim for, as opposed to hard-and-fast rules. A meal that claims to take 30-minutes to prep, often takes me 45 minutes. Mind you, that’s starting the clock when I think to myself, “Hey it’s time to make supper,” to the point when I tell my wife,“Supper’s ready!”I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that someone who has mastered the dark arts of kitchen craft could prepare a meal 30%+ faster than yours truly. In other words, the actual prep times sometimes vary, but the number on the instruction booklet gives you a good ballpark of about how much time you can expect to spend.
Some meal kit delivery services specialize in vegetarian options or gluten-free recipes. I personally was not interested in going exclusively in those directions; however, I’m happy to say that we now eat vegetarian at least once a week. It makes me healthier and helps me feel better about the whole environmental impact thing. Plus – I kid you not – my favourite recipe so far has been a veggie lentil bake! If you had told me beforehand that I’d love a meal with the word “lentil” in it, you would have gotten quite a confused look.
The Best Meal Kit Companies in Canada: A Closer Look
Here are the details on the top meal kit delivery options in Canada, including the one we use. Exclusive promo offer codes are on their way!
Hello Fresh Review
The meal kit service subscription that my wife and I enjoy the most is none other than the most popular meal kit brand in Canada: Hello Fresh. As the biggest meal kit company in the world, Hello Fresh can leverage its logistics experience on several continents to get the best-tasting goods to your door. Their Canadian options start at just over $10 per serving, and include a family plan, the “Pronto Plan” which promises,“pre-cut, pre-measured ingredients in delicious meals ready in 30 minutes or less,”and is available in 2- or 4-person quantities, as well as the exclusively veggie plan option.
Started eight years ago in Germany, Hello Fresh arrived on Canadian shores in 2016. Canadian CEO Ian Brooks has stated that he believes he can deliver meat and produce to dinner tables nearly a week fresher than high-end supermarkets. The basic idea is that by purchasing in bulk and cutting out the middleman, Hello Fresh can get products to your dinner table much faster than the current norm.
If you’re in a suburban or rural setting, you’ll be happy to note that Hello Fresh is available to 95% of Canadian households! I know several people that I’ve recommended the service to were stunned that they could get meals delivered to their homes “in the sticks” to their doors“in the sticks”.
Hello Fresh has clearly refined their overall product as they’ve expanded around the world over the last decade. Their app is seamless and makes choosing next week’s an enjoyable 90-second, 4-click experience. Over the course of our seven-month subscription, we’ve seen 7-10 meal options repeated. (Uncoincidentally, those options were some of our favourites, and are probably regularly featured in the rotation due to their popularity.)
In my experience (and in talking to meal kit customer friends across Canada – I’ve become a bit of an evangelist about this stuff) Hello Fresh consistently delivers the largest portions with the highest quality cuts of meat.
A cool note about Hello Fresh is that they are establishing a freezer bag recycling program, which makes me feel slightly less guilty about the amount of individual packaging I’ve used to make these meals.
Hello Fresh Review by Kyle Prevost
Use the code HFAFF25X2! or click the button below to get an Instant $50 discount on your first two weeks.
Try Hello Fresh + Get Instant $150 OFF!Chef’s Plate Review
After starting in Toronto in 2014, Chef’s Plate has sought to differentiate itself from the crowd by offering 15-minute meals (much quicker than even other meal box subscription companies).
Chef’s Plate was one of the first meal kits companies in Canada. Their offerings include a ton of selection for a wide variety of palates. When comparing menu options, Chef’s Plate comes out on top if your main priority is to try a wide variety of spices and flavours. It’s also the lowest-cost meal kit delivery company in Canada, so if you’re looking for a relatively inexpensive way to see if the meal kit lifestyle works for you, this is likely to be a leading contender.
With Hello Fresh recently acquiring Chef’s Plate, two theories appear to have emerged amongst the internet’s “foody experts”.
1) The Hello Fresh supply chain advantage will allow Chef’s Plate to source food inputs for cheaper. Plus, their existing delivery capability will be able to bring Chef’s Plate to more households than ever before.
2) Chef’s Plate used to be unique. Now… not so much.
The jury is still out as far as long-term diagnosis, but what we know for sure is that Chef’s Plate grew ridiculously quickly within Canada, and that Hello Fresh has not announced plans to change the current company structure much, beyond bringing obvious cost-cutting synergies into play.
Chef’s Plate Review by Kyle Prevost
Try Chefs Plate with 10 Free MealsGoodfood Review
Billings itself as“Canada’s #1 Meal Kit Company”, Goodfood currently offers its unique brand of meal kits to British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes.
As a homegrown company that started in Montreal in 2014, Goodfood is a feel good Canadian story. Co-Founder Jonathon Ferrari is on the record as saying that, “We’re trying to be the Netflix of Food,” – which is a pretty cool tagline!
Good Food is priced quite similarly to Hello Fresh, and offers a similar assortment of options. The Easy Prep Basket options start at just under $11, the Classic Basket goes as low as $10 per serving, and the Family Basket provides a dinner serving for as low as $8.75.
In addition to the smart marketing strategy of hiring some high-profile Canadian chefs and athletes to act as company spokespeople, Goodfood offers the largest overall number of menu items each week. Building on their Quebec base, the meal kit delivery service is the largest Canadian-owned food subscription box in the Great White North. While I have not personally subscribed to their services due to their current lack of delivery in my area, I have eaten several Goodfood meals at my brother’s house. They were tasty, and he has really enjoyed the subscription, saying:“I really enjoy how easy Goodfood makes it to eat healthy. The number of meal options that have low-carb ratings make it easier for me to fight the battle of the (waistline) bulge!” While the portion size is often smaller than that of Hello Fresh, Goodfood is also slightly cheaper, so the value is definitely there.
Prepd Review – Toronto’s Meal Kit Company
By specializing as a Toronto-only meal kit delivery service, Prepd hopes to leverage its relatively small geographic range into a budget-friendly option for Canada’s biggest city. Prepd allows you to choose meal options for 1-4 people, up to 5 times per week.
In much the same manner as Hello Fresh, Prepd arrives at your door and advertises itself as taking roughly 30 minutes to cook.
One cool and unique aspect to Prepd is that they deliver on Sundays and will call ahead to make sure that you are home to accept the delivery. It also offers a one-serving trial option that I have yet to see from Canada’s other leading meal kit delivery companies.
Personally, I don’t think the budget-friendliness makes up for the drop in food and materials quality that Prepd brings to the table, but that’s just one man’s opinion.
Fresh City Farms Review
You might have seen this Canadian meal kit delivery company on CBC’s popular Dragon’s Den series. (They didn’t get the deal that they were looking for with the Dragons, citing an aggressive valuation, low margins, and intense competition.)
Fresh City Farms is slightly different from the other meal kit delivery companies in that it is almost more of a “healthy food delivery company” than a pure meal kit play. So, while they do make meal kits, you can also order a variety of other health-conscious“Whole Foods-y” options.
The claim to fame for Fresh City Farms is that they are locally sourced, and that they are the most environmentally friendly meal kit deliverer. As of right now they only deliver within Toronto and sometimes deliver on bikes. One example of their focus on sustainability is the fact that food is delivered in tote bags as opposed to cardboard boxes, and then are picked up after.
Founder Ran Goel Has stated that their kits contain, “almost 100 percent organic” ingredients. They also source roughly 70% of their produce from local growers. While the company has stated they would like to ideally have 100% of their produce grown locally, obviously Canadian winter logistics make that difficult. Notably, Fresh City has built two large green houses within the GTA to try and improve upon the current importation reality of the Canadian grocery landscape.
If you live in Toronto and prize locally-sourced produce, it’s definitely worth giving these folks a look! If you don’t live in Toronto, this type of model is difficult to replicate and I’m not sure we’re likely to see Fresh City compete with the nation-wide meal kit delivery service companies like HelloFresh, Goodfood, and Chef’s Plate.
Miss Fresh Review
NOTE: In 2019, the Montreal-based ready-to-cook company Cook It acquired MissFresh.
The last of our major Canadian meal kit delivery companies, Miss Fresh represents a unique option in that they are what happens when a major Canadian grocer decides to dip their toe in the meal kit business. While Miss Fresh was founded in 2014 by Bernard Prevost, Ritter Huang, and Marie-Ève Prevost, (no relation to yours truly) a majority share was purchased by Metro grocery stores in August 2017.
While still based out of Montreal (Metro Inc. is also a Quebec-based company), Miss Fresh does deliver throughout Canada.
One unique area where Miss Fresh shines is in their snack and breakfast options. My guess is that this is just repackaging Metro grocery options, but hey, more options are good!
With both vegetarian and omnivore-friendly options available, and a wide range of meals to choose from, Miss Fresh is an impressive competitor. With the purchasing power and deep pockets of a major grocer behind them, Miss Fresh is likely to be a force within Quebec, and possibly across Canada. It will be interesting to see how Miss Fresh progresses as a meal kit company given the big grocer parent company that oversees them. Perhaps a Miss Fresh meal kit might be the way to jump start grocery delivery on a larger scale across their consumer base? There have already been several attempts at cross-promotional coupons, so if you do a lot of your grocery shopping at Metro stores, I’d give Miss Fresh a good look.
Toronto Meal Kits
As the centre of the Canadian logistical universe, Toronto meal kits offer a ton of choice for folks who live in the GTA. Obviously you have the “Big 3 + 1” companies in Hello Fresh, Chefs Plate, and Goodfood, plus Miss Fresh. Additionally, there are local competitors such as Fresh City Farms that offer very specific or niche offerings. Prepd and Cook It meal kits are also available to Toronto residents, as they seek to compete on price point with the heavy hitters. Depending how far you live from the city centre, you might have access to more meal kits than others. If you live in one of the ‘burbs you’ll have to type in your address – but it’s a virtual guarantee that Hello Fresh delivers to you (95%+ of Canadians) and almost certain that Chefs Plate and Goodfood will be able to deliver their food subscription boxes to your door as well! If you live in one of the ‘burbs you’ll have to type in your address to check if the delivery service is available – but it’s a virtual guarantee that Hello Fresh delivers to you (95%+ of Canadians) and almost certain that Chefs Plate and Goodfood will be able to deliver their food subscription boxes to your door as well!
Montreal and Quebec Meal Kits
As both Goodfood and Miss Fresh started in Montreal, the Quebec meal kit scene is home turf for two of the four major meal kit delivery companies. Hello Fresh and Chefs Plate were quick to get into Quebec as well. Finally, all Montreal residents and most of suburb/exurb Quebec also has access to the relatively small local meal kit company Cook It. With all of this choice available, it really comes down to what you’re looking for in a meal kit. If you want to support the local French touch, you have Goodfood and their main pitch person, Quebec media personality Anne-Marie Withenshaw or Metro store-owned Miss Fresh. If you’re looking for a real local flavour, perhaps Cook It is more up your alley. If price is your foremost concern, you can’t beat Chefs Plate. And if you simply want the consistently-excellent taste of Canada’s most popular meal kit, Hello Fresh is a safe bet.
Vancouver Meal Kits
It will likely come as no surprise that much like Toronto and Montreal, Vancouver meal kits are led by Hello Fresh, Chefs Plate, and Goodfood. With Hello Fresh recently acquiring Chefs Plate and renewing their commitment to locally-sourced produce and meats, they have been able to really shorten the “field-to-table” time by contracting with local producers that can take advantage of British Columbia’s temperate climate. In addition to these Canada-wide giants however, Vancouver is also home to a bevy of smaller, local meal kit contenders. Eat Your Cake calls itself “Vancouver’s healthiest meal kit delivery option”. Contrary to what you may think from the title, this Vancouver meal kit delivery company is not all about the treats, but rather specializes in recipes designed for specific goals such as weight lost or peak athletic performance. The price tag matches the high level of customization though! Fresh Prep is another meal kit company that makes its home in Vancouver and hopes to grow eastward (powered by it’s fleet of drivers). FUUD is not only a great name for a meal kit company, but also a premium option for folks that live in the Vancouver metro. You may recognise them from their Dragon’s Den appearance! Finally, Sergio Pereira and Patrick Carr are “2 Guys With Knives” – our final local Vancouver meal kit company. Together this high-end chef and personal trainer are creating a local Vancouver meal kit for fitness-focused customers.
Calgary, Edmonton, and Regina Meal Kits
Let us not forget about my beloved prairie provinces. Hello Fresh is my recommendation to folks who are scattered across the small cities, towns, and villages of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Since they deliver to 95% of Canadian households, they’re the best bet if you live “out of the way”. Chefs Plate and Goodfood are also cross-Canada options that pop up in most prairie cities. Hello Fresh has actually made a point of sourcing from local Alberta companies such as Byblos Bakery and Spolumbo’s Fine Foods & Deli. Local meal kits include one of my favourite prairie startups at Zesty Kits in Regina. The local meal kit is quickly expanding throughout Saskatchewan and specialize in health-conscious meal kits. Calgary and Edmonton have their own local meal kits in Rooted and SPUD. Both of these Alberta-only companies seek to source nearly 100% of their produce from Alberta. SPUD is more of a fresh-grocery delivery company than a meal kit company per se, but they seemed relevant to mention here.
Are Canadian Food Box Subscriptions Worth It?
Ultimately, only you can decide if the massive increase in ease and convenience are worth the heightened cost when it comes to meal kits. You can obviously tell from this article that I’m a fan. It allows my wife and I to more equally share cooking duties, it gives us access to meals we would never consider otherwise, and best of all: I don’t have to think about planning dinner until the second I’m ready to start cooking! The amount of mental space that I can now dedicate to other thoughts and endeavours is astounding.
I should reiterate that, to be fair, grocery shopping and cooking were never my forte. If you’re the type of individual that really likes to experiment with new cooking creations on a daily basis, take your time grocery shopping, or watch a lot of cooking shows, then perhaps the super-simplicity of having a healthy delicious dinner show up on your doorstep isn’t worth the same to you that it is to me. On the other hand, if you find yourself rushed for time in the evenings, stuck in a bit of a “supper rotation rut”, or find yourself eating out while throwing away groceries, then a meal kit subscription is honestly a godsend.
With so many Canadian meal kit delivery companies willing to let you try their service for an extremely reduced rate, what do you have to lose?
Thanks for informative share! I love such meal kits also.
Great recommendations! Thank you.
I came looking for tips and was so excited to try Hello Fresh but then found out they don’t deliver to any town/city in my area so definitely not all of Canada for their deliveries :( sad, but GoodFood does at least
Thank you for this helpful article! I’ve been using GoodFood for a month but was wondering if I made the right choice, although I have nothing but good things to say about them. My options are limited as I live in a small town in northern British Columbia. The meal kits have changed my life! I look forward to cooking now – instead of dreading it.
I love Goodfood… the meals are unforgettable!!
Chefsplate is not as healthy or restaurant-quality (pre-made sauces, etc)
Thanks for sharing! This was really insightful :)