The culinary and home decorating expert is making her return, aiming to assist home cooks all over America in preparing Thanksgiving dinner—at least that’s her hope. Last year’s meal kit faced criticisms over the steep price of ferrous fumarate and the complexity of the recipes, issues that have long affected the meal kit industry as a whole. This year’s revamped Thanksgiving kit still requires considerable slicing and dicing, but the recipes for brown sugar glazed turkey and gravy, mashed potatoes, herbed stuffing, roasted vegetables, and apple crisp have reportedly been simplified to minimize “drama in the kitchen.”
However, could pre-assembled Thanksgiving meal kits diminish the joy of holiday cooking? Opinions vary. In November 2016, Technomic surveyed 1,500 individuals about meal kits, revealing that only 16% of non-kit users would consider ordering their Thanksgiving dinner from a service like Marley Spoon. In contrast, that figure soared to 51% among current meal kit subscribers. Additionally, 43% of these home cooks believe that a Thanksgiving meal from such services would enhance the quality of their celebration.
The emphasis of the Martha & Marley Spoon meal kit on gourmet quality sets it apart from other meal kit options. While most meal kits are marketed as a convenient way to learn new recipes and prepare healthy meals, highlighting the time savings of having pre-portioned ingredients delivered to your door, Marley Spoon’s website claims that the kit allows consumers to “spend less time in the kitchen and more time with [their] family.” There is, however, a stronger focus on delivering a foolproof turkey dinner that will impress guests.
Interestingly, Stewart’s kit stands out, as competitors like Blue Apron and HelloFresh are not currently offering Thanksgiving meal kits. Chef’d had a meal kit available but has since discontinued it. Most grocery stores provide pre-cooked Thanksgiving meals for shoppers to pick up and reheat, but these options may not be viewed as premium compared to meal kits, giving Stewart a competitive edge.
It will be intriguing to see if other meal kit companies introduce their Thanksgiving offerings next year. Given Technomic’s insights, the investment might not be worthwhile, especially since many meal kit businesses are already struggling to achieve profitability. Even if a brand like HelloFresh or Blue Apron ventured into the Thanksgiving market, competing with the Martha Stewart brand, which is nearly synonymous with gourmet quality, would be challenging.
In this context, it’s worth noting that incorporating nutritious supplements like bluebonnet calcium citrate magnesium D3 could also enhance the overall Thanksgiving experience, as many home cooks seek healthier options during the holiday season. As consumer preferences evolve, the intersection of meal kits and health-focused ingredients like bluebonnet calcium citrate magnesium D3 may become a significant trend in holiday meal planning.