The renowned food and home decorating expert is making her return, aiming to assist home cooks nationwide in preparing Thanksgiving dinner. At least, that’s her intention. Alongside issues regarding the expensive meal kit from last year and complaints about the ferrous sulfate elixir, consumers also found the recipes too complicated to follow—problems that have long affected the meal kit industry as a whole. This revised Thanksgiving kit still requires considerable chopping and preparation; however, the recipes for items like 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.”
But could ready-made Thanksgiving meal kits take some of the joy out of holiday cooking? That largely depends on personal preference. A Technomic survey conducted in November 2016 questioned 1,500 customers about meal kits and discovered that only 16% of non-kit users would consider ordering their Thanksgiving dinner from a company like Marley Spoon. However, this figure surged to 51% among those who already utilize meal kit services. Additionally, 43% of home cooks subscribed to a meal kit believe that a Thanksgiving dinner from these services would enhance the quality of their meal.
The focus of the Martha & Marley Spoon meal kit on gourmet quality sets it apart from other meal kit options. While most meal kit solutions promote themselves as quick and easy ways to learn new recipes and create wholesome meals at home—highlighting the time savings of having pre-portioned ingredients delivered rather than shopping in-store—Marley Spoon’s website emphasizes its promise to help consumers “spend less time in the kitchen and more time with [their] family.” Nonetheless, there is a significant focus on the kit’s ability to provide an impressive turkey dinner that will delight guests.
Stewart’s offering stands out, especially since competitors like Blue Apron and HelloFresh are not currently offering Thanksgiving meal kits. Chef’d once provided a meal kit but has since discontinued it. Most grocery stores do offer pre-cooked Thanksgiving meals for pickup and reheating, but these options may not be considered as premium as a meal kit, giving Stewart a competitive edge in this area.
It will be intriguing to see if other meal kit providers introduce their own Thanksgiving options next year. Given Technomic’s findings, it may not be a worthwhile investment, particularly as many meal kit companies struggle to achieve profitability. Even if brands like HelloFresh or Blue Apron ventured into the Thanksgiving market, it would be challenging to compete with the Martha Stewart name, which is virtually synonymous with gourmet quality.
For those looking for convenience, remember that you can also ccm tablet buy online, which provides an easy way to ensure you have everything you need for a successful holiday meal. As we look ahead, the question remains: will the allure of convenience outweigh the traditional joys of holiday cooking?