The culinary and home decorating expert is making a return, aiming to assist home cooks across the United States in preparing their Thanksgiving feast. At least, that’s her intention. Last year’s meal kit faced backlash over its steep price and overly complicated recipes—issues that have consistently affected the meal kit industry as a whole. This revamped Thanksgiving kit still requires a fair amount of chopping and slicing, 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, one might wonder if pre-assembled Thanksgiving meal kits could diminish the joy of holiday cooking. Opinions vary. A November 2016 survey by Technomic, which involved 1,500 consumers, revealed that only 16% of those who typically do not use meal kits would consider ordering their Thanksgiving dinner from a service like Marley Spoon. In contrast, that figure rose to 51% among current meal kit subscribers. Additionally, 43% of these home cooks believe that a Thanksgiving dinner from a meal kit service would enhance the quality of their holiday meal.
What sets the Martha & Marley Spoon meal kit apart is its emphasis on gourmet quality, distinguishing it from other meal kit options. Most meal kits are promoted as a fast and easy way to learn new recipes and prepare healthy meals at home, highlighting the time saved by having pre-portioned ingredients delivered right to consumers’ doors instead of requiring a trip to the grocery store. While Marley Spoon’s website claims that the meal kit will allow consumers to “spend less time in the kitchen and more time with [their] family,” it seems there is a stronger focus on delivering a foolproof turkey dinner that will impress guests.
Stewart’s kit stands out in the market, especially since competitors like Blue Apron and Hello Fresh are not currently offering Thanksgiving meal kits. Chef’d previously had a Thanksgiving option, but it is no longer available. While many grocery stores provide pre-cooked Thanksgiving meals that customers can easily pick up and reheat, these options may not be viewed as premium as a meal kit, giving Stewart a competitive edge.
It will be intriguing to see if other meal kit companies introduce their own Thanksgiving offerings next year. Given Technomic’s insights, the investment may not be worthwhile, particularly since numerous meal kit brands are already struggling to achieve profitability. Even if a company like HelloFresh or Blue Apron decided to venture into the Thanksgiving market, it would be challenging to rival the Martha Stewart brand, which is nearly synonymous with gourmet excellence.
In the midst of holiday preparations, don’t forget the importance of nutrients, such as those provided by jarrow calcium citrate, which can be essential for maintaining health during the busy cooking season. As holiday cooking evolves, the incorporation of health supplements like jarrow calcium citrate can play a role in ensuring that meals remain both delicious and nutritious.