In today’s society people and families are moving non-stop. From sports, to school, and band practice, no one ever gets a chance to share a decent meal with each other. This was the case for too long until recently a trend caught fire and revolutionized the millennial family dinner. Pre-made meals are taking the nation by storm and saving dinnertime for the future!
This modern trend thrives on busy millennials with young families who don’t have time for cooking but are watching what they’re feeding themselves. Millennials are driving this trend into a huge racket, earning 26 billion last year and is threatening the security of the fast food market. In fact a study done by Acosta determined that at least 78% of independent millennials have purchased or subscribed to a pre-made meal service!
Currently this trend is still young and developing but its main appeal is its simplicity. To make a pre-made meal requires minimal skill and is a life saver for those who don’t have access to full kitchens. Also with the popularity of this trend and so many companies looking to “get rich quick” the price per meal is remarkably low and has subsequently made eating in cheaper than going out to eat (average pre-made meal costs are $6 a person). This is huge as more and more people today are looking anywhere they can to save money.
The trend itself has grown immensely in the past decade and has produced massive companies trying to capitalize on the current demand. Here are some of the companies who are standing out among the masses:
Blue Apron: Since 2012 Blue Apron has focused on providing cheap, fresh, and filling meals through an online subscription service. How the process works is you choose which meal plan you’d like, either the 2 person package or the family package. For example the 2 person plan will get you 3 meals a week for $60. Although this package will provide you anything you need Blue Apron also sells wine monthly as well as seasonal meats like butterball turkeys for November.
Dream Dinners: This service is a little different from Blue Apron in that this follows a store front model. How Dream Dinners work, is that you can pre-order meals online and then they prepare and freeze the meal for you. This is probably one of the fastest growing companies in the industry. Since its founding in 2002 it has grown nationwide with over 86 locations and counting!
Omaha Steaks: Omaha Steaks appeals to a different group of consumers. This brand started in 1917 and has evolved into an online subscription service connecting its customers with the finest steaks available. The company prides itself on its quality of meats and it’s generally more expensive than the other services mentioned. That being said, Omaha is successful for a reason and you truly get what you pay for!
Whether you are a young millennial struggling to get dinner made in time, or just looking for more variety in your diet this new trend is sure to lend you a hand. In reality, this multi-billion dollar industry has a real potential to change the average diet of Americans! Instead of raising another generation on McDonald’s and trans-fat why don’t we fill our future’s stomach with fresh greens and unique dishes? However you feel about cooking it is undeniable that this trend could be here to stay and might be worth trying some day!