Plated (meal kits)

Plated is a meal kit service based in the United States. The company was founded in 2012 by Josh Hix and Nick Taranto after they graduated from Harvard Business School. Plated's business model is based on delivering pre-portioned ingredients and recipes to its customers, who then cook the meals at home.

History

Plated was launched in June 2012. The company initially struggled to find investors, but after appearing on the television show Shark Tank in 2014, it secured a $500,000 investment from Mark Cuban. This investment helped Plated to expand its operations and increase its customer base.

In 2017, Plated was acquired by the supermarket chain Albertsons for approximately $200 million. The acquisition allowed Albertsons to expand its own meal kit offerings and gave Plated access to Albertsons' extensive distribution network.

Business Model

Plated operates on a subscription-based model. Customers choose from a variety of weekly recipes and select how many servings they want. The ingredients for these meals, along with detailed cooking instructions, are then delivered to the customer's home.

Plated's meal kits are designed to be cooked at home by the customer. This distinguishes Plated from other meal delivery services, which deliver fully cooked meals. Plated's model allows customers to enjoy the process of cooking while eliminating the need to shop for ingredients or plan meals.

Reception

Plated has generally received positive reviews for its high-quality ingredients and diverse recipe options. However, some customers have criticized the service for its high price point and the amount of packaging waste generated by its meal kits.

See Also

• Blue Apron
• HelloFresh
• Home Chef