{"id":1197,"date":"2022-10-30T13:41:29","date_gmt":"2022-10-30T13:41:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foodonabudget.com\/content1a\/?p=1197"},"modified":"2022-10-30T13:41:30","modified_gmt":"2022-10-30T13:41:30","slug":"meal-in-a-box","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foodonabudget.com\/content1a\/2022\/10\/meal-in-a-box\/","title":{"rendered":"Meal in a box"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With the first meal in a box example appearing around 2007<\/a> the take away market gained a new player.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fish and chips had been and still are, very popular in the UK. However, the ability to get a whole selection of meals delivered to your door soon gained in popularity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The meal in a box concept is split into two. In one box are the ready meals designed to be frozen upon arrival and then reheated as required using a microwave. This is known as the RTE or Ready to Eat market<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the other box are meal elements. Pre sourced, weighed and cleaned vegetables, meats, flavourings and a recipe card. The householder makes up the meal step by step as required. This is known as the RTC or Ready to Cook segment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Small kitchens, busy lifestyles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Food on the go and urban living combined perfectly for the new genre of food creation to blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The millennial generation of urbanites rapidly became the audience of choice for the food in the box revolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Offering perfect portion control, no nonsense preparation and social media appeal, it ticked all the boxes for the hip and trendy apartment living young adults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No longer were cookers, pots, pans or hours of preparation needed for a half decent satisfying meal. Even the plates or trays could be thrown out. That was what your parents did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Subscription food<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For the food industry a new opportunity arose in the form of subscription food. Farmers and food processors could now lock in the consumers with a diet of their choosing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ease for the customer had the added advantage of commanding a premium price for ingredients from the farmers and growers.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Through carefully designed menus the peaks and troughs of food growing could now have some form of load management. This could take advantage of growing seasons to level out gluts or poor harvests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One side advantage of the pre portioned food was a reduction in food waste. However, in the early years there was an increase in what is now seen as wasted packaging including plastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evolving industry<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every industry must evolve to stay relevant and so it is for the food in a box industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For all sectors of the food industry and especially the home delivery services are the highly emotive themes of eco footprint and the responsibility to offer good food at an affordable price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many companies now use cardboards or paper formed packaging alongside biodegradable plastics in a bid to combat waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is also now well documented that many users turn to meal kits as an introduction to cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using the assorted recipe cards as a basis for learning and onward education many users, who may have cancelled their subscription plans, go on to source and make the food themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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