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Comment by digikata | Hacker News Reader

I think the disconnect to be bridged here is the quality expectations between a meal kit ingredients, and just picking up ingredients at the supermarket yourself. I don't think the kits coming out of just reassembling the existing inventory a many supermarkets would quite be as attractive unless some additional logistics are added to make higher quality ingredients available.

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I've only used BlueApron and HelloFresh but the quality of the ingredients has been comparable to stuff picked up at Safeway.

The real value for me besides time saved (and the insane coupons/free meals) is using ingredients that I wouldn't have otherwise picked up. I'll just grab button mushrooms most of the time but getting some different variety is nice.

I also usually grab the store brand meat because its cheaper. It's not like the grass fed organic whatever isn't there, I just usually won't pick it up.

I’ve been subscribing to Blue Apron for about six weeks. Really enjoy it. It’s cut down on our food waste, healthier portioning (I love about 9 pounds) and I’m getting more diversity in my diet. Pre-planning your meals and grocery shopping takes a lot of time and mental work. This kind of cook-by-numbers approach takes away a lot of mental resistance that has you eating out more often. Plus, I’m learning a lot.

The quality at my local Kroger and WalMart are inferior to the quality of the meal delivery meats and vegetables.

I use HelloFresh, HomeChef, and Plated.

Grocery stores already have workers inside that prep food to make them ready-to-eat or easier-to-cook -- pre-chopped vegetables and fruits in plastic trays; soups and rotisserie chickens; cakes in the bakery section.

I think the real question is whether there is enough volume at a given grocery store on meal kits that they can afford to hire a person who just spends their day assembling and stocking meal kits by the deli section, or if this load will get shifted to existing employees.

None of the meal delivery stuff comes pre-chopped.

It will have the proper size, though.

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