As year's end approaches, Home Chef predicted six pillars that will define how people will eat at home in 2025.
"The meal delivery industry isn't only impacted by what consumers are eating, but how they're planning and cooking for mealtime," said Erik Jensen, Home Chef CEO. "We expect 2025 to be a year we'll see demand continue to grow for ultra-convenient cooking routines and ingredient variation, with customers placing value at the center of meal decisions."
- Low Effort, High Reward: Home cooks are firmly on the other side of pandemic-induced feasts of complex recipes that take hours, and instead are redefining what "convenient" means at mealtime. Not only do consumers crave fast meals but ones that also cut down on other mealtime demands like recipe planning, grocery shopping, and dishes.
- Value in View: As rising food costs impact all meal sources, customers are continuing to prioritize value when it comes to their mealtime routines. Meal delivery companies will need to provide competitive and innovative pricing structures to help customers' dollars go further. The meal delivery industry is well positioned to address this by helping customers reduce household food waste and providing affordable, memorable experiences around the table through exclusive partnerships.
- Conscious Comfort: Though the demand for better-for-you meal options naturally invites ingredient and flavor innovation, many consumers are looking for familiar flavors. Home cooks want to feel that serotonin boost that comes from recognizing a beloved, comforting meal – and even better if they don't have to sacrifice their wellness goals to enjoy it.
- Protein-Packed & Fiber-Filled: With more demand for wellness-minded meals, customers will seek sources of protein and fiber that are not only packed with those essential nutrients, but are delicious too. With the rise of GLP-1 medications, health-conscious consumers will look for foods tied to the body's natural production of GLP-1, which includes higher fiber, higher protein meals. This increase in demand is supported by recent insights from 84.51°, the market research division of The Kroger Co., which found that high-protein is the number one nutritional benefit for which consumers look while grocery shopping.
- Plenty of Fish in the Sea: Customers don't settle for just shrimp and salmon in their seafood rotation anymore. Many home cooks are exploring pescetarian options that were not previously as accessible or familiar, such as mahi mahi, petite scallops, and yellowtail.
- Spice It Up: Customers are going beyond the humble jalapeno to add heat and depth to their everyday cooking. Home cooks are getting more familiar with a variety of pepper-based condiments from across the globe, bringing new layers of heat and flavor to dinner.
"Our culinary team is constantly evaluating feedback so we can provide menus our customers will love, week after week," said Nigel Palmer, executive R&D chef at Home Chef. "From adding new ingredients to our pantry to crafting recipes that balance familiarity with innovation, we're excited to incorporate customers' latest cravings into the fresh, flavorful meals we deliver to home cooks next year."
Home Chef crafted more than 1,500 new recipes for Home Chef and Tempo menus this year, with the most popular new addition being Shrimp Étouffée. Home Chef launched eight new culinary partnerships – from Dolly Parton to Bluey. Californians ordered the most tacos, Floridians made the most meatloaf, and Montana got top marks in pizza.
About Home Chef
Founded in 2013, Home Chef is the leading meal solutions company with both a retail and online presence. The meal delivery service is available via homechef.com and packaged meal solutions can be found at more than 2,400 stores in the Kroger Family of Companies. Home Chef is committed to bringing ease and convenience to home cooking through simple, delicious meals, so home cooks can enjoy their time at home, both in and out of the kitchen. The Chicago-based company was ranked #1 among meal delivery services by Newsweek (2024).
