With 24 years already gone by in the millennium, sustainable lifestyles in all fields of business have taken over. This is largely due to rising public demand, health awareness, and the need to address the deteriorating climate. Following this thought, the vegan diet is rapidly becoming accepted. Several restaurants have started offering vegan diets and also providing plant-based meals through a subscription model. Moreover, many restaurant chains are setting up vegan-only outlets to capitalize on the vegan food trend. The blog highlights the need, business, and growth aspects of the vegan meal subscription box delivery market.
Vegan Meal Kit Delivery Market Globally
The meal kit delivery market is likely to grow significantly. According to research, the market revenue can reach USD 14.59 billion in 2024. Also, the market is slated to exhibit a CAGR of 7.19% from 2024-29. It can be attributed to steady growth. Moreover, the number of users who subscribe to the vegan meal kit delivery may reach 30.5 million by 2029. In the year 2024, it is anticipated that the user penetration rate will stand at 0.3%. However, estimations suggest a notable escalation to 0.4% by the year 2029. This trajectory underscores a discernible uptick in adopting this efficacious and time-saving solution.
Figure 1: Revenue of the Meal Kit Delivery Industry
Over the next four years, from 2024 to 2028, experts predict a steady rise in global revenue for the ‘Meal Kit Delivery’ sector within the online food delivery market. They anticipate a total increase of 4.9 billion U.S. dollars, marking a substantial 33.58 percent growth. If these projections hold true, by 2028, the revenue is expected to hit a record high of 19.52 billion U.S. dollars. This would mark this segment’s tenth consecutive year of growth, indicating its sustained expansion over recent years.
Why Is the Demand for Plant-based Vegan Meal Subscription Boxes Surging?
Several reasons resulting in the surge of the plant-based vegan meal subscription market:
- Animal Welfare: The growing concern regarding animal cruelty among some people on several platforms has invoked the feeling of avoiding non-veg food. Moreover, they are giving up on dairy products following reports of animal cruelty practiced during milking. Thus, people are gravitating toward a vegan diet.
- Health Concerns: The vegan diet offers less saturated fats than meat-based diets. Thus, cardiovascular health remains better. It also reduces the chances of several diseases. So, people are turning toward it for health benefits.
- Available Conveniently: The convenience of time-saving the vegan meal subscription model offers is second to none for those following the plant-based diet. People can order them through their fingertips on mobile phones.
- Reduced Food Waste: The vegan meal subscription box is equipped with portion control. Thus, the model facilitates limited food as per the request. Hence, no food wastage.
- Wide Range of Varieties and Tastes: The nutritious plant-based recipes meet the taste buds of diverse palates, as the meal kits provide a delicious range of food items, adhering to dietary preferences.
Vegan Meal Subscription Boxes Compared to Traditional Meal Delivery Services
| Vegan meal subscription boxes | Traditional meal delivery services |
| Focus only on plant-based, meat-free, and dairy-free ingredients | Offer a mix of meat, seafood, and vegetarian options |
| A wide variety of recipes featuring diverse plant-based ingredients and cuisines | Traditional services have a more limited selection of vegetarian meals. |
| Vegan services may cost slightly more than traditional meal kits but still provide value by reducing food waste and grocery trips | Prices vary by service. |
| Less carbon footprint | More carbon footprint |
| Eliminate the need to plan and shop for plant-based meals | One requires a plan to choose from veg to non-veg |
Most Common Meals Available in Vegan Meal Subscription Boxes
Plant-based Proteins: These vegan subscription meal boxes deliver myriad plant-based proteins, including tempeh, tofu, chickpeas, lentils, seitan, and beans, ensuring a gratifying meal experience, especially for those into bodybuilding or dieting.
Creative Recipes: Innovation in vegan meal subscription boxes is common. Subscribers can be privy to different delicious vegan recipes, which exhibit the versatility of plant-based ingredients, making eating exciting.
Incorporate Whole Grains: Vegan meal kits offer healthy options to subscribers, such as quinoa, barley, brown rice, farro, etc., which contain essential vitamins, amino acids, and minerals required for a healthy body.
Meals Centered on Veggies and Fruits: The vegan meal boxes pack fruits and vegetables for vegan subscribers, replenishing their bodies with required anti-oxidants, fibers, and nutrients.
Delivery Options in Vegan Meal Subscription Boxes
- People can choose their preferred delivery day, as most services deliver weekly
- Some subscriptions provide the flexibility of skipping or pausing the delivery as per the client’s needs
- Meals can be chosen from a weekly menu as per the preference
- A Pre-selected assortment of vegan meals is also available for delivery
- In some nations, the delivery is nationwide, including the UK
- Sustainable and recyclable materials are used for delivering vegan meals
- Several vegan kit meals are available with a free shipping offer, depending on the amount of order
Top Plant-Based Vegan Meal Subscription Companies
Vegan meal kit subscription box industry toppers that are making the most by delivering plant-based food globally are:-
Figure 2: Top Companies in the Vegan Meal Subscription Box Market
How Does the Vegan Subscription Model Work?
The vegan subscription model works systematically. Based on the order, a plant-based pre-portioned meal is prepared and delivered to the doorstep. Here’s the model of operation:
1. Various Subscriptions Plans
It begins by selecting a required subscription plan for a vegan food customer. A variety of options are presented, like a menu where that allows people to make a selection.
- They can choose the number of servings per day
- Number of meals in a week
- Types of ingredients required in a vegan diet
- Decide on different vegan food kits
- Quantity of food
Interestingly, some subscription models offer the facilities of pausing, canceling, and skipping deliveries. Thus empowering subscribers with flexibility.
2. Range of Food Products
Customers are interested in the diverse range of vegan food products offered by subscription box models. The optimum-quality food, freshly made and quickly delivered, caters to health-conscious people. More importantly, such vegan kits are exclusively available only in a few regions of the world. These brands include:-
- Pantry Items: These include nutritional supplements, vegan cheese, and plant-based milk for vegan consumers.
- Snacks: They pack taste and health simultaneously with trail mix, dried fruits, and energy bars as options.
- Meal Kits: The vegan box subscription model kits include pre-portioned meals with vegan versions of dishes such as pasta, curries, and stir-fries that can be cooked at home.
3. Availability of Customization
The option for customization gives people the freedom to order the vegan food items they enjoy. So, the flexibility of receiving personalized food is desirable. Here are the following features of customization available with the vegan subscription boxes:-
- Catering to Dietary Needs: The business model offers restricted food choices for vegans, such as soy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free. So, anyone with an allergy can cope while remaining a vegan.
- Choose Preferences: Vegan meal subscription models allow users to choose from various delivery frequencies, meal types, and ingredients.
- Different Meal Kits: Consumers can purchase meal kits in different themes, including healthy snacks, international cuisines, and comfort food dishes.
4. Costing of Kits
The cost of vegan meal kits is a significant aspect of this business model. It varies from region to region and may depend on geographical conditions. The vegan subscription meal may be priced at USD 6 in some nations based on the dishes, recipes, and ingredients. Also, some boxes may cost as much as USD 60 or more, excluding shipping costs. However, consumers can make it affordable by eliminating and selecting a few items. Thus, costs can be lowered. Moreover, long-term customers can also avail themselves of offers and discounts from brands of vegan meal subscription owners.
5. Promotion and Marketing
Branding is a designated boon for plant-based vegan meal box subscriptions, and promotion and marketing are the wheels to reach there for a company. The personalized communication is essential for creating a user-friendly experience for potential clients.
- Email Marketing: It is the most sophisticated method for reaching HNIs (High-Network Individuals) and companies. The targeted campaigns are designed to provide exclusive offers, create awareness, and communicate with customers about vegan meal boxes.
- Social Media: Social media platforms are essential for reaching the maximum number of clients and significantly spreading information regarding the plant-based vegan meal box subscription model. Instagram, Twitter (X), TikTok, Facebook, and Pinterest are used to popularise the recipes and benefits and promote vegan meal products. Paid advertisements and interesting campaigns are run.
- Influencer Partnerships: Plant-based vegan food companies tie up with social media influencers to create valuable brands by leveraging their popularity among the masses.
6. Vegan Meal Delivery Services
Once the meals are created, the delivery to the customer must be smooth. Conveniently delivering fresh food on time helps draw clients’ attention to daily, weekly, and monthly subscriptions.
- Shipment: Secure, reliable, and timely delivery are the keys to establishing customer trust
- Tracking: The food delivery status order can be checked by subscribers through mobile applications
7. Maintaining Customer Relationship
For any business to flourish, the relationship between a company, its workers, and the client is paramount. This relationship is maintained by offering quality vegan meals and myriad menu options, listening to the customer’s suggestions, and implementing them to enhance the services. Building upon health, love for animals and environment.
- Customer Care Support: Business owners provide resolutions through several channels, including social media, chatbots, customer care representatives, and email
- Rewards: Repeat subscribers are offered loyalty programs, referrals, gifts, discount coupons, and other offers
Primary Financial Projections for Vegan Meal Subscription Model
The vegan meal subscription kits business is flourishing because of its multiple options for revenue generation, making it feasible and profitable for investors.
- Main Revenue Streams: The prime revenue stream is the subscription model, where customers pay according to the menu and duration they select. Affiliate marketing also helps generate money and create supplier partnerships.
- Financial Projections: As people are adapting to healthy lifestyles, the veganism business is surging swiftly. Moreover, with increasing retention rates and customer acquisition, the market and business are projected to grow upward.
Challenges: Vegan Meal Subscription Box Delivery Market
The vegan meal subscription market may be flourishing, but it has a handful of noticeable challenges that need to be addressed:
Stiff Competition
The expanding vegan meal subscription model is huge, and so is the competition. Several companies have mushroomed quickly and are differentiating themselves on various parameters, including ingredients, pricing, chef-curated recipes, make-to-order, and quality. Thus leaving little room for others to establish.
Costing Issue
Premium pricing is a critical factor that not many consumers are willing to pay for the vegan meal subscription model. So, to attract and influence additional subscribers, companies in the business need to work on the costing aspect.
Conclusion
The vegan meal box subscription market is experiencing substantial growth following increased customer awareness of plant-based food’s health benefits. People concerned about animal welfare, the rise of vegan food outlets, and various recipes contribute to the business. Also, it is an extension of the sustainable and healthy lifestyle and supports food production innovation like molecular farming. Moreover, the global revenue is projected to rise exponentially with the factors mentioned and the hike in demand for innovative vegan recipes. Furthermore, options like customization of ingredients, the flexibility of timings for food meal delivery boxes, and catering to the diverse needs of health-conscious people can spur business growth. The revenue models are expanding with marketing on a plethora of social media channels, bolstering outlets, delivery services, and influencer partnerships. The business model is lucrative and offers sustainability as it significantly aids in reducing food waste and provides the global food industry with healthy alternatives.