The way Canadians shop for everything from cars to movies is changing, so perhaps it isn’t surprising that, according to Chatelaine, some of the biggest food trends in 2018 have as much to do with how we buy food as they do with the food itself.
A growing number of Ontarians are opting to have their food delivered to them. While the rise of restaurant courier services have made cyclists with food warming bags a familiar part of the urban landscape over the past decade, the newest delivery trend is not for fresh food, but for frozen food.Meal kits are taking the culinary world by storm, and while many of these kits contain uncooked boxed meals that simply need to be assembled by following the recipe, others provide customers with a few essential components, like individually packaged frozen cuts of meat that can be quickly cooked and served.
Between commuting to and from work, engaging in extracurricular activities, volunteering for charities, and catching up with friends and family, most young city dwellers are facing significant and growing demands on their time. But they also want to eat well and may enjoy the relaxing break cooking provides from their busy schedule. These new services are popular because they provide users with the pleasure and comfort of cooking from home, without adding to the already hectic lives of most modern urbanites.
If you want to try out grocery delivery services ordeal kits but aren’t sure how to start there are a few things you should keep in mind:
Specialization
The interest in delivery has led to the growth of specialized providers. If you love meat-heavy dishes, you might want to consider a service that specializes in fresh meat delivery. Ontario’s truLOCAL, for example, offers local, sustainable meat delivered to every postal code in the province. Shoppers can build a custom box for monthly delivery containing a range of high quality meats, from beef and pork to free-range chicken and wild-caught fish.
Flexibility
When trying out a delivery service, flexibility is key. The last thing you want is to find yourself locked into a food plan that you aren’t using. Before you sign up for a service, find out what the conditions are. Will you be able to change your order from delivery to delivery? Is it a fixed delivery period, or can you tailor it to meet your schedule?
Customization
It is estimated that Ontario has a food waste problem. According to TVO, roughly $12 billion worth of edible food gets thrown away every year. Much of this waste comes from shoppers purchasing more than they need. While delivery services already play an important role in helping consumers be smarter about how much they actual eat in a given period, finding a delivery service that allows for a high level of customization can help you buy only what you know you’ll use.
Ontario’s appetite for food delivery shows no signs of abating, and while it has yet to be seen whether it signals a passing interest or a long term shift in how we shop and eat, the growing numbers of users turning to grocery delivery providers indicates a remarkable degree of satisfaction with these services.
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