2018 Meal Kit Delivery Services

Compare meal delivery services in New Zealand at Canstar Blue. Bargain Box, FoodBox and My Food Bag were compared on value for money, customer service, variety, taste of food, flexibility, reliability, freshness and overall satisfaction.

See Our Ratings Methodology

Convenient and healthy, food kit services have hit the spot for food delivery

In modern society, being time poor seems to be a condition many of us suffer from and as a result we cut corners where we can.  Take food for example.  We know that eating healthy is important but finding the time to do the shopping, let alone prepare and cook tasty meals, can sometimes feel like an impossible task.  So, when it comes to keeping those hunger pangs at bay, take-aways have long been a mainstay for many Kiwis and although these meals are quick and easy, not to mention delicious, healthy is one thing most of them can’t claim to be. But, in recent years, food kit delivery services have entered the market and are proving to be increasingly popular as we strive to eat convenient, yet healthy food.

Healthy food

Ordering meals (or simply the ingredients) in advance has changed meal times for many households in New Zealand.  Nearly two thirds (64%) of the people we talked to said they thought using a meal kit delivery service had improved the diet of themselves and their families and 74% of people agreed that meal kits had resulted in them trying new and different foods.

How it works

Recognising our desire to eat well but our need for convenience, food kit services aim to take all of the pressure out of food planning and preparation by delivering everything you need for a healthy menu, to your door.  You simply hop online, select the number of meals you would like, how many people you would like them for, and they do the rest.  At a pre-arranged time, you’ll be delivered a box or bag with recipe cards, and all the special ingredients you need to cook healthy, wholesome meals.  If you are really pushed for time, some services will even make the food for you so all you need to do is heat it up.  It doesn’t get easier than that!  Of course, buying all of this convenience does cost money and 71% of people we surveyed said they thought they spent more buying food this way than they would at the supermarket.  But on the plus-side, 66% of people said they had less food waste since using a meal kit deliver service.

So, if you fancy a change in menu but are not sure where to start, a meal kit delivery service might be for you.  As the services tend to be contract free, pay-as-you-go, you can use them as many, or as few times as you like.  Bon appetite!

Who we rated

Bargain Box

Launched in 2016, Bargain Box is the “super affordable” arm of My Food Bag, according to co-founder Nadia Lim.  Currently delivering to regions from Whangarei to Mosgiel, Bargain Box meals start from around $5.50 a plate and boxes arrive to your door complete with recipe cards and everything you need to cook a balanced meal for you and your family.  Winner of Canstar Blue’s Overall Customer Satisfaction Award, Bargain Box scored a maximum five stars for customer service, variety, flexibility, delivery and freshness and a respectable four stars for value for money and taste.

FoodBox

Auckland based FoodBox also deliver in Hamilton and Tauranga.  In addition to a basic food box and recipes, customers can change or add items and add a few ‘extra’s such as baked goods, beer or wine and even flowers if you fancy brightening up meal times with a floral centrepiece!  FoodBox scored four stars in all but two of our categories, value for money and delivery, for which they scored three stars. For overall satisfaction they rated four stars.

My Food Bag

My Food Bag is probably best known through it’s association with co-founder and MasterChef New Zealand winner Nadia Lim.  With deliveries all over New Zealand (visit their website for exact details), My Food Bag offers a wide range of food bag options, from gluten-free to fussy eaters, they’ve got something for everyone.   Rating four stars for overall satisfaction, My Food Bag scored a maximum five stars in all categories other than delivery (four stars) and value for money (three stars).