Food Engineering logo
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • PRODUCTS
  • TOPICS
  • EXCLUSIVES
  • MEDIA
  • FOOD MASTER
  • EVENTS
  • RESOURCES
  • EMAGAZINE
  • SIGN UP!
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • NEWS
  • Latest Headlines
  • Manufacturing News
  • People & Industry News
  • Plant Openings
  • Recalls
  • Regulatory Watch
  • Supplier News
  • PRODUCTS
  • New Plant Products
  • New Retail Products
  • TOPICS
  • Alternative Protein
  • Automation
  • Cannabis
  • Cleaning | Sanitation
  • Fabulous Food Plants
  • Food Safety
  • Maintenance Strategies
  • OEE
  • Packaging
  • Sustainability
  • More
  • EXCLUSIVES
  • Plant Construction Survey
  • Plant of the Year
  • Sustainable Plant of the Year
  • State of Food Manufacturing
  • Top 100 Food & Beverage Companies
  • MEDIA
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Webinars
  • White Papers
  • EVENTS
  • Food Automation & Manufacturing Symposium and Expo
  • Industry Events
  • RESOURCES
  • eNewsletter
  • Custom Content & Marketing Services
  • FE Store
  • Government Links
  • Industry Associations
  • Market Research
  • Classified Ads
  • EMAGAZINE
  • eMagazine
  • Archive Issue
  • Advertise
Food Engineering logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Engineering logo
  • NEWS
    • Latest Headlines
    • Manufacturing News
    • People & Industry News
    • Plant Openings
    • Recalls
    • Regulatory Watch
    • Supplier News
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Plant Products
    • New Retail Products
  • TOPICS
    • Alternative Protein
    • Automation
    • Cannabis
    • Cleaning | Sanitation
    • Fabulous Food Plants
    • Food Safety
    • Maintenance Strategies
    • OEE
    • Packaging
    • Sustainability
    • More
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Plant Construction Survey
    • Plant of the Year
    • Sustainable Plant of the Year
    • State of Food Manufacturing
    • Top 100 Food & Beverage Companies
  • MEDIA
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • FOOD MASTER
  • EVENTS
    • Food Automation & Manufacturing Symposium and Expo
    • Industry Events
  • RESOURCES
    • eNewsletter
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • FE Store
    • Government Links
    • Industry Associations
    • Market Research
    • Classified Ads
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issue
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
Latest headlines

Walmart to launch meal kits

How the major retailer’s entrance into the category will affect this rapidly growing food and beverage business sector.

By Debra Schug
Walmart logo
April 14, 2018

Walmart Inc. says it will launch meal kits at more than 2,000 of its stores. This is coming at a time when both the in-store meal-kit business and the meal-kit category are expanding at a double-digit rate.

Nielsen data shows that in-store meal kit sales grew 26.5 percent in the past year to $154.6 million. Overall, 9 percent of consumers, about 10.5 million households, have purchased a meal kit either online or in-store over the past six months. A quarter told Nielsen they would consider purchasing one in the next six months, the equivalent of 30.1 million households.

To get more details on why meal kits are on the rise and how Walmart will impact the market, FE talked to Forrest Collier, CEO of meal kit provider eMeals, to discuss.

FE: The meal kit business has been rapidly growing in the last few years. Can you discuss why that is?

Collier: The idea of meal kits has grown rapidly because consumers are desperate for convenience related to the inspiration, shopping and cooking of healthy dinners at home. eMeals provides the same kind of convenience as traditional meal kits, but with over 10 times the variety at half the food cost per serving. We publish new recipe ideas each week across 15 different food style plans such as Paleo, Clean Eating, Low Carb, Vegan and Gluten Free. Instead of recreating the grocery supply chain, eMeals has integrated our grocery list with pickup and delivery partners including Walmart, Kroger, Instacart and AmazonFresh. eMeals customers are able to enjoy affordable recipes that fit their specific goals with groceries from their preferred local grocery store.

FE: What does this signal to the industry that Wal-Mart is getting in the meal kit business? Do you think this is going to shift the meal kit business from online into groceries stores, or will the two offerings co-exist?

Collier: Walmart’s entrance into meal kits as well as Albertson’s acquisition of Plated is further evidence of the importance of convenience and flexibility to shoppers. Today’s consumer wants what they want, when they want it. Having in-store availability of meal kits is an additional option for the last-minute shopper and therefore a natural offering for grocery chains. By partnering with eMeals, a grocery chain is also able to provide a much wider level of recipe inspiration tied to its full product line which provides consumers a new level of variety, flexibility and affordability.

FE: What is the future of meal kits? Do you think they are here to stay or will they transform into something else?

Collier: People are busier than ever – whether they are single or married, urban or suburban, working inside or outside the home – so the demand for convenience solutions will only grow. The broader meal kit category is projected to be a $10 billion business within the next five years, but this will include traditional pre-portioned meal kits along with meal kit alternatives like eMeals that are able to leverage the existing grocery ecosystem to help people cook healthy home cooked meals at half the cost.

FE: How do you think advances in technology will affect the meal kit business?

Collier: Traditional meal kit providers will continue to leverage technology to improve everything from logistics to packaging. We’re already seeing advances in technology create opportunities for strategic partnerships between smart home-technology companies and grocery players like Walmart and Amazon. In order to tackle the issue of “last mile” delivery, the retailers are increasing their pickup services as well as going all the way to a consumer’s refrigerator. These integrated partnerships will continue to grow as a way to increase delivery convenience and decrease spoilage and theft of unattended deliveries.

KEYWORDS: food and beverage industry trends

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Debra schug 200px

Debra Schug was Editor-in-Chief of Food Engineering. She began her media career over a decade ago writing and producing broadcast news for both television and radio at the local and national level. She spent many years as the managing editor for two trade magazines in the oil industry and the research editor for an annual petroleum report. She has a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from Iowa State University.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Global Organic Food & Beverage Market to Grow

    Global Organic Food & Beverage Market to Grow

    With a CAGR of 12.07%, Bonafide Research estimates this...
    Latest headlines
  • skilled MEP worker

    Predicting Food and Beverage Manufacturing Trends for 2024

    The two words that should be kept in mind are labor and...
    Automation
    By: Derrick Teal
  • cleaning and sanitation

    The basics of cleaning and sanitation in food plants

    Sanitation maintains or restores a state of cleanliness...
    Cleaning | Sanitation
    By: Richard F. Stier
close

1 COMPLIMENTARY ARTICLE(S) LEFT

Loader

Already a Registered User? Sign in now.

Subscribe For Free!
  • eMagazine
  • eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Customer Service

Food Plant Openings and Expansions May 2025

Food Plant Openings and Expansions May 2025

OT Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities in Food Manufacturing Facilities

OT Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities in Food Manufacturing Facilities

Understanding Impacts of OT Cybersecurity Events in Food Manufacturing

Understanding Impacts of OT Cybersecurity Events in Food Manufacturing

Food Plant Openings and Expansions April 2025

Food Plant Openings and Expansions April 2025

More Videos

Popular Stories

Vilter IHP in plant

Industrial Heat Pumps: Sustainable Energy Solutions for Now and the Future

FMTE Formed by Four Food Manufacturing Companies

Coalition Unites Europe’s Food Manufacturing Technologies and Equipment Sector

Butterfly pea flower

FDA Approves Three Food Colors from Natural Sources

CHECK OUT OUR NEW ESSENTIAL TOPICS

Alternative ProteinAutomationCleaning/SanitationFabulous Food Plants

Food SafetyMaintenance StrategiesOEE

PackagingSustainability

Events

June 17, 2025

Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ State of the Cold Chain

Kelley Rodriguez, Editor in Chief of Refrigerated & Frozen Foods, will be joined in this 60-minute webinar by industry experts to help unpack the latest research.

January 1, 2030

Webinar Sponsorship Information

For webinar sponsorship information, visit www.bnpevents.com/webinars or email webinars@bnpmedia.com.

View All Submit An Event

Products

Recent Advances in Ready-to-Eat Food Technology

Recent Advances in Ready-to-Eat Food Technology

See More Products

Plant of the Year

Related Articles

  • ready meal packaging

    New ready meal packaging combines tradition, convenience

    See More
  • Campbells logo

    Campbell Soup to invest in Chef'd

    See More
  • Frozen foods market

    Frozen ready meals market predicted to grow

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • Functionalized_Carbohydrate.gif

    Functionalizing Carbohydrates for Food Applications

See More Products

Events

View AllSubmit An Event
  • June 5, 2025

    How Cafe Spice Uses Automation to Propel Private Label

    ON DEMAND: Learn about Cafe Spice’s new, state-of-the-art, highly automated manufacturing facility in Beacon, New York. 
View AllSubmit An Event
×

Elevate your expertise in food engineering with unparalleled insights and connections.

Get the latest industry updates tailored your way.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Food Master
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing

Food Engineering logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Engineering logo
  • NEWS
    • Latest Headlines
    • Manufacturing News
    • People & Industry News
    • Plant Openings
    • Recalls
    • Regulatory Watch
    • Supplier News
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Plant Products
    • New Retail Products
  • TOPICS
    • Alternative Protein
    • Automation
    • Cannabis
    • Cleaning | Sanitation
    • Fabulous Food Plants
    • Food Safety
    • Maintenance Strategies
    • OEE
    • Packaging
    • Sustainability
    • More
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Plant Construction Survey
    • Plant of the Year
    • Sustainable Plant of the Year
    • State of Food Manufacturing
    • Top 100 Food & Beverage Companies
  • MEDIA
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • FOOD MASTER
  • EVENTS
    • Food Automation & Manufacturing Symposium and Expo
    • Industry Events
  • RESOURCES
    • eNewsletter
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • FE Store
    • Government Links
    • Industry Associations
    • Market Research
    • Classified Ads
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issue
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!