Even before 2020, we were seeing an influx of products and services designed to help consumers get more done without ever leaving their homes. But, with so many people suddenly spending more time at home than ever before, 2020 brought many of these companies to the forefront.
Here are just a few home delivery style services that grew in popularity over the last year and will look to continue growing in 2021.
Home Meal Prep Kits
With everyone spending more time at home, there was a real increase in people either learning how to cook or generally making more meals at home. It seems like everyone was learning to bake bread and generally explore the capabilities of their kitchens in 2020. With this consumer focus on meal preparation, companies that focused on delivering meal kits were some of the breakout business stars of the last year. They also found ways to differentiate themselves, by focusing on healthy meals, fresh ingredients, meals on a budget, gourmet recipes, quick and easy meals, etc. Here are a few companies that stood out.
- Sunbasket – a solid overall meal kit option
- Home Chef – an option for picky eaters and families
- Freshly – ready-to-eat meals
- EveryPlate – a solid budget-conscious option
- Blue Apron – ingredients to make interesting recipes
- HelloFresh – a focus on healthy recipes
- Green Chef – an option for organic food fans
Restaurant Delivery
Getting food delivered from your favorite restaurant isn’t a new idea, but in the last few years, we saw numerous companies focus on consolidating online ordering and delivery, taking this off the plates of the restaurants themselves. Here are just a few that have taken off in recent years, with the ability to order directly from their apps.
- Doordash – with a huge footprint, they offer a large number of options across the U.S.
- UberEats – Uber’s entry into the food delivery business offers fast delivery times
- GrubHub – considered one of the easiest apps when it comes to the payment process
Grocery Delivery
Services focused on grocery delivery actually first sprang up many years ago, with Webvan getting the most attention, back in the late 1990s. But, it wasn’t until the last few years that the practice started really finding its footing. Now, grocery delivery is extremely easy and gained a lot of popularity in 2020. Here are just a few of the major players.
- Instacart – they partner with various grocery store chains to provide easy delivery, along with personal shoppers
- Amazon Fresh – this ties directly into Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods, as you can order same-day delivery on many products from your local Whole Foods store
- Kroger, Safeway, Target, Walmart – most of the major grocery store chains have developed their own delivery services
- FreshDirect – only available in some states in the Northeastern U.S.
Spirits to your Door
Trips to the liquor store have also been replaced with easy delivery options, bringing everything from wine and beer to craft spirits right to your door. Here are a few notable options.
- Drizly – they work with local retail liquor stores to provide a huge number of options with solid coverage in major metropolitan areas in the U.S.
- DoorDash – they go beyond restaurant delivery and also work with local liquor stores for delivery
- MiniBar – you can also add gifs like coffee to your liquor deliveries
- Swill – offering mixers as well as spirits to help you craft your cocktails at home
