Online shopping is growing by leaps and bounds, and the food category is no exception. More and more consumers are choosing to buy meat online as well as fruits, vegetables and other groceries. More and more companies are springing up to serve the market, and the behemoths like Amazon and Wal-Mart are honing their capabilities to deliver fresh as well as pre-packaged food.
Being able to buy meat online is not something new. Companies like Omaha Steaks have been around for years, offering people quality meat bundles through the mail. Was has changed is the state of the meat you are buying. It used to be that you only could get frozen or freeze-dried meat delivered, but now you can get fresh meat delivered to your home. Though it is a small niche, considering meat production in the U.S. is worth $66 billion a year, just a 2 percent share means over $1 billion. Whether you want bulk meat packages or just a couple of steaks, there are local and national options for buying meat. You may wonder, “are there butcher shops near me that will deliver meat?” If you live in a large city, it is quite possible. Many grocery stores also offer delivery of fresh foods, including meat.
Meat isn’t the only fresh food you can buy online. Most companies that offer food delivery will deliver fresh produce, seafood, dairy items and a number of other perishables. Be prepared to navigate special conditions for the delivery of fresh foods. For example, you may only be able to get them at certain times of the day.
Another growing category in the online food delivery industry is prepared food. This is not a sandwich from your local deli but rather prepared meals that you can order online and have delivered to your home. This is a category with a tremendous amount of growth potential as more and more young people are willing to pay for the convenience and time savings of prepared foods.
Whatever foods you are looking to order online and have delivered to you, you should do your research. Prices can vary, as can the level of responsiveness and customer service. You need to make sure you are making the right choice for your food delivery options.