Factor Meal Box: Chef-Crafted, Nutritionist Approved

Factor at a Glance

Factor is a prominent meal box service dedicated to delivering fresh, nutritious, chef-prepared meals directly to consumers. The company was founded by Nick Wernimont, an MMA fighter and prolific boxer who struggled to find healthy and convenient meal options while training for hours each day. His solution was Factor.

Since their inception, the company has focused on providing high-quality, health-conscious meals tailored to meet the diverse dietary needs of their customers. Factor was acquired by HelloFresh in 2020, which is now their parent company, enhancing their operational capabilities and expanding their market reach.

Serving thousands of clients across the United States, Factor stands out for their commitment to using only high-quality ingredients free from artificial additives and preservatives. The company offers a wide variety of flavors, catering to different dietary preferences, including keto, paleo, low-carb, and plant-based options. Their meals are designed to provide balanced nutrition, with ingredients that are delivered fresh, not frozen, ensuring maximum flavor and nutritional value.

The company received the “Best prepared meal delivery” by Healthline, although they are not currently accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

Factor Offerings

Factor offers a wide variety of options to suit everyone's eating habits and nutrition goals. They keep things interesting with a rotating weekly menu designed by chefs and approved by dietitians. Below are a few of the features they offer their customers.

Menu options

• Ready-made meals: Factor provides their customers with fresh, never frozen, premade meal trays that can simply be heated in a microwave or oven and are ready to eat in minutes
• Diet-specific: They cater to various dietary preferences, including calorie-smart, carb-conscious, protein plus, vegetarian, vegan, and keto meal plans
• High protein: Their high protein meal options are designed to support muscle growth and recovery, ideal for fitness enthusiasts and athletes
• Calorie-smart: For those looking to manage their calorie intake, Factor offers meals that are balanced and portion-controlled to help you with weight loss and health
• Detailed nutritional information: Each meal comes with comprehensive nutritional information and an ingredients list, allowing customers to make informed choices about their food
• Weekly rotating menu: They update their menu regularly to include new meal options, ensuring variety and fresh choices for their customers
• Chef-curated dishes: Each meal is crafted by professional chefs, ensuring a gourmet dining experience that is both delicious and nutritious
• Delicious global options: Their menu features a mix of cuisines, such as American, Italian, Mexican, and Asian-inspired dishes. Meals often include sides like vegetables, grains, and legumes, providing a balanced and flavorful dining experience
• Quality ingredients: Factor focuses on providing high-quality by using premium ingredients and ensuring their dishes are nutrient-dense and chef-prepared. They maintain strict standards for taste and nutrition, including sourcing ingredients that are free from hormones, antibiotics, and refined sugars
• Customizable plans: Customers can personalize their plans by selecting the number of meals per week and specifying dietary preferences, including a chef's choice plan, which can be adjusted at any time through their online account
• Nutritional information and ingredients list: Detailed nutritional information and a complete ingredients list are provided for each dish, allowing customers to make informed choices
• Add-ons: In addition to dinner options, they provide the option of add-ons, eliminating the need to go to the grocery store. These include things like sides, breakfast, lunch, wellness shots, and desserts for a complete dining experience

Delivery services

• Nationwide delivery: Factor offers delivery to most locations across the contiguous United States, ensuring that a wide range of customers can benefit from their services
• Flexible delivery schedules: Customers can choose their preferred delivery day to ensure they receive their meals at a convenient time
• Eco-friendly packaging: Meals are delivered in an insulated, eco-friendly cardboard box that keeps food fresh while minimizing environmental impact

Other features

• Flexible subscriptions: Customers have the flexibility to skip a week or pause their subscription as needed, in addition to changing their dietary preferences, making it easy to fit the service into their schedule
• Mobile app: They have a mobile app for both iOS and Android that allows customers to manage their plans, select meals, and update preferences on the go
• Gift cards: Factor offers gift cards, allowing customers to give the gift of healthy, convenient meals to friends and family
• Nutritional coaching: They offer a free 20-minute nutritional consultation for their customers, along with comprehensive nutritional coaching services
• Discounts: They offer generous discounts for newbies and have a program called Factor Freebies, offering points that you can accrue to be shared with friends and family

Pricing & Plans

Factor plans are based off amount of meals per week for one person. With that in mind, you can always order enough for yourself and others in your household. Their meals can stay fresh in the fridge for up to seven days. These plans can be customized based on dietary requirements, the number of meals per week, and specific taste preferences. Here’s an overview of plans and the costs associated:

• 6 meals per week: This is perfect for individuals looking to supplement their weekly meals and costs approximately $13.49 per serving
• 8 meals per week: This is ideal for most of the workweek, and costs about $12.99 per serving
• 10 meals per week: For those who rely more heavily on meal delivery for their weekly nutrition, this plan costs around $12.49 per serving
• 12 meals per week: This plan is geared towards couples or individuals who want to cover most of their weekly meals and costs about $11.99 per serving
• 14 meals per week: This provides comprehensive weekly coverage and costs approximately $11.49 per serving
• 18 meals per week: Best for families or those needing nearly all meals provided, this option costs around $10.99 per serving

Each delivery will cost you $10.99 per box and can be shipped anywhere within the contiguous United States.

Factor Advantages

• Chef-prepared, nutritionist-approved: They provide high-quality ingredients, chef-crafted and nutritionist-endorsed recipes, ensuring tasty and healthy meals
• Wide range of dietary options: Factor caters to specific diets, including keto, paleo, low carb, plant-based, and high-protein options
• Fresh, never-frozen meals: Unlike many other meal delivery services, Factor delivers fresh, never-frozen meals, which helps maintain the taste and nutritional value of the food. This is a great option for customers seeking the convenience of ready-to-eat meals without compromising on quality
• Flexible subscription plans: They offer customizable plans, allowing customers to choose the number of meals per week and adjust their preferences as needed. This flexibility helps customers tailor the service to their unique lifestyles and dietary needs, providing a personalized meal solution
• Calorie smart for weight management: Factor’s low-calorie plans can help customers manage their calorie intake more effectively. This feature is particularly advantageous for those looking to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight, as it ensures balanced portions without the guesswork
• Referrals and freebies: They provide their customers with a program where you can accrue points over time that can then be shared with friends and family. They also offer referral codes giving you various options to share the joy of a meal delivery service with those you love
• User-friendly web and mobile interface: Factor makes signing up, picking meals, managing your subscription, and planning your deliveries a breeze with their mobile and desktop applications
• Nutritional coaching: They offer a 20-minute free session with a registered dietitian, and ongoing consultation if you are interested

Factor Disadvantages

• Only offers pre-made meals: This may be a disadvantage for those who are looking to strike a balance between cooking and efficiency, or who want to work on their cooking skills. If this is something you want, then you will have to look elsewhere
• Higher cost compared to competitors: Factor is generally more expensive than competitors, which might be a significant drawback for budget-conscious individuals or families
• Limited delivery options: They deliver on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, and these options are also zip code dependent
• Not fully organic: While they do source ethically raised proteins and organic produce when they can, not all their ingredients meet these standards
• May not be for people with severe food allergies: While they do offer meals that might not have gluten or nuts in them, there could be cross-contamination, and anyone with severe allergies should speak with their customer care team to understand if this service might work for them
• Not all delivery materials are recyclable: While their boxes, containers, ice packs, and insulation are recyclable, there are a few layers that you can not put in the recycling bin, which may not be the best option for those looking for a more environmentally friendly provider

Customer Experience

Factor receives mixed reviews across various customer review platforms. Based on customer feedback, they boast a 3.9 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot. On Google Reviews, they get 2.3 out of 5 stars. Sitejabber users have given Factor a rating of 1.3 out of 5 stars, while Yelp reviews give 1.7 out of 5 stars. Additionally, they have a 1.13 out of 5 rating on the BBB with an A+.

The ease of preparation and taste

Factor garners positive feedback regarding their meals' ease of preparation and taste. Many customers appreciate the convenience, noting the straightforward preparation process and the high-quality ingredients used in their meals. Reviews often highlight the diverse flavors available, catering to various dietary preferences and culinary palates, passing the taste test with satisfying portion sizes. However, some users have expressed dissatisfaction with taste consistency, citing discrepancies in flavor profiles compared to their expectations.

Factor meal packaging and environmental friendliness

In terms of packaging and environmental practices, Factor receives praise for their efforts towards sustainability. Customers frequently commend the company for using eco-friendly packaging materials, whose recyclable materials include their gel packs, contributing positively to environmental conservation efforts. The use of recyclable materials, including BPA-free CPET plastic and non-recyclable plastic film, is noted as a significant advantage by many reviewers. However, a few customers have raised concerns about the volume of packaging used or encountered challenges with the recyclability of certain materials, suggesting areas for potential improvement in reducing environmental impact further.

Delivery services

Factor generally receives favorable feedback regarding their delivery services. Customers commonly report reliable and timely delivery of their orders, ensuring they arrive securely packaged and in good condition. Positive reviews highlight efficient logistics and dependable tracking systems that contribute to a satisfactory customer experience. Nonetheless, negative reviews mention instances of delayed deliveries or logistical hiccups that have impacted delivery timelines, suggesting room for improvement in service consistency.

Customer service and overall satisfaction

Customer service at Factor is often praised for their responsiveness and commitment to resolving issues promptly. Reviewers frequently highlight positive interactions with customer support representatives who are noted for their helpfulness and professionalism. These interactions contribute positively to overall customer satisfaction levels. However, some users have expressed less favorable experiences, citing difficulties in reaching customer support or dissatisfaction with the resolutions provided for their concerns. Such feedback indicates areas where enhancing service accessibility and addressing customer grievances could further elevate overall satisfaction levels.

The company is noted for actively engaging with feedback, whether positive or negative, which underscores their commitment to transparency and customer satisfaction. Responses are generally perceived as helpful, with many reviewers acknowledging Factor’s efforts to address concerns and provide resolutions where feasible.

Customer Support

Customers can reach the support team at 888-573-5727 from 6 AM to 11 PM ET Monday through Friday and 7 AM to 7 PM ET Saturday and Sunday. You can also reach out to them via their email address at [email protected]. Additionally, they provide a live chat option for quick assistance, available 24/7. 

Factor also features an online Help Center with FAQs. These resources cover topics from ingredient and nutritional information to subscription management, ensuring a seamless user experience. They also provide an extensive blog with information on nutrition, dieting, weight loss, and general foodstuff, for anyone wanting to learn more.

Is Factor the Right Service for You?

Factor provides fresh, chef-prepared meals that are never frozen, ensuring high quality and great taste. They are a great choice, especially for busy professionals, fitness enthusiasts, and individuals with specific dietary needs, such as keto, paleo, and plant-based diets. They stand out with chef-designed and dietitian-crafted meals that are filled with nutritional value while also maintaining flavor.

The service is praised for its ease of preparation, with meals ready in just a few minutes, and the detailed nutritional information that helps customers make informed choices. Factor also excels in customer service, with a responsive support team and helpful resources available online. Despite the many advantages, some customers have noted a few drawbacks based on their personal experience. The cost of Factor can be higher compared to other options, which may be a concern for budget-conscious individuals. Additionally, while the packaging ensures meal freshness, the use of non-recyclable plastic containers has raised environmental concerns.

There are various options available to you, and you can find out more about them on our reviews page of the best meal delivery services. Subsequently, you can use our comparison tool to compare different companies and make an informed decision. If you need more information about these services or help understanding how they work, you can visit our blog page, which has many helpful articles.