Cooking Like Martha Stewart: The Marley Spoon Experience

Company Overview

Marley Spoon has expanded their presence in the meal kit industry, focusing on busy households that value both convenience and meal quality. Serving thousands of clients across multiple countries, Marley Spoon emphasizes reducing the time and effort spent on meal planning and grocery shopping. Initially launched in Germany, the company has steadily expanded their operations over the years to include countries across Europe, Australia, and the US. In 2015, when they expanded to the US market through a partnership with media icon Martha Stewart, the company became known as Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon. Since then, they have developed their offerings to include a wide variety of delicious, chef-inspired, simple recipes using pre-portioned ingredients that customers can easily prepare at home.

The Marley Spoon ethos is founded on a few key principles: providing easy and convenient access to high-quality, healthy, chef-designed recipes and ingredients, an intuitive platform with which to order and track deliveries to their homes, all while using sustainable packaging, and ensuring minimal food waste. They aim to offer their customers big flavors with the minimal effort of a meal kit. They also provide customers with access to a market where they can shop for a wide array of grocery items to be delivered directly to their doorstep, along with their meal kits. This ensures you have everything you need for delicious, home-cooked meals without the hassle of multiple shopping trips.

Their reputation in the US has steadily grown over the years, thanks to strong branding efforts and their partnership with Martha Stewart. This combination has resulted in high customer retention. They slowly expanded to seven markets globally and partnered with FreshRealm, who now takes care of their fulfillment services in the US, so they can continue to innovate their recipes and offerings. While the company is recognized for their innovative approach to home cooking, it is important to note that they currently are not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

Marley Spoon Features & Services

The company’s offerings stand out due to their collaboration with Martha Stewart, which has shaped much of their recipe development and menu variety. Marley Spoon’s kits feature a range of recipes that cater to various dietary preferences, from vegetarian to meat-centered dishes, all designed to be easily prepared in under 30 minutes in only six steps. Each recipe also includes specifics about what ingredients you will need to have on hand, such as salt and olive oil, in addition to the necessary cooking utensils.

Menu options

Marley Spoon offers a diverse menu with a wide range of options to suit different tastes and dietary preferences. Some of the menu features available include:

• Large variety of menu options: You can choose from over 100 rotating weekly meals, as this company offers one of the highest volumes of recipes in the industry. Their variety of flavors ranges from gourmet classics like the Beef Wellington to vegetarian options, such as the Mushroom Risotto, seafood dishes, low-carb recipes, and global flavors, including Asian, Mexican, and Mediterranean
• Highly curated chef-style recipes: The Marley Spoon team collaborates with chefs and dietitians to craft an extensive menu of options. Their partnership with Martha Stewart goes beyond mere endorsement; it’s a genuine collaboration that allows them to incorporate her recipes into their diverse collection. This synergy enhances the variety and quality of the meals they offer, combining professional culinary expertise with Martha Stewart’s renowned culinary style
• Quick and easy: You can also choose from a selection of quick and easy meals that can be prepared in under 30 minutes, along with ready-to-heat meals, perfect for busy weeknights
• Family-friendly: This company provides a variety of child-friendly options that you can use to feed your whole family 
• High-quality, fresh ingredients: Marley Spoon sources high-quality ingredients, ensuring that customers receive the best possible products for their meals. All ingredients are sourced fresh and are pre-portioned and pre-cut, saving customers time and effort when it comes to prep work
• Customizable menu: You have the option of choosing between meals for two to four people and from two to six meals per week. You can easily skip a week if needed, edit your orders, and cancel your subscription at any time. You can also easily swap out protein options in recipes that have the "customizable" label on them
• Special dietary options: They offer a variety of options when it comes to specific dietary needs and restrictions. These include vegetarian, pescatarian, low-carb, low-calorie, dairy-free, nut-free, gluten-free, and high-nutritional-value meals
• Variety of meal options: While their primary offerings are for dinner, they also provide breakfast, lunch, add-ons, and dessert options to choose from. In addition to this, they provide holiday meal kits to spice up your gatherings and celebrations
• Flexible and low-cost-recipes: This option allows you to swap out proteins in your dish while also providing the same delicious meal at a savings of up to $1 per serving
• 6-step recipes: All their meal kits include recipe cards featuring six easy-to-follow steps, complete with accompanying photos. If you want to be more eco-friendly, you can choose to opt out of the recipe cards and simply reference their website
• Marley Spoon Market: In their market, you can find a wide variety of ingredients and produce, including bakery items, desserts, drinks and smoothies, breakfast options, fresh fruits and vegetables, a well-stocked pantry with spices and dry ingredients, and snacks. With such a comprehensive range, grocery stores may become a thing of the past

Delivery features

Marley Spoon's delivery service is designed to make the cooking experience as convenient as possible. Here are some key features:

• Delivery customization: Customers can select their preferred delivery day and time to suit their schedules, with packages delivered right to their doorsteps. Additionally, they can conveniently track their shipments via the company’s online portal and mobile app
• Refrigeration technology: Marley Spoon uses fully sustainable, innovative packaging, ice packs, and refrigeration technology to ensure that ingredients stay fresh during transit

Other features

The company offers a few features that set it apart from other meal kit delivery services. Here are a few noteworthy offerings:

• Taste-Profile algorithm: With over 100 weekly recipe choices, navigating Marley Spoon’s vast selection can seem daunting. Fortunately, the company has addressed this by implementing a machine-learning system that suggests recipes to customers based on their previous selections. This smart feature simplifies the process, making it easier to explore the extensive array of recipes available at your fingertips
• Detailed nutritional information: For each recipe listed on their website, you can quickly identify dietary aspects such as “no added gluten,” “kid-friendly,” “nutritious,” “dairy-free,” “low calorie,” and whether it is a meat-based or vegetarian dish. They also provide you with nutrition per serving regarding calories, fat, proteins, and carbs. Additionally, for those with severe allergies, the website provides specific information about allergens
• International availability: In addition to their availability throughout the contiguous United States, Marley Spoon operates in multiple countries, ensuring that customers around the world can enjoy gourmet home cooking
• Customizable plans: Customers can personalize their subscription plans based on their dietary preferences, family size, and desired number of meals per week
• Sustainable and supply chain values: Marley Spoon focuses on maintaining high standards in food safety and supply chain transparency, ensuring that all ingredients are sourced responsibly and packaged with care
• Friend referrals: While Marley Spoon does not currently offer gift cards, they do implement a system where you can send a referral to a friend or family member, who will receive a free box and discounts on the following three orders

Marley Spoon Pricing & Plans

Marley Spoon currently offers two subscription plan options. With both plans, customers can choose between two and six meals per week.

• 2-person plan: This plan provides meals for two people and comes with a starting cost of $63.95 per week
• 4-person plan: With this plan, you can get enough meals for a small household, with a starting price of $95.91 per week

All subscription plans include a shipping fee of $11.99. Additionally, the menu is available for viewing three weeks in advance, enabling customers to plan their meals ahead of time.

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Marley Spoon Pros

Marley Spoon offers quite a few mouth-watering benefits, including the below list:

• Carbon neutral service: This company optimizes their delivery routes to minimize road time, enhancing efficiency and reducing emissions. Additionally, by maintaining just one fulfillment center per market, they significantly reduce their impact on land pollution
• Eco-friendly packaging: They offer their customers environmentally friendly packaging that is ethically sourced and completely recyclable, aligning with sustainable practices
• Quality Ingredients: This company emphasizes the use of fresh, seasonal ingredients, aiming to deliver restaurant-quality meals. This focus on quality ingredients helps enhance the flavor and nutritional value of the meals
• Gourmet, chef-formulated recipes: Marley Spoon features gourmet, chef-developed recipes that elevate everyday dining to a culinary adventure. These meticulously crafted meals bring the expertise and creativity of professional chefs, including, of course, Martha Stewart, right into your kitchen, allowing you to enjoy restaurant-quality dishes at home
• Mobile app: In addition to their website portal, they also provide their customers with a convenient app, for both iOS and Android, to further simplify the process of ordering, tracking, and taking care of your meal kit needs
• Wide array of menu options: Marley Spoon features a diverse array of over 100 weekly recipes inspired by global cuisines and developed in collaboration with Martha Stewart. This variety ensures that there are plenty of options to suit different tastes and dietary preferences
• AI-powered algorithm: Having over 100 recipe options to choose from each week can be overwhelming, which is why the company has integrated a machine-learning algorithm that makes recommendations to you based on your previous ordering choices
• Trusted customer program: Marley Spoon has a “trusted payments” program aimed at giving customers a second chance to resolve payment failures without immediate account suspension or adverse action
• Introductory offer and discounts: The company is currently offering an introductory discount of 56.4% off for your first week, followed by an additional 20% off your next three weeks

Marley Spoon Cons

While the company offers quite a few advantages, there are also some disadvantages that potential customers should keep in mind. These include:

• Can be more expensive than other options: Marley Spoon is generally more expensive than some other meal kit services. This higher cost can be a barrier for those looking to enjoy home-cooked meals without a significant investment
• Limited options for dietary restrictions and needs: While Marley Spoon offers a range of meal types, it may not sufficiently cater to all special diets every week, such as vegan or keto, potentially limiting options for those on strict diets. In addition to this, while they do label their products as gluten-free, nut-free, and dairy-free when relevant, they also state in their FAQs that there may be cross-contamination in their production facilities, something those with severe allergies will need to consider
• Many of the recipes may not be ideal for beginners: As a gourmet meal kit service, the company’s recipe kits might be too complex for beginners or those seeking simpler cooking options

Marley Spoon Customer Reviews

Marley Spoon has garnered a range of review scores across several customer review platforms, indicating diverse customer experiences. On Trustpilot, the company holds a solid 3.9 out of 5 stars, while Google Reviews shows a slightly higher rating of 4.2 stars. Sitejabber users have given Marley Spoon a 1.5-star rating. They also receive a 4 out of 5 on Capterra. Notably, Marley Spoon is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and currently holds an F rating, with a review score of 1.1 out of 5 stars.

Ease of preparation and taste

Customers generally praise Marley Spoon for the simplicity of meal preparation and the quality of ingredients. Positive reviews highlight the delicious outcomes of the recipes and appreciate the clear, easy-to-follow instructions provided. The culinary variety and Martha Stewart’s influence are frequently mentioned as enhancing the home cooking experience, bringing a touch of gourmet to everyday meals. However, some negative reviews point out that certain recipes can be time-consuming and complex, which might not be ideal for those looking for quick meal solutions.

Packaging and environmental friendliness

Marley Spoon receives mixed feedback regarding their packaging. On the positive side, some customers are satisfied with the company’s use of eco-friendly materials and appreciate the recyclable nature of the packaging. The company’s commitment to sustainability through optimized delivery routes and reduced food waste is positively noted. However, other customers express concerns about the amount of packaging used, which they feel is excessive. Some also mention that while the packaging is recyclable, it still contributes significantly to waste.

Delivery services

Positive feedback often mentions timely deliveries and well-packaged ingredients that arrive fresh. Many customers are pleased with the consistency and dependability of the delivery service. On the flip side, some have experienced delays and issues with the condition of the food upon arrival, such as damaged or spoiled ingredients. These mixed experiences suggest that while the logistical operations generally meet expectations, inconsistencies still affect overall satisfaction.

Customer service and overall satisfaction

Customer service appears to be an area of concern for Marley Spoon, as reflected in their BBB rating. Positive reviews appreciate the quality and variety of the meal kits and the convenience they bring to meal planning. However, negative reviews frequently mention difficulties in resolving customer service issues, including subscription management and responsiveness challenges. Some customers report frustration with the lack of prompt and effective resolutions to their problems, impacting their overall satisfaction with the service.

Generally, the Marley Spoon team is responsive to customer complaints and reviews. They attempt to clarify situations and provide follow-ups to resolve them, indicating a willingness to rectify problems.

Customer Support

Customers can reach the support team via email at [email protected] for more detailed inquiries. Phone support is also available at 1-866-228-4513, providing a direct line for urgent issues. Their customer support is available weekdays from 9 AM to 10 PM, and Saturdays from 9 AM to 9 PM.

You can access their FAQs directly by visiting the Marley Spoon Help Center, to answer any questions you might have. They also have a comprehensive blog, where you can learn more about their various dishes and cooking techniques.

Final Thoughts

Marley Spoon offers a unique and convenient solution for those who want to enjoy gourmet home cooking without the hassle of grocery shopping and meal planning. With the expertise of Martha Stewart, the company brings a touch of elegance and culinary excellence to every meal. The pre-portioned and pre-cut ingredients, along with the easy-to-follow recipes, make cooking at home a breeze.

Yet for beginner cooks or those wanting simplicity, Marley Spoons recipes may be more complex, and take more time than desired. Their product can also be more expensive than other providers on the market. While mainly positive, customer feedback points out some issues with customer service responsiveness. Yet the quality of ingredients, convenience, and delicious results could make it a worthwhile investment for those who value gourmet dining experiences and enjoy a little complexity in their meal prep. Overall, Marley Spoon's commitment to delivering gourmet home cooking, excellent customer service, and sustainable practices make it a top choice for individuals and families who want to enjoy delicious meals in the comfort of their own homes.

If you’re exploring other meal kit options, check out our review page, which features a curated list of top providers that might meet your needs. For detailed comparisons, use our comparison tool to view their offerings side by side. Additionally, our blog offers valuable insights into the meal kit industry. We hope to help you find the perfect meal kit to enhance your culinary experiences.

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