From Plant to Plate: Purple Carrot’s Vegan Meal Kit Experience

Company at a Glance

When Purple Carrot opened in 2014, they were the first to offer 100% plant-based meals, catering to what they termed the "New American Diet." They were acquired in 2019 by Tokyo-based meal kit and organic food delivery service Oisix ra daichi Inc., which operates in both the US and Japan. They offer a rotating weekly menu with several meal plans, which are well-suited to small households and individuals aiming to simplify their cooking and grocery shopping processes while helping you incorporate more plants into your diet.

Purple Carrot meals also aim to bring the health and environmental benefits of vegan diets to more households. Their dishes are clinically shown to lower LDL cholesterol and help with weight loss. In general, eating more plant-based meals can potentially reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure while also offsetting your carbon footprint. Many of their ingredients are USDA organic and non-GMO sourced, and they also work to reduce food insecurity by supporting The FarmLink Project, which gives their food surplus to communities in need in the US. 

They have quite a bit of good press and recognition, including the Blue Ribbon Award from PETA for deciding to no longer source coconut milk from Thailand because of their documented abuse of monkeys in coconut picking. However, they do not have the accreditation of the Better Business Bureau.

Purple Carrot's Offerings

The company's mission is to help you live a more plant-based and low-impact lifestyle for your health and the earth. They state that they are not anti-animal but pro-plant, and with more than 20,000 edible plants on earth, they want to bring you all the flavors these plants can offer. 

Menu options

The company offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, prepared and frozen meals, and a "plantry" full of delicious snacks, vegan cheeses, and pantry items you might want to have around. Their recipe cards include complete ingredient lists and are available on their website. They also provide nutritional details like calories, fat, carbohydrates, and protein. In addition, they have clear symbols for things like gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free, low sodium, and high-protein. Their food kits provide you with everything you need except for a few essential ingredients you should have on hand, including salt, pepper, and olive oil.

Varied offerings: They offer a rotating weekly menu of dinner recipes for two or four people. For your first meal of the day, you can choose from a much smaller repertoire of items, and the same goes for lunch options, giving you much to choose from.

Chef's Choice: This option allows you to order meals that their culinary team loves. It helps you navigate all the options and get straight to some of the company's best offerings.

"Plantry" options: Purple Carrot also offers their customers items from their "plantry." These include chocolate-glazed donuts, strawberry basil fromage, black bean burgers, kombucha, and gluten-free mac and cheese.

Time-saving options: These include meal kits that require less prep time in addition to prepared and frozen meals.

Specialty meals: They provide options for specific needs, including high-protein, gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free, low-sodium, high-fiber, and heart-healthy.

Quality of ingredients: The company uses primarily organic and GMO free ingredients. Their meals also include plenty of vegetables and grains, offering a balanced dining experience.

Delivery features

Real-time delivery tracking: Purple Carrot enhances customer convenience by offering delivery tracking through the ShipUp app. This feature lets customers easily monitor their orders and directly communicate any delays or issues. The service is entirely free and included with a Purple Carrot subscription.

Nationwide delivery: They provide their services to all 48 contiguous US states and offer convenient delivery right to your doorstep.

Other features

Sustainability: Not only do vegan meals create less CO2 emissions, but this company goes further by using packaging made of recycled materials, which is also recyclable.

Flexible subscriptions: Their website makes it easy to make and track your orders and also change, skip, pause, or cancel your subscription at any time. Just be sure to do so a week before your next delivery.

Mobile app for iOS: They offer a mobile app for iOS only, where you can sign up, manage your subscription, and track your orders. 

Gift cards: Purple Carrot offers the option of gifting their meal kit services to others. These customizable gift options can include meal kits, prepared meals, and even "plantry" items.

Purple Carrot Plans & Pricing

Purple Carrot offers three plans that are compatible with a variety of lifestyles and needs. It is easy to cancel or pause your meals, change your plan, throw in breakfast and lunch for a busy week, and add extras and sides.

2-Serving plan: This plan is perfect for couples or singles seeking to incorporate more plant-based meals into their diet. With all their plans, you can choose between having three or four meals sent per week. These meals are priced at $13.25 per serving.

4-Serving plan: This is an excellent option for small households that want to incorporate easy-to-prepare vegan meals into their diets. This plan is $11 per serving. You can choose between a minimum of three and up to four meals per week.

1-Serving Prepared Meal plan: This is perfect for individuals seeking a quick and easy fix. Each meal costs $13.

For new customers, the company offers free shipping for the first week of deliveries; after this, orders below $100 will incur a shipping fee of $10. First-time subscribers can currently get a $100 discount upon signing up.

Advantages

Several perks are associated with making Purple Carrot your meal kit source.

Eat more plants: This company offers many recipes that help you eat more veggies, whole grains, legumes, and a variety of other plant ingredients that are great for your health. They offer a great way to integrate vegan meals into your life, using fresh ingredients.

An easy way to learn plant-based cooking: With their many flavorful offerings and clear-to-understand meal instructions, you can easily create delicious vegan meals at home.

Innovative takes on classic dishes: They offer vegan twists on a variety of classic and global dishes. From sesame gnocchi to peanut BBQ cauliflower, to turmeric toasted couscous, to lemon pepper tofu, you can be sure to find a flavor you love in their menu items.

Meal kits are available for all meals of the day: Purple Carrot's main offerings are for dinner time, yet you can also find easy-to-prepare meals for breakfast and lunch for weeks when you need them.

Prepared and frozen meals: For times when you just want quick meals, you can order from their prepared and frozen menu.

Eco-friendly packaging: Plant-based meals do good for the environment, but this company also works to ensure their packaging creates less carbon.

User-friendly ordering process: Their website aims to be user-friendly, offering all the options you need in one place.

Mobile app for iOS for added accessibility: iOS users can download their mobile app to order, track, and modify their subscription at their convenience.

Refer & Earn: They offer their customers the option to refer new customers who will receive $50 off their first package and a $25 credit for those who share.

Disadvantages

While they offer many advantages, there are also a few drawbacks. These include:

Only offer vegan meals: Someone wanting to eat a more varied diet would have to supplement the recipes or find a company that provides more options.

Limited allergy options: While they provide gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free, low-sodium, and heart-healthy options, the choices are limited. Additionally, their ingredients are processed in facilities that handle wheat, nuts, gluten, and nut products, and therefore, won't be appropriate for people with severe allergies to these products.

Not all ingredients are organic: While they source many of their pantry items from high-quality suppliers, not all of their ingredients currently meet the same standards. If you specifically want fully organic and GMO-free items, you may need to consider other options.

Packaging waste: While their delivery packaging is recycled and recyclable, it still generates waste and requires effort to recycle and reuse the materials.

More involved prep work: Their meals may be a little more involved than those of other companies. This can mean longer cooking times and using several kitchen utensils, including a blender/food processor.

Customer Experience

Purple Carrot receives mixed reviews online, including a decent 3.6 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot out of over 800 reviews, a 1.22 out of 5 with an A+ rating on the BBB with no accreditation, a 2.4 out of 5 on Yelp, and a 3.3 out of 5 rating on Google. Their mobile app obtains a 4.9 out of 5 rating on the App Store. Some customers have praised the delicious meals and easy recipes, while others have expressed frustration with the meal difficulty and customer service issues. 

Ease of preparation and taste

Customers generally find Purple Carrot meals delicious and easy to prepare, taking about 30 minutes to an hour. Clear instructions and pre-portioned ingredients make cooking enjoyable for many users. Reviews also praise their nutritious and flavorful meals inspired by global cuisines.

However, some users find the meal options limited for specific dietary needs. Others feel that while creative, the recipes can be complex and time-consuming, requiring specialized kitchen equipment. Some users also found ingredient organization and instruction clarity to be an issue, and the plant-based protein textures sometimes don’t meet expectations, especially for non-vegans, leading to dissatisfaction for some.

Packaging and environmental friendliness

Many praise the company's recyclable packaging, which uses environmentally friendly materials like cardboard and insulating liners. Customers also appreciate the clear recycling instructions.

However, some criticize the amount of plastic used, expressing concerns about its environmental impact. The practicality of recycling also varies based on local capabilities, leading to frustration for users who cannot find suitable recycling facilities for all materials.

Delivery services

Users often commend Purple Carrot for reliable delivery, appreciating timely arrivals and well-insulated packaging to ensure freshness. They also praise the flexibility in scheduling deliveries, making it easy to fit into daily routines.

However, some report inconsistent deliveries, with boxes arriving late or, in rare cases, not at all. Additionally, there are complaints about package conditions, with some finding insufficient ice packs or insulation resulting in thawed or warm ingredients, raising concerns about product quality and freshness.

Customer service and overall satisfaction

Users praise Purple Carrot’s customer service for being helpful and responsive, and they enjoy high-quality, flavorful meals with diverse plant-based recipes—however, some report slow responses and difficulties in resolving issues, causing frustration. Concerns also include the high cost and excessive packaging, which some find not eco-friendly. Delivery inconsistencies and customer service challenges also impact the overall satisfaction of some of their customers.

It's important to note that even though their reviews are a bit mixed, Purple Carrot typically responds to online reviews by addressing specific concerns and offering solutions. They often thank customers for their feedback and apologize for any inconvenience experienced. For delivery or customer service issues, they may suggest contacting their support team directly to resolve the matter. Their responses show a commitment to improving customer satisfaction and promptly addressing problems.

Customer Support

They have FAQs on their website to answer your questions about their services, subscriptions, deliveries, and signing up. You can email them at [email protected] or use the live chat option on their website. While you cannot reach them directly by phone, you can SMS them at 857-703-8188. They also provide a blog to learn more about plant-based diets and cooking.

Final Thoughts

Purple Carrot is an excellent choice for smaller households and individuals exploring vegan cooking and integrating more plant-based meals into their lives. It is also a great choice for vegans seeking a food kit company that caters entirely to their lifestyle. This company enhances convenience with their integrated ordering and delivery system. They facilitate healthy eating with clear recipe cards and fresh ingredients, ensuring you can prepare nutritious, vegan meals, even during your busiest days.

However, they can be more expensive than other options, and some customers have complained about the complexity of making their meals, in addition to issues with delivery and customer service. They also might not be a fit for larger households, and their meals may not be child-friendly either. Nonetheless, weighing the cons against the pros is essential to see if this company suits your needs.

If you're still shopping around and want to compare this company's offerings against those of others, be sure to visit our review pages to learn more about what various meal kit businesses can offer you. You can also get a clear idea of the pros and cons by pitting companies against each other using our comparison tool. We also always recommend staying updated with our blog for the latest trends and innovations in the meal kit market. We hope to help you find the right company that satisfies your appetite and schedule.