Blue Apron Plummets After Amazon Files for Meal-Kit Trademark • Hacker News Board

Re: Blue Apron Plummets After Amazon Files for Meal-Kit Trademark

#21

Post by calafrax » Mon, Jul 17, 2017, 4:37 PM UTC

notyourday wrote: post #13

As I have said before with Amazon eating Whole Foods meal kit companies that are not currently ramen profitable are toast. Ramen profitable companies would have to learn how to grow out of their cash flow. No sane investor would be pumping money into them until they know what and how Amazon would be looking at this market. I think over next few years we would see a total implosion of meal-kit industry with the except…

> I think over next few years we would see a total implosion of meal-kit industry

I don't think so. Meal kits are a niche business fighting against mass market competitors already so nothing changes with the Amazon entry.

If anything having an established player like amazon advertising meal kits increases market awareness and gets people interested.

No one is going to have a monopoly of the food business, ever. It just doesn't work that way.

Re: Blue Apron Plummets After Amazon Files for Meal-Kit Trademark

#22

Post by butterfi » Mon, Jul 17, 2017, 4:39 PM UTC

monocasa wrote: post #6

butterfi wrote: post #5

This seems unsavory to me (pun intended). Would the trademark take away Blue Apron's ability to operate?

It signals Amazon's entry into the market.

But no actual impact to Blue Apron, other then a 500lb gorilla wanting your lunch?

Re: Blue Apron Plummets After Amazon Files for Meal-Kit Trademark

#23

Post by jbob2000 » Mon, Jul 17, 2017, 4:40 PM UTC

jimmaswell wrote: post #17

jbob2000 wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Probably for the same reason I don't shop for groceries at Walmart. Both brand images are associated with cheap crap. I don't want to eat cheap crap.

Since when does Amazon have an association like that?

Since their site was full of knock-offs and half of it ships from China? Every time I shop on Amazon, I have to cross-reference with like 8 different sites to make sure I'm ordering the right thing and that the price is fair.

Re: Blue Apron Plummets After Amazon Files for Meal-Kit Trademark

#24

Post by calafrax » Mon, Jul 17, 2017, 4:40 PM UTC

pera wrote: post #19

Please Amazon, do something different about the huge amount of material waste generated by companies like Blue Apron and Hello Fresh. This is the main reason why I stopped using these services, the footprint is just disgusting: plastic bags inside aluminum+plastic bags inside cardboard boxes with more plastic. Please, invent some form of reusable container that can be easily stored and delivered back so we can stop t…

The packaging waste with some meal kits is a negative but they also eliminate a lot of food waste which is a positive.

The traditional food distribution system is massively wasteful but all of that waste is hidden so it is easier to ignore.

Re: Blue Apron Plummets After Amazon Files for Meal-Kit Trademark

#25

Post by chaostheory » Mon, Jul 17, 2017, 4:41 PM UTC

pera wrote: post #19

Please Amazon, do something different about the huge amount of material waste generated by companies like Blue Apron and Hello Fresh. This is the main reason why I stopped using these services, the footprint is just disgusting: plastic bags inside aluminum+plastic bags inside cardboard boxes with more plastic. Please, invent some form of reusable container that can be easily stored and delivered back so we can stop t…

Amazon needs to do this with their regular shipments as well. They contain a lot of plastic insulation (air bags). Instead of throwing mine away, I've been saving it until it fills up a closet then I give it to a local UPS store to reuse. My closet fills up in about a month. It would be nice if Amazon had a formal program for this since you can't recycle them with your garbage company.

Re: Blue Apron Plummets After Amazon Files for Meal-Kit Trademark

#26

Post by bearton » Mon, Jul 17, 2017, 4:41 PM UTC

I've tried a few meal kit companies (blue apron and hello fresh) and I was underwhelmed by the product and the service.

Whole Foods ingredients + Amazon delivery = game over for most of these meal kit companies.

They would be able to provide users added levels of customization and probably same day or next day delivery whereas with most meal kit companies, you have to lock in your menu for the week the prior week, which is inconvenient if plans change.

Ultimately, I'm excited about this move as I shop at whole foods regularly and look forward to the ease of delivery that Amazon provides.

I wonder where Amazon will target next; they've already targeted grocery and meal kit delivery and revealed plans to compete with Zillow and Redfin this week in real estate. Which industry is next?

Re: Blue Apron Plummets After Amazon Files for Meal-Kit Trademark

#27

Post by erik-g » Mon, Jul 17, 2017, 4:42 PM UTC

calafrax wrote: post #24

pera wrote: post #19

Please Amazon, do something different about the huge amount of material waste generated by companies like Blue Apron and Hello Fresh. This is the main reason why I stopped using these services, the footprint is just disgusting: plastic bags inside aluminum+plastic bags inside cardboard boxes with more plastic. Please, invent some form of reusable container that can be easily stored and delivered back so we can stop t…

The packaging waste with some meal kits is a negative but they also eliminate a lot of food waste which is a positive. The traditional food distribution system is massively wasteful but all of that waste is hidden so it is easier to ignore.

How does meal-kit distribution eliminate a lot of food waste?

Re: Blue Apron Plummets After Amazon Files for Meal-Kit Trademark

#28

Post by Qworg » Mon, Jul 17, 2017, 4:43 PM UTC

pera wrote: post #19

Please Amazon, do something different about the huge amount of material waste generated by companies like Blue Apron and Hello Fresh. This is the main reason why I stopped using these services, the footprint is just disgusting: plastic bags inside aluminum+plastic bags inside cardboard boxes with more plastic. Please, invent some form of reusable container that can be easily stored and delivered back so we can stop t…

While not perfect, Sun Basket does much better than most - a large portion is recyclable/compostable.

Re: Blue Apron Plummets After Amazon Files for Meal-Kit Trademark

#29

Post by pavel_lishin » Mon, Jul 17, 2017, 4:44 PM UTC

calafrax wrote: post #24

pera wrote: post #19

Please Amazon, do something different about the huge amount of material waste generated by companies like Blue Apron and Hello Fresh. This is the main reason why I stopped using these services, the footprint is just disgusting: plastic bags inside aluminum+plastic bags inside cardboard boxes with more plastic. Please, invent some form of reusable container that can be easily stored and delivered back so we can stop t…

The packaging waste with some meal kits is a negative but they also eliminate a lot of food waste which is a positive. The traditional food distribution system is massively wasteful but all of that waste is hidden so it is easier to ignore.

> The packaging waste with some meal kits is a negative but they also eliminate a lot of food waste which is a positive.

That's really hard to estimate; did Blue Apron (etc) users previously buy a lot of groceries, cook some of them, then throw the rest of the food away as it rotted? Or did they simply cook less, and rely more on delivery, restaurants, or putting more work into planning their meals?

Re: Blue Apron Plummets After Amazon Files for Meal-Kit Trademark

#30

Post by notyourwork » Mon, Jul 17, 2017, 4:44 PM UTC

erik-g wrote: post #27

calafrax wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The packaging waste with some meal kits is a negative but they also eliminate a lot of food waste which is a positive. The traditional food distribution system is massively wasteful but all of that waste is hidden so it is easier to ignore.

How does meal-kit distribution eliminate a lot of food waste?

Because the ingredients provided are the exact amounts needed for a meal. If I was making the same meal doing my own shopping I will probably purchase slightly more than I need of some perishable ingredients. These will in a lot of kitchens end up as waste and not used in other meals.