Amazon meal kits are already being listed
Amazon meal kits are already being listed, Amazon's trademarking the slogan "We do the prep. You be the chef" made news on Monday, but the company's meal kits are already up on its website
A search of Amazon Fresh, the company's $14.99 per month grocery delivery service for Prime members, revealed one flavor already selling -- Steak au Poivre with Parmesan Fries & Snap Peas. The two-person meal kit, which comes in a thin brown cardboard box is described in the "about the product" section as "Easy-to-follow, chef-designed recipe, Includes perfectly portioned fresh ingredients, Quick to cook—from box to table in about 30 minutes."
Amazon pulled the listing as of late Tuesday morning. The company did not immediately respond when asked why the meal kits were pulled or when they would return.
At one time, 17 different meal kits were listed on the site, such as Roast Chicken with Tarragon-Mushroom Sauce; Tacos al Pastor with Pork; Veggie Burger with Harissa Aioli & Smoked Eggplant; Wagyu Beef Burger with Bacon Jam & Sweet Potato Fries, according to GeekWire, who first reported the news.
The website interviewed Josh Chadd, 34, of Seattle, who tried the $18.99 meat dish. Vegetarian options were also available for $15.99.
Meal kits are a $2.2 billion industry, which is expected to grow 25-30% in the next five years, according to the Chicago-based food industry consulting firm Pentallect.
Amazon's entrance into the market sent shockwaves through the industry Monday, with shares of market leader Blue Apron tumbling roughly 11% on the news. The company, which only went public on June 29, saw its stock fall additional 3%, to $6.39, in midday trading Tuesday.
A perusal of meals kits for sale on Amazon found numerous offerings from Chef'd and Martha Stewart's Martha & Marley Spoon.
Amazon made an offer to buy Whole Foods Market for $13.7 billion, though there have been some rumblings about possible antitrust issues if the deal goes through.
The Seattle-based company filed paperwork to trademark a meal kits tag line with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on July 6.
