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Home Chef is a Chicago-based meal kit delivery company[2] that provides pre-portioned ingredients and recipe cards for home cooking[3]. The company operates a subscription-based meal delivery service and also sells meal solutions through retail locations in the Kroger family of stores[4].

Founded in 2013, Home Chef was acquired by Kroger in 2018 and operates as a wholly owned subsidiary. In 2021, Home Chef reported more than $1 billion in annual sales[5].

Home Chef offers multiple meal formats, including traditional meal kits, oven-ready meals, fast-prep recipes, family-sized meal kits, and ready-to-heat meals. The company also offers customization options, add-ons, and menu plans tailored to dietary preferences and household size[6].

Overview

Home Chef is a meal delivery service that provides a box of pre-portioned fresh ingredients directly to consumers that are ready to cook. The company delivers to customers in the 48 contiguous United States and operates distribution facilities in Chicago, Atlanta (Lithia Springs, Georgia[7]), Los Angeles (San Bernardino, California), and Baltimore[8]. Home Chef employs more than 1,500 people.

Each meal kit comes with recyclable packaging, pre-portioned ingredients, and meal instructions. The rotating menu includes 35+ recipes to choose from[9], and the company also provides add-ons (“Extras”) like snacks, lunches, breakfast, beverages, sides, and more[10].

History

Home Chef was founded in June 2013 by Patrick “Pat” Vihtelic[11].

In September 2016, the company raised $40 million in funding from L Catterton, a consumer-focused private equity fund[12].

In May 2018, Kroger announced plans to acquire Home Chef for $200 million upfront, with up to $500 million in additional performance-based earn-outs. The acquisition closed in June 2018, and Home Chef became a wholly owned subsidiary of Kroger[13]. Following the acquisition, Home Chef meal kits began rolling out in select Kroger stores nationwide[14].

In February 2019, Home Chef introduced Customize It, a feature allowing customers to swap or upgrade proteins and ingredients within select recipes[15].

In 2023, Home Chef launched Home Chef’s Family Menu[16], a meal kit plan designed specifically for families, offering larger serving sizes.

In October 2023, Home Chef introduced Tempo, a ready-to-heat meal delivery service offering single-serve microwavable meals[17].

Products

Home Chef’s primary offering is a weekly subscription meal kit delivery service. Customers select recipes online or through the mobile app and receive a delivery containing pre-portioned ingredients and step-by-step recipe instructions.

The service features a rotating weekly menu of 36 or more recipes[18]. Customers can choose serving sizes, customize ingredients, and select add-ons. The subscription is flexible, allowing customers to skip weeks, pause, or cancel at any time[19].

Home Chef offers multiple meal kit formats, including:

  • Classic meal kits
  • Culinary Collection
  • Oven-Ready
  • Express
  • Heat & Eat

Home Chef offers add-on items through its Extras section, including:

  • Breakfast items
  • Desserts
  • Snacks
  • Salads
  • Pizzas
  • Bread
  • Soups
  • Beverages
  • Grab-and-go
  • Protein packs

Home Chef offers recipes designed for a range of dietary preferences[20], including:

  • Carb-conscious meals
  • Calorie-conscious meals
  • Protein-packed meals
  • GLP-1 Support meals
  • Gluten-smart meals

Home Chef’s Family Menu offers a dedicated plan for families. Customers can select from 2, 4, and 6-serving recipe options[21].

Home Chef’s Family Menu has meal categories including[22]:

  • Classic
  • Oven-Ready
  • Express
  • Sheet Pan
  • Chopped & Ready

Sustainability

Home Chef emphasizes sustainable packaging and food waste reduction[23].

The company’s shipping boxes and dividers are made from partially recycled cardboard and are curbside recyclable. Meal bags (#5 plastic) and ingredient bags (#4 plastic) can be recycled at participating plastic bag recycling locations. Recipe cards are designed for reuse and are also curbside recyclable[24].

Home Chef partners with local nonprofit organizations near its distribution facilities to reduce food waste and support food security initiatives[25].

Partnerships and collaborations

Home Chef has partnered with celebrity chefs, media brands, and influencers to create limited-time menus and promotions.

Notable partnerships include:

  • Rachael Ray (2022)[26]
  • Dolly Parton (2024)[27]
  • Gordon Ramsay (2025)[28]
  • Giada De Laurentiis (2026) [29]

Awards and recognition

Home Chef and Home Chef’s Family Menu have received recognition in the industry.

  • Home Chef named Best Overall Meal Kit Service by NBC Select[30]
  • Home Chef’s Family Menu named Parent-Tested, Parent-Approved winner by Parent Tested Parent Approved[31]
  • Home Chef was named Best Meal Service for Families by CNN Underscored[32]

References

  1. ^ Ori, Ryan (February 2, 2017). “Home Chef moving HQ to Wrigley Building”. Crain’s Chicago Business. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  2. ^ “Home Chef, 84.51° to move into Old Post Office”. ABC7 Chicago. May 6, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  3. ^ Chen, Connie. “I tried 3 weeks of recipes from Home Chef and found them to be convenient, fresh, and delicious”. Business Insider. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  4. ^ “Kroger buys meal kit maker Home Chef for $200M | Grocery Dive”. www.grocerydive.com. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  5. ^ Linnane, Ciara (October 25, 2021). “Kroger says Home Chef meal kit and ready-to-eat business has passed $1 billion in annual sales”. MarketWatch. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  6. ^ “Curious about meal kits? Here’s everything you need to know”. www.ace.aaa.com. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  7. ^ “Home Chef opens new production facility as it eyes continued growth | Grocery Dive”. www.grocerydive.com. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  8. ^ Reed, Kai (July 10, 2023). Home Chef opens distribution center in Baltimore. Retrieved April 15, 2026 – via www.wbaltv.com.
  9. ^ “I’ve tested dozens of meal kits — here’s why Home Chef stands out”. The Independent. April 2, 2026. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  10. ^ “What are Add-Ons and Opt-Ins?”. Home Chef. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  11. ^ “From front door to grocery stores, how Home Chef grew out of its humble origins | Built In Chicago”. Built In. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  12. ^ Ha, Anthony (September 29, 2016). “Meal kit service Home Chef raises $40M”. TechCrunch. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  13. ^ “Kroger acquiring Home Chef as it expands into meal delivery space”. CNBC. June 1, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  14. ^ Watson, Elaine (June 30, 2018). “Home Chef gears up for Kroger meal kit launch: ‘We’ve been solving the dinner next week problem, but not the dinner tonight problem’“. FoodNavigator-USA.com. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  15. ^ “Kroger and Home Chef Expand Nationwide Retail Rollout and Launch Customizable Meal Kit Feature for Online Orders”. ir.kroger.com. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  16. ^ Chef, Home. “Home Chef Launches Convenient Meal Kit Plan Made Just for Families”. www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  17. ^ Lieu, Kat (October 5, 2023). “Home Chef Debuts Tempo, Lineup Of New Microwavable Meals”. Tasting Table. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  18. ^ “Meals for the Week of April 19”. Home Chef. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  19. ^ “How do I cancel my subscription?”. Home Chef. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  20. ^ Snyder, Christina. “Best Meal Delivery Services for Weight Loss (2026)”. Fortune. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  21. ^ Perling, Anna. “Home Chef Review 2026 – Forbes Vetted”. Forbes. Archived from the original on March 20, 2026. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  22. ^ “Meals for the Week of April 19”. Home Chef. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  23. ^ “Kroger’s Home Chef launches food waste program | Grocery Dive”. www.grocerydive.com. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  24. ^ “How to Recycle Home Chef Packaging”. cook.homechef.com. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  25. ^ “Reducing Food Waste with Home Chef”. cook.homechef.com. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  26. ^ “Home Chef partners with Rachel Ray for a yummy collaboration”. October 21, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  27. ^ Johnston, Rylee (October 14, 2024). “Dolly Parton & Her Sister Bring Family Recipes Straight to Your Home With Limited Meal Kits”. Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  28. ^ Bria, Olivia. “Gordon Ramsay’s Home Chef Partnership Is ‘Exciting’ (Exclusive)”. Parade. Archived from the original on September 15, 2025. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  29. ^ “Home Chef’s new collab with Giada de Laurentiis is here to make dinner less boring”. NBC News. March 19, 2026. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  30. ^ “We tested more than a dozen meal delivery services — these are the ones we recommend”. NBC News. February 10, 2026. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  31. ^ Approved, Parent Tested Parent. “Home Chef Family Menu”. PTPA | Parent Tested Parent Approved. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  32. ^ Dennis, Rachel (February 3, 2026). “The best meal delivery services to try in 2026, according to dietitians and editors”. CNN.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

Further reading

  1. ^ “I’ve tested dozens of meal kits — here’s why Home Chef stands out”. The Independent. April 2, 2026. Retrieved April 15, 2026.