Verdict Food Service

Daily Newsletter

11 August 2023

Daily Newsletter

Clean Eatz partners with US Department of Defense for meal kits delivery

The meal prep franchise delivered its first-ever international meal shipment to Iwakuni, Japan.

US-based meal prep franchise Clean Eatz Kitchen has partnered with the US Department of Defense (US DoD) to supply meal kits to military bases.

Under the partnership, the meal prep franchise delivered its first international meal shipment to Iwakuni, Japan.

Clean Eatz Kitchen CEO Jason Nista said: “Our meal kit delivery service has gained significant traction amongst the American public over these last few years – with the pandemic having been a significant component in that.

“Having this vote of confidence from the US Government will certainly prove instrumental in maintaining that growth and expanding our boundaries as we continue moving forward.”

The company claimed that its meal kits are chef-inspired and nutritionist-approved.

With this partnership, Clean Eatz claims to have become part of a select few meal delivery concepts operating on a multinational level.

The company expects the partnership with the US DoD would serve as a platform for building trust and recognition in the global marketplace.

Clean Eatz co-founder Evonne Varady said: “2023 has been very touch-and-go for the meal delivery industry, with companies cutting staff, shrinking operations and some even closing up shop for good.

“It has been the continued development of the Clean Eatz concept and others like it that's fueling the long-term viability and adoption of the sectors convenience. This partnership is a shining example of where that development can take us.”

Established in 2011, Clean Eatz currently has 94 operational locations and 87 venues in the development phase.

It offers dine-in, catering, marketplace and weekly online meal plan selections.

Generative AI remains an untapped potential across the consumer industry

GlobalData estimates the total AI market will be worth $909 billion in 2030, growing at a CAGR of 35.2% between 2022 and 2030. The consumer goods, foodservice, and packaging sectors are undergoing digital transformation, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and changing consumer preferences. AI can help companies operating in these sectors by significantly reducing costs and production times. In Nestlé's 2022 full-year results, the company announced a renewed focus on digitalization to drive growth. Financial and reputational pressures associated with supply chain disruptions and sustainability concerns are also driving interest in the digitalization of supply chains. Data science and ML are strong investments across all areas. However, the sectors cannot stop at AI-powered data analytics applications. They must also explore computer vision (CV), smart robots, AI sensors that automate manufacturing and distribution logistics, and generative AI tools that increase efficiency across corporate departments and customer service operations and enable innovation in product design. For the most part, the consumer goods, foodservice, and packaging sectors will not play a significant role in creating and developing AI hardware or platforms. Instead, these sectors will help scale up the adoption of AI technologies, such as CV, conversational platforms, and smart robots. This adoption will be driven by the financial benefits and potential cost savings AI automation delivers across global supply chains.