Food subscription boxes are a great way to receive snacks, healthy options, meals, and groceries right to your door. But how do the boxes work? Surely they can’t ship any type of food, especially if it’s perishable. Here, we’ll talk about how the majority of food-based subscription boxes in Canada work.
Availability
First, we need to talk about availability. There are a lot of great meal preparation boxes on the market, as well as boxes that send fresh produce or meats. However, these may not be available in Canada. Unless the boxes originate within Canada, it’s difficult or impossible to import raw meats, fruits, or vegetables from other countries.
While there are some safeguards in place that allow for food deliveries, most aren’t going to be able to ship to Canada. This is especially true for meat subscription boxes. Still, big retailers like Hello Fresh and other meal prep services do work within Canada without importing the foods they use.
Non-Perishable Subscription Boxes
Most of the food subscription boxes you will find use non-perishable food items. Snacks, candy, and other shelf-safe foods in small quantities will be fine to ship to Canada without fear of additional fees. These boxes are packaged fresh and sent out quickly, so even an extended delivery period shouldn’t result in spoiled food.
Perishable Subscription Boxes
Food boxes that contain perishable goods are a little more complicated. Those shipped within Canada will usually use a cooler or cooling container packed with dry ice to keep the meat from spoiling in transit. Quick delivery is paramount to a good experience with these boxes.