To have thought that HelloFresh chicken would be free range?

[FungalLurkins]

I signed up for one week half price (and then immediately cancelled) on a whim just to see what it was like (proving MN in thread advertising is definitely effective and that I should always use an ad blocker)

Before choosing chicken for any of my meal options I googled as I never buy non-free range and found a statement on a HelloFresh website stating they only source free range so I thought "good" and carried on.

When box arrived chicken looked suspiciously cheap and no mention of free range on pack just suspect "Class A" so I Googled again and found out that I had stupidly looked at and seen the statement on the HF New Zealand website previously. No mention on UK site so I spoke to customer services and they confirmed that it is definitely not FR. I asked why and (bafflingly) they said it was because they have too many customers and it is impossible for them to source FR. It seems more likely to me that it is a cost rather than supply issue but either way, AIBU to think that this isn't really on for a company that markets itself as HF does or would others expect this? (And if you use/have used/ would consider using such a service, do you care?)

The space required for free range chickens means it’s pretty much impossible to produce enough to meet demand for poultry in the UK at a price that most consumers are willing to pay. The farmers who produce free range birds basically don’t have room for any more. The Co-op had to increase the stocking density a few years ago on their suppliers’ farms because they simply couldn’t produce enough birds at the lower density/higher welfare standard. Margins on meat are wafer thin for producers, and consumers have become used to it being a cheap option - once it hits a certain price point they just won’t buy it.

We’re an island. Where exactly is all this free range chicken supposed to be bred?

Anyway Hello Fresh’s target market isn’t the ‘eco ethical’ eaters. It’s for busy people who want to minimise food waste. But not those who have enough to buy high quality food for everything hence the price point.

Also to add really ethical etc meat is really expensive due to the above.
It’s certainly taken a lot of effort on my part - I buy whole birds and cut them up myself, plan for stews etc.
Don’t think full veggie is possible but I’ve started with eating less meat.

I would definitely think a move towards free range meat eating would go hand in hand with a move towards much less frequent meat eating. Once every a week or so, if that. End up spending the same but appreciating it more.

I would really expect there to a big intersection in the HelloFresh target market/wannabe ethical meat consumer Venn diagram.

OMG we did one of those trial/special offer things - some of the meat is absolutely rank. Never again!

But I say that as someone who rarely buys meat but when I do it’s usually organic/free range and always for chicken

I have chickens...you do know that not a single chicken is allowed to be free range at the moment...bird flu. My poor chickens been in lockdown for a couple of months now and can't see it ending. We play and take them inside the house but no chicken can be free range all the time sadly. Chickens are very bright with huge personalities.

@FungalLurkins

I would really expect there to a big intersection in the HelloFresh target market/wannabe ethical meat consumer Venn diagram.

Well there is, I’d really like to get mindful chef or similar scheme that does free range - but that’s about forty pounds a week more so clearly that intersectional point is aspirational rather than actual 🤣

Yes I agree re the meat being cheap. The quality of all their meat we tried was dreadful.
Also halal as I understand. The slaughtered on date instead of best be for pit me off

I had no idea about Happy Eggs, how awful. Not able to extend their wings or even rest their bodies

I've used them recently to try to broaden my repertoire of boring repetive meals and had also simply assumed their chicken would be free range. Feel a fool for not checking. Subscription cancelled. Thank you for making me think twice.

Yanbu. We thought the meat was very poor quality with hello fresh also. And the amount of packaging is outrageous.

Apparently it's organic not free range that you should go for in order to ensure best life for the chickens. I was looking to check which eggs I should buy. I then looked at the price of an organic chicken Vs free range and it was twice the price, over £15 and less weight. I do eat less meat than I used to, and buy organic eggs, but I can't afford £15 for a chicken, unless it's the magic Mumsnet kind 🤔

We use Mindful Chef and only order their vegan meals. They are pretty good, so worth a try from that point of view.

We tried HF and we’re really put off by the non-seasonal produce (I don’t buy Moroccan raspberries or Peruvian green beans for a reason…) the packaging and also, tbh, the thought of so many different people preparing the little packets of chopped veg etc. Combined with the over-packaging it didn’t work on any level.

It's really a bit naive to think that something like Hello Fresh supply free range chicken, even when it is available. It's just not what they're about.

They're about convenience for people who are too time poor or lack confidence with meal planning and shopping and think it's worth the overpackaged box of spoonfuls of spices and single peppers etc.

And it sounds like they don't even get that right. If you pay a premium to have exactly the right ingredients delivered to your door, they should at least meet that basic expectation.

@BarbaraofSeville

It's really a bit naive to think that something like Hello Fresh supply free range chicken, even when it is available. It's just not what they're about.

They're about convenience for people who are too time poor or lack confidence with meal planning and shopping and think it's worth the overpackaged box of spoonfuls of spices and single peppers etc.

And it sounds like they don't even get that right. If you pay a premium to have exactly the right ingredients delivered to your door, they should at least meet that basic expectation.

Exactly. OP appears to be have been misled by the NZ website but HF’s target market is busy people.

Now if she asked about other providers…Mindful Chefs, Purple Apron.

There are quite a few of these around!

I looked at Hello Fresh a while ago OP and didn’t order for the same reason.
I used to occasionally get Abel and Cole meal boxes - organic British meat - they were expensive but gave us some new recipes. But they stopped doing them and also they were for 2, or 4, not ideal for 2 adults and 2 picky children!

@KittensTeaAndCake

Urgh no, that's unacceptable in this day and age. I don't blame you OP.

I stopped buying from 'The Happy Egg company' after reading about the horrendous conditions their 'free range' chickens are kept in.

I've gone vegan now because I just can't bear it.

Oh no!I am assuming that they are a US company because that is what we used to buy when I lived in Texas...they even put little notes in from the hen. Free range and pasture raised we were told. They were very expensive too.

I wouldn't order from this type of company in the first place, they are a complete rip off, but they are in it to make money after all.
Our meat all comes from local butcher, fish from the fishmonger. We won't go meat free, but at least I know exactly where it all comes from and there aren't any air miles on it.

Why I stopped using Gousto, the quality of the ingredients went right down, poor quality disgusting fish and farmed prawns 🤮

What I always suggest on threads where people like the idea of Hello Fresh etc but either don't like the quality or think it's too expensive is to look at the recipe sections of supermarket websites, most of them have them, even Ocado and cruicially, they have an 'add ingredients to basket' button, plus the flexibility to remove ingredients you already have or swap for things on special offer, or because you want to buy organic or whatever.

Likely to work out far cheaper than HF etc for pretty much the same experience, still exactly what you need with less packaging as it's just a normal supermarket shop and if you have an ingredient left, you can always use it again. Perhaps search the recipe section for that ingredient if you're struggling for inspiration.

@BarbaraofSeville

What I always suggest on threads where people like the idea of Hello Fresh etc but either don't like the quality or think it's too expensive is to look at the recipe sections of supermarket websites, most of them have them, even Ocado and cruicially, they have an 'add ingredients to basket' button, plus the flexibility to remove ingredients you already have or swap for things on special offer, or because you want to buy organic or whatever.

Likely to work out far cheaper than HF etc for pretty much the same experience, still exactly what you need with less packaging as it's just a normal supermarket shop and if you have an ingredient left, you can always use it again. Perhaps search the recipe section for that ingredient if you're struggling for inspiration.

That’s just basic meal planning made easier with adding ingredients automatically. You can never buy ‘exactly’ the amount of seasonings/sauces you need. You still have to prep everything yourself. Not the same experience by a long shot.