This archive report was first published on 7 August 2020.
As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, meal kits have become a popular solution for making quick meals with pre-portioned ingredients. In Kenya, Mohammed Idris Mapesa, founder of Pot and Apron, a grocery and meal kit delivery service, has discovered a niche approach to keeping recipes exciting.
According to Google search trends, searches for the term 'meal kits' skyrocketed from 52 percent in March 2020 to 100 percent in early May. This trend is not unique to Kenya, as meal kits have been gaining traction globally.
Mapesa, a career entrepreneur, ventured into the meal kits business in 2018. Initially, a friend floated the idea for an organic vegetable delivery service, which eventually expanded into meal kits and other dry groceries.
Mapesa's business stands out from others in the market by collaborating with upcoming chefs and food bloggers on Instagram. He believes that these artists should be able to make money from their art, just like any other creator.
Bloggers like Google(@davidkinyanjuii), Tara (@_tarara) and Mocha Mitchy (@mocha_mitchy) on Instagram have collaborated with Pot and Apron, offering a variety of recipes that are relatively easy to make for novice cooks.
Mapesa's business model is designed to be eco-friendly, with 90 percent of the packaging being biodegradable. The rest can easily be recycled.
BDLife tried their chicken tacos by Tara, a meal that serves four and takes 52 minutes to create with teriyaki chicken and mango-salsa folded in a tortilla wrap.
