HelloFresh acquires Canadian meal kit company Chefs Plate

HelloFresh has bought Canadian meal kit brand Chefs Plate as it seeks to serve the widest product variety in the industry to Canadian consumers.

Founded in 2014, Toronto-based Chefs Plate has fulfilment centres in both Vancouver and Toronto.

Germany-headquartered HelloFresh said that combined with its local branch, the newly formed entity under the HelloFresh umbrella will target revenues of about CAD 200 million ($153.1 million) in 2019.

It added that the integration provides “significant opportunities” to create value with identified synergies of up to CAD 10 million ($7.7 million) per year through joint procurement and production as well as marketing efficiencies.

The expected economies of scale created through the transaction will help HelloFresh’s Canadian business break even over the course of 2019, the company said. 

HelloFresh COO and co-founder Thomas Griesel said: “It is our declared strategy to accelerate our global growth investments to capitalise on current market opportunities. The integration of Chefs Plate is clearly such a unique opportunity to expand our leadership position across North America. Canada is one of our fastest growing markets that shows high consumer demand for meal kits.

“Based on the highly complementary customer bases and leading positions at different price points Chefs Plate is the perfect fit for HelloFresh to form the unrivalled market leader.”

Chefs Plate CEO and co-founder Jamie Shea added: “We are proud to join forces with the leading global meal kit company HelloFresh. Since our launch in 2014, we have been the pioneers in the industry in Canada, following our clear mission to create meaningful human connections through food. HelloFresh shares our passion for food and quality at all levels.

“The partnership will allow us to further strengthen our offering and to serve more and more Canadians. We will leverage the strength of the most successful global player in the market and at the same time continue to build a sustainable Canadian food system and support the community around us.”

The closing of the transaction is expected to occur within the next few weeks.

Earlier this year, HelloFresh bought US organic meal kit provider Green Chef and entered into the retail segment for the first time.