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Meal-Kit Shortages Spark Refund Demands

Wall Street Journal US Business •
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Customers of Blue Apron and Marley Spoon are demanding refunds after receiving almost-empty boxes and missing ingredients. Marlene Cooper, a 53-year-old resident of Fredonia, N.Y., has paid $100 a week for a box of five meals for the past decade, but recent orders have been incomplete.

She found that vegetables were missing and substitutions like garlic tahini appeared in place of regular tahini. When she posted her complaint on social media, Blue Apron issued a refund, but the problem extends beyond one customer.

Both companies attribute the chaos to the bankruptcy of a major supplier earlier this year. The transition to a new assembly-and-shipping partner has caused missing ingredients, incomplete boxes, and delivery delays, according to statements on Instagram and other platforms.

Consumers are canceling orders, venting online, and calling for transparent communication as the industry struggles to stabilize its supply chain.