Savor the Season: Why Fall is the Perfect Time to Promote Your Heat-and-Eat Meal Delivery Business

New Year’s resolutions. The countdown to summer. Wedding season. There are those go-to times on the calendar when people tend to hunker down and make a commitment to healthier, fresher eating. But more and more we’re seeing a massive trend towards a completely different time of year – one that, depending on your messaging and strategic seasonal planning, could be a major bump for your heat-and-eat business.

And it’s right around the corner.


While fall doesn’t seem like the typical “reset” season, more and more people are leaning on simple solutions to help get back on track post-summer. Between kids going back to school, summer vacations wrapping, and the day-to-day pace getting even busier, people are strapped for time and on the move – and your brand could be the go-to solution they’re looking for to ensure meal time goes off without a hitch.

If you’re planning to accelerate your promotions this fall, consider these promotions, offers, and brands, each designed to build on your audience’s wants, needs, and goals.

#1. Comfort Food Cravings


Cooler temperatures mean cozy nights in – and serious comfort food cravings. Lean into people’s desire for healthy, hearty classics and fresh, seasonal picks. Squash, pumpkin, apples, and root vegetables are perfect jumping off points, ensuring a nutritious base that brings in some of the best fall flavors. Bonus points for combining these flavors with classic comfort food – pumpkin risotto, butternut squash, mac-and-cheese, plant-based chilis, and more. 

With your menu in place, be sure and call out these limited time meals, ideally with a special offer to promote new and incremental sales. Current customers and prospects will be eager to sink into something new.

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#2. Test a New Meal Prep Format


One-pot dinners, sheet pan meals, crock pot recipes – no matter the diet, these are all seasonal favorites. Building off of the comfort food push, why not weave in a new format or two? A meal recipients can set in their crock pot or pour into a pan for a healthy and (semi) homecooked dinner in minutes. 



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#3. Help Families Get Back to School


For families with school-aged kids, fall means a new academic year – and that can be stressful, especially with everyone running from work and school to sports, clubs, and other commitments. Be the solution they’re looking for by offering family-friendly heat-and-eat meals. Whether it’s larger portions or, simply, meals that appeal to a broader range of tastebuds, back-to-school meal support can help keep everyone moving forward, without having to rely on fast food or other less-than-healthy choices.

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#4. Holiday & Entertaining 


More and more meal prep and delivery services are offering one-off holiday meals – larger-format meals that include everything for a perfect get-together or special dinner in. Even if this style isn’t in your usual rotation, it could be a good short-term promotion to test drive. 

Because you can take orders earlier than usual – and close your ordering window well ahead of the big days – it’s easier to plan and prep with total clarity. That means less waste, more profit, and another reason for new customer to test drive your service. 



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By harnessing the best flavors and trends for fall, you’ll have a new reason to engage potential and existing customers – and maximize sales post-summer. Keep checking back for more seasonal tips and opportunities to keep building your heat-and-eat business. 



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