‘In 10 years time the supermarket will no longer exist’

BERLIN - In ten years time supermarkets will have disappeared from our daily routine, claims Fabian Siegel, visionary, entrepreneur and founder of the boxed meal service Marley Spoon. Siegel sees many advantages: “It is better for the environment, people will eat healthier and will waste less food”, he explained to RTL News.

Since the start of his business venture (by origin a German company) two years ago, Siegel has managed to quickly expand his Marley Spoon empire to various European countries, America and Australia. Customers can select 2 to 4 meals a week, with the ingredients being delivered within 6 days.

His company mostly targets families with a busy agenda who still want to enjoy home-cooked meals. “On average people prepare home-cooked meals ranging from 3 to 4 times a week. This is exactly why 80% of the Dutch consumers want their packages delivered on Monday or Tuesday. On Saturday they go to the market and get creative in the kitchen, whilst Sunday is mostly a ‘take-away’ day”, the German entrepreneur states.

Unburden

“The consumer want to be unburdened with health conscious/sustainable products that are easy to prepare or ‘ready to eat’ on the moments it suits them best”, claims an earlier report by Rabobank.

Supermarkets won’t make it

In the end, supermarkets simply won’t be able to compete with online competitors and bite the dust, claims Siegel. “Internet allows us to offer fresher products, at a lower price; partly because you place your order directly with the manufacturer.”

Who already mourns the loss of supermarket, should not worry too much; as Siegel claims “there will always be some supermarkets left”. The difference is that the entrepreneur thinks remaining supermarkets will transform their formula. “They will offer an ‘experience’. Consumers won’t shop there because they need it, but because they enjoy it, like the current formula of Whole Foods in the US.”