Hungryroot
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Online grocery; meal kit; food technology |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Founders | Ben McKean |
| Headquarters | New York City, New York, U.S. |
Key people | Ben McKean (CEO) |
| Products | Groceries; meal kits; meal-planning subscriptions |
| Services | AI-personalized grocery delivery; recipe and meal planning |
| Revenue | $700 million (2025) |
| Website | hungryroot |
Hungryroot is an American online grocery and meal-planning company headquartered in New York City. The company uses artificial intelligence to personalize weekly grocery deliveries and recipe recommendations for subscribers.[1] Founded in 2015 by Ben McKean, a former Groupon executive, the company initially sold plant-based prepared foods before pivoting to a full online grocery delivery model.[2] Hungryroot reported $700 million in net revenue for 2025 and was preparing for a potential initial public offering as of early 2026.[1]
History
[edit]Ben McKean, who had previously founded the restaurant technology company Savored (acquired by Groupon in 2012), launched Hungryroot in April 2015 in Queens, New York.[2][3] The company initially offered a small line of plant-based prepared meals marketed as healthier versions of comfort foods, using vegetables as primary ingredients.[4] At launch, its products were sold through its own website and through partners including Amazon Fresh and FreshDirect.[4]
Around 2019, Hungryroot repositioned itself as a personalized online grocery service, adding hundreds of third-party branded products alongside its own items and incorporating AI-driven recommendations to build customized weekly shopping carts for customers.[2]
In February 2026, The Information reported that Hungryroot was preparing for an IPO that could take place as soon as that year, working with Goldman Sachs.[1] McKean said he was watching market conditions closely but had not set a timeline for a listing.[1]
Products and services
[edit]Hungryroot operates as a subscription-based online grocery service that combines grocery delivery with meal planning. Customers complete a quiz about dietary preferences, household size, and health goals; the platform's algorithm then generates a personalized weekly cart of groceries and recipes.[5] Unlike general grocery-delivery apps such as Instacart, which deliver food picked up at supermarkets, Hungryroot holds its own inventory.[1] As of 2025, the service listed approximately 1,000 products, including its private-label goods and a curated selection of outside brands.[1] Sales of its own branded products, which include sauces, smoothies, and prepared ingredients, account for around 40% of the company's revenue and carry higher margins than third-party items.[1][2]
The company's proprietary AI system generates personalized meal plans and shopping carts based on quiz responses and ongoing customer interaction data.[5] As of early 2026, Hungryroot was testing a conversational AI feature allowing users to modify orders using natural language.[1]
Funding and growth
[edit]Hungryroot has raised approximately $75 million in venture capital from investors including L Catterton, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Lerer Hippeau.[1] In March 2016, the company closed a $3.7 million Series A round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, with participation from Lerer Hippeau and Crosslink Capital.[4] In January 2017, it raised $7.7 million in additional funding, again with Lightspeed as a lead investor.[3]
In June 2021, the company raised $40 million in a Series C round led by L Catterton, valuing Hungryroot at approximately $750 million.[6]
Revenue grew rapidly thereafter: the company reported $237 million in net revenue for 2022, a 47% year-over-year increase.[7] Revenue reached $333 million in 2023, with over $9 million in profit.[8] Net revenue for 2025 was $700 million, a 55% year-over-year increase, serving nearly 1.5 million people in over 700,000 households.[1][9] The company was profitable in 2025.[1]
Reception
[edit]Wired gave Hungryroot a score of 7 out of 10 in March 2025, praising the ease of its recipes and its AI-powered dietary customization. The reviewer noted that meals could sometimes lack intensity of flavor and that the sign-up process required entering payment information before seeing available menu options.[5] Bon Appétit called the service flexible and easy to integrate into a regular cooking routine.[10]Food Network testing praised the freshness of produce and quality of sauces but noted occasional issues with products arriving past their expiration dates.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Gehan, Ann (February 19, 2026). "Hungryroot Posts 55% Revenue Growth, Eyes Potential 2026 IPO". The Information. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
- ^ a b c d Lalley, Heather (February 8, 2023). "How Hungryroot grew through reinvention". Supermarket News. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
- ^ a b Marinova, Polina (January 26, 2017). "Exclusive: HungryRoot Raises $7.7 Million to Sell Healthy Comfort Food". Fortune. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
- ^ a b c Roof, Katie (March 1, 2016). "Hungryroot raises $3.7 million for healthy eats". TechCrunch. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
- ^ a b c Korfhage, Matthew (March 21, 2025). "Review: Hungryroot Meal Kit". Wired. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
- ^ Joshua, Josyana (June 4, 2021). "Grocery Delivery Startup Hungryroot Boosts Value to $750 Million". Bloomberg News. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
- ^ Collings, Richard (March 30, 2023). "IPO-ready Hungryroot increases revenue 47% to $237M in 2022". Axios Pro. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
- ^ Cabrey, Erin (February 9, 2024). "Hungryroot grew its revenue 40% last year. Its CEO shares how". Retail Brew. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
- ^ "Hungryroot Reports 2025 Financial Results" (Press release). Hungryroot. February 19, 2026. Retrieved March 2, 2026 – via PR Newswire.
- ^ Finn, Carina (April 24, 2025). "Hungryroot Review: This Might Just Be the Best of All Meal Kits". Bon Appetit. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
- ^ Brady, T.K. (December 29, 2022). "Hungryroot Review: Healthy Grocery Delivery and Meal Kit". Food Network. Retrieved March 2, 2026.