Debating Misfits Market vs Imperfect Foods has become an increasingly popular topic as these ugly produce boxes rival grocery store prices and bring attention to the need to reduce food waste in America.
We’re comparing these two companies head to head to name the best ugly produce service that can help you save money, help the environment, and enjoy a more nutritious diet.
Misfits Market
Misfits Market was one of the first companies to tackle food waste head-on by shipping ugly produce, pantry products, dairy, meat, eggs, and seafood to customers at discounted prices.
This simple food system helps keep food out of dumpsters and landfills while helping families cut their grocery bills without missing out on high-quality products.
Misfits Market carries mostly organic produce with strict sourcing standards for all of the products they sell. In addition to eliminating food waste, Misfits Market also gives back by allowing customers to donate a box of food when they want to skip a regularly scheduled delivery.
There are some downsides to Misfits Market, like an order minimum for each delivery, but positive customer reviews prove the pros outweigh the cons of this meal delivery service.
Imperfect Foods
Imperfect Foods, which began as Imperfect Produce, has come a long way since it was founded in 2015, but its mission has remained the same.
This company was started with a passion for reducing food waste, and they haven’t waivered from that. While they started with ugly produce, Imperfect Foods has since expanded their boxes to contain pantry products, meat, salmon, dairy, and eggs, too!
Imperfect Foods recently merged with Misfits Market, so you’ll notice there are a lot of similarities between the two brands. Some notable differences set them apart, though. Imperfect Foods has less focus on organic products with more focus on affordability and accessibility for all customers, so they tend to attract a different type of consumer than Misfits Market.
Misfits Market
Pros
- The majority of fresh produce is certified organic and non-GMO
- Misfits Market Loyalty Program
- Flexible subscription with customizable boxes
- Eco-friendly packaging that can be picked up for free for reuse/recycling
- Wine is available in addition to traditional grocery items
- Customers save an average of 40% compared to local grocery store prices
- Strict sustainable sourcing standards
Cons
- Order minimums vary by delivery location
- Flat rate shipping based on location starting at $6.99
- Some organic produce needs to be used soon after arriving to be at peak freshness without being overly ripe
- Additional shipping cost for orders with less than $35 of cold items
Imperfect Foods
Pros
- No order minimum
- Free shipping on orders over $60
- Misfits Market Loyalty Program
- Flexible subscription with customizable boxes
- Eco-friendly packaging can be picked up for free for reuse/recycling
- No additional shipping fees for cold items
Cons
- More conventional produce and fewer organic options than some other grocery delivery services
- Mixed customer reviews with the BBB and other online sources
- Some customers report produce is damaged during transit
- Inconsistent
Dietary Options
Misfit Market
Imperfect Food
It’s no secret that most grocery stores are pretty large, and the main reason for this is that people love options! There are so many different dietary needs, allergies, and preferences that the food supply needs to accommodate. The same thing applies to online grocery delivery services.
Both Imperfect Foods and Misfits Market have items that are vegan, organic, vegetarian, gluten-free, and free of certain allergens, but that doesn’t mean they offer the same quantity in each of those categories.
Dietary Options Winner
Misfits Market has a larger selection of organic vegetables, fruit, pantry staples, and more. They also offer more vegan products and do a better job of labeling items for common allergens and dietary preferences.
Imperfect Foods has some products to accommodate specific dietary needs, but there’s a lack of variety and consistency in these products from one week to the next as you shop.
Product Sourcing & Sustainability
Misfits Market and Imperfect Foods put sustainability at the forefront of everything they do, which we can’t praise enough. While their visions may be similar, the way they source products is different.
Imperfect Foods is very transparent about where its products are sourced, with a whopping 78% of the fresh food coming from family farms and cooperatives.
The more than 150 hand-selected growers are all located in the USA. Imperfect Food’s never-ending commitment to sustainability can be seen in every aspect of the business, from the farmers they work with to their solar-powered facility.
Unlike Imperfect Foods, Misfits Market isn’t quite as clear on where their products come from. They say they source from growers in the USA and beyond, but it’s not stated what percentage of those growers are small family farms.
Misfits Market places more of a focus on organic products, while sustainability takes a bit of a back seat. There’s no doubt that Misfits Market is more sustainable than traditional grocery stores, but they don’t seem to be as sustainable as Imperfect Foods.
Product Sourcing & Sustainability Winner
We believe that transparency is key regarding ingredient sourcing and sustainable practices, so Imperfect Foods is on top in this category. You can feel good having groceries delivered knowing exactly what types of farmers helped fill your ugly produce box! When you buy an Imperfect Foods box, you support small family farms in America, and that’s always a great feeling.
Ingredient Quality & Variety
Misfit Market
- Non-GMO
grass Organic- Grass Fed
- Wild-Caught
Imperfect Food
The most important thing in any grocery delivery service is the food, of course. You wouldn’t pay for low-quality food at the local grocery store, so you wouldn’t want that in your grocery delivery either!
Overall, Misfits Market and Imperfect Produce both do a great job of including a good variety of products to shop from each week, and they’re, for the most part, very high-quality products, too! Both companies sell “ugly” produce, but some of it isn’t even ugly!
Products can make their way to these companies if they’re misshapen, an odd weight, discolored, or if there’s an excess amount of product with not enough demand to sell it before it goes bad. Many of the pantry and dairy products are short-dated, meaning they’re close to expiring or have outdated packaging.
Ingredient Quality & Variety Winner
Misfits Market generally has more items to choose from every week and works with a larger selection of brands. Additionally, the quality of produce from Misfits Market is more consistent.
Imperfect Foods customers have reported receiving produce that’s past its prime or items that need to be used the same day they arrive to avoid spoiling.
Shipping & Delivery
Misfits Market
Imperfect Food
Shipping is an integral part of the better food system both of these companies are trying to build to fight food waste. Both companies do a great job of shipping products quickly so they arrive at peak freshness, but the cost of delivery is noticeably different.
Imperfect Foods doesn’t require an order minimum to checkout, but there is a shipping fee for orders under $60.
Misfits Market has order minimums that vary based on location, and free shipping is not nearly as easy to achieve. Another key difference is the added fee Misfits Market charges for cold items. Unless you order at least $35 of cold items, there’s a cold shipping fee.
Shipping & Delivery Winner
Imperfect Foods wins in this category thanks to their consistently low or free shipping rates. There’s never an extra charge for cold items either, which we love!
Imperfect Foods has an in-house delivery service, which is now being used by Misfits Market, too, but we’ll give credit where it’s due since that in-house delivery team was started before the companies merged.
Pricing
Unfortunately, there’s not a standard pricing range we can give to compare Misfits Market VS Imperfect Foods. The price of every box you receive will be different depending on what products you choose and how many of those products you get.
Generally, prices are very comparable for things like organic produce and pantry staples. Imperfect Foods is cheaper when it comes to meat and dairy products, plus they offer a larger selection of non-organic products, which are almost always cheaper than their organic counterpart offered by Misfits Market.
Pricing Winner
Imperfect Foods is the more affordable option for one big reason – there’s no minimum order total! You can order as much as you want or get just a few items.
This makes it easier to fit the deliveries into your grocery budget each week, even when you can’t afford a large order.
Misfits Market cost tends to be higher because it’s harder to achieve free shipping, there’s an order minimum based on customer location, and it carries more organic products that come with a higher price tag.
Packaging & Recycling
Imperfect Foods and Misfits Market have very similar packaging. A classic cardboard box is paired with things like clamshell liners, paper bags, gel ice packs, and silver insulation liners, depending on what you order.
You can return materials from your Misfits Market or Imperfect Foods shipment; simply put the items in the box and set them outside when you expect the next delivery. As one box is returned, the other will be returned to the manufacturing warehouse for recycling and/or reuse.
Packaging Winner
Since the packaging is so similar, it’s hard to say that one company is better than the other, so we’re turning to the general consensus across customer reviews. Misfits Market has more positive reviews overall, while Imperfect Foods has more reviews where customers report produce that was damaged during transit.
Both companies could be improved with more padding and insulation in all orders, not just those that contain cold products.
Customer Service
Misfits Market
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Imperfect Foods
Using online grocery delivery services instead of traditional grocery shopping will come with some questions and concerns, so having a great customer service team to contact is essential. Both Imperfect Foods and Misfits Market make it easy to contact support online via chat or email, or you can give them a call.
Misfits Market offers a better customer service experience overall for one simple reason: speed. Their customer service team is much quicker to respond and correct issues.
Imperfect Foods has many customers who report long wait times for a response, even for simple concerns, which is not ideal when you’re using your hard-earned money to purchase their products.
Customer Service Winner
Misfits Market is the clear winner in this category because they offer a better customer experience all around. From the initial sign-up to questions about your deliveries, Misfits Market has a dedicated customer service team that’s efficient, friendly, and super helpful.
FAQs
Which one is better, Misfits Market or Imperfect Foods?
Both companies have pros and cons. Misfits Market is better for organic products, while Imperfect Foods is more affordable as a whole, with free shipping and no minimum order total.
Is grocery delivery cheaper than the grocery store?
Grocery delivery can be cheaper than the grocery store, depending on your order and which company you order from. Ugly produce boxes are one of the best ways to get high-quality products for a noticeably lower price point than you can at the grocery store.
Winner
Misfits Market
Misfits Market and Imperfect Foods have a lot in common, but Misfits Market comes out just a smidge ahead in this head-to-head comparison.
Better customer service, high-quality products, and more variety make Misfits Market a better fit for more consumers while keeping prices about 40% less than traditional grocery stores. The huge selection of organic produce and a mission to give back to those in need are just the beginning of the perks of being a Misfits Market customer.
Since the two companies recently merged, we anticipate some exciting changes from both brands in the near future! Misfits Market has talked about lowering shipping costs and order minimums, while Imperfect Foods is gaining access to more organic produce suppliers. Overall, both boxes are very similar, and hopping on this ugly produce box trend is something the environment will thank you for, no matter which company you order from.