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Wednesday, February 12th
Tempo, launched in October 2023, is part of the Kroger family with Home Chef. While Home Chef offers meal kits for those who enjoy cooking but appreciate the convenience of pre-prepped ingredients, Tempo is a new player in the meal service game, focusing on microwave meals that cater to those short on time but not willing to compromise on health.
No discounts - or are there?
When it comes to discounts, the situation with Tempo is somewhat puzzling. Currently, they don't run standard promotions, which might put them at a disadvantage against competitors who do. However, an intriguing incident occurred during our checkout process: an error message about an invalid discount code, which we hadn't entered, led to an unexpected series of discounts on future orders. This could be an error or a clever marketing tactic to create a sense of fortunate timing for customers. Additionally, Tempo offers substantial discounts for military personnel, first responders, healthcare professionals, teachers, students, alumni, and government officials.
Meal overviews could be more specific
Tempo offers seven different meal plan sizes. Starting at $11 per serving, the cost per meal decreases as you increase the number of meals, ranging from $15.98 for 4 meals to $10.98 for 16+ meals weekly. Keep in mind, this doesn't include shipping and sales tax, which could add to the final bill. Tempo's highlight is its "protein-packed" meals, averaging around 30 grams of protein, though this can vary significantly. We found one meal with 49 grams of protein right next to one with 16 grams. It would be helpful if Tempo included an overview with macros or a way to easily see nutritional information like calorie count. Currently, the overviews only show prep time, but every meal is listed as "<5 min" because their main selling point is quick meals. So, it's not a very useful metric. The registration process is pretty straightforward, letting you tailor your meal preferences and dietary needs before choosing the size of your meal box.
12 options each week
Each week, Tempo offers 12 new meals of different cuisines and flavors, whether bold or familiar. A typical week of meals from Tempo might look like a Creamy Tomato Chicken Breast with Kale and Garlic Butter Sweet Potato Noodles (680 cal, 35g protein) on Monday, a Powerhouse Pesto Kale Bowl (580 cal, 16g protein) on Wednesday, and BBQ Pulled Pork with Cheesy Roasted Cauliflower(590 cal, 34g protein) on Friday. One neat feature of Tempo is that each recipe comes with a photo and the name of the chef who created it, adding a dash of warmth to your dining experience. It seems like Tempo offers a good variety of cuisines and spice levels to cater to different preferences.
They're vague about ingredient sourcing
When it comes to the quality of ingredients, Tempo seems to follow the same tune as its sibling company, Home Chef, maintaining a certain level of vagueness. There's a noticeable absence of detailed information about where their ingredients are sourced from. In an era where consumers are increasingly curious about the origins of their food, this lack of transparency might be a bit off-key for some. While the meals are convenient and tasty, a clearer insight into the quality and sourcing of ingredients could enhance the overall appeal of Tempo's offerings.
Shipping costs $10.99
Tempo delivers once a week. You can choose the day that works best for you, but your options may differ based on your location. Tempo is committed to using recyclable or reusable packaging that keeps food at a safe temperature. Tips for recycling Tempo packaging include curbside recycling for boxes, PET liners, and plastic containers, cutting open film for denim liners and ice packs, and recycling film with plastic bags. And shipping costs? They don't mention it anywhere upfront on their website, but if you make it to the billing step, it shows up on your order summary as $10.99. This is roughly on par with competitors.
Skipping is easy; cancellation may not be
When it comes to managing your meal deliveries, Tempo lets you march to the beat of your own drum. You have the option to skip deliveries or adjust your subscription frequency, which is a handy feature for those with fluctuating schedules. Just remember to make any changes by the Friday before your next scheduled delivery. We're not clear on how easy it is to cancel your subscription. The FAQ article we found begins with telling you that it is possible, but then proceeds to give you instructions on how to pause your orders instead. This (ahem) gives us pause. (Sorry.)
Tempo is still finding the beat
Tempo, still fresh in the meal delivery market since its October 2023 launch, presents a mixed picture in terms of customer engagement and service. Their Instagram presence, bustling with posts but lacking in engagement, alongside their reliance on small TikTok influencers, paints a picture of a brand earnestly trying to connect with a modern audience. However, the effectiveness of these strategies is not yet clear. They don't yet have a Trustpilot or Better Business Bureau listing, so we can't tell you much about customer experience, either.
Is it a food service or a lifestyle?
Tempo's promotional tactics at launch, like a prize package giveaway including Bluetooth headphones, also seem to blur the lines between a food service and a lifestyle brand. While this could be seen as an innovative approach to marketing, it also raises questions about the clarity of their brand identity. Looking at Home Chef, Tempo's sibling company, might give some insight into what customers can expect. Home Chef's customer service record is checkered, with a less-than-stellar reputation on Trustpilot. Despite the tastiness of Home Chef's meals, issues with delayed deliveries and lukewarm customer service responses have been noted. We hope it won't be a repeat performance with Tempo.
Has potential
In conclusion, the meals from Tempo seem to be of decent quality and provide an adequate amount of protein. One thing to note is that they don't offer specific plans, which could make the decision-making and browsing process less overwhelming. However, due to the fact that Tempo is relatively new and lacks third-party reviews, it is difficult to fully recommend them at this time. It might be a better idea to try one of the more established meal delivery services that we've reviewed, unless you're willing to take a chance and be an early adopter.
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