Consumers find shopping online to be the easiest way to order local, organic produce.
In a new survey, 60.2 per cent of respondents cited this as the factor they most liked about a veg box delivery.
Independent providers also came out well, with 49.6 per cent of respondents having used a local supplier for fruit and vegetables.
Julie Nye, a customer of Sussex-based Ashurst Organics, said: “I love that it's small and local. I can meet them at the farmer's market and I can go there. And I love the fact that the veg is grown on the same soil that I live on.”
With the arrival on the scene of recipe boxes from the likes of Hello Fresh, consumers are more demanding than ever. Two-thirds of respondents to the survey claimed it's either 'useful' or 'very useful' to receive recipe guidance with their groceries.
Another finding from the survey suggests that people who order veg boxes are happier with their diet.
Of those who responded, 79.3 per cent who order fruit and veg online say they are happy with their eating habits, whereas this number drops to 67.8 per cent for those who have never ordered fruit and veg online.
The research was carried out by an independent online marketing agency for local grocery stores, Marumarket. It is the first national report to be carried out on the veg box industry as a whole.
John Cant, director of Marumarket,said: “Consumers have more choice than ever before when it comes to ordering groceries online. The survey gives valuable insight into what motivates customers right across the country to use veg box services.
'The internet is often blamed for killing independent shops, but I think this data gives a lot of confidence to businesses that they can adapt and thrive in the digital era.”
