Blue Apron Supplier Files for Bankruptcy. Here’s Who’s Taking Over

When you order a meal kitit arrives in a box with the brand name plastered on it. But what you may not realize is that there is often a separate food distributor behind the brand. For years, FreshRealm has been linked to major meal kit companies, including Blue apron. But now, after FreshRealm filed for bankruptcy this week, the future of Blue Apron’s supply chain is in limbo.

In a press release, FreshRealm announced the filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, citing “a significant disruption in ingredient supply in 2025 that had a significant impact on the company’s operations and financial performance.”

Last year, FreshRealm recalled numerous ready-to-eat chicken Alfredo meals due to listeria concerns, including one under the Home Chef meal kit brand. The recall then expanded after food distributor Snow Pac recalled spinach contaminated with listeria, which was potentially used in ready-to-eat meals prepared by FreshRealm, including some sold under HelloFresh. A ready-to-eat meal from Blue Apron and Marley Spoon, also produced by FreshRealm, was later included in a Food Safety and Inspection Service public health alert regarding potentially contaminated riced cauliflower.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 28 people have become ill and seven have died because of the listeria outbreak, which is now over.

Will Blue Apron’s offerings change?

In the near future, things will likely be the same for Blue Apron as FreshRealm awaits court approval for filing for bankruptcy.

According to FreshRealm’s press release, the two companies have reached an agreement for FreshRealm to complete its contractual obligations before Blue Apron terminates the agreement and moves to a new fulfillment provider.

Blue Apron should move to a collaboration with Misfit Market as a food distributor, CNET has learned.

Misfits Market said in a statement that it would provide “end-to-end fulfillment services for Blue Apron meal kits,” pending bankruptcy court approval. He adds that Misfits Market’s priority is “ensuring Blue Apron customers continue to receive high-quality meal kits as we build out fulfillment capabilities on Misfits Market’s own platform and infrastructure.”

The spokesperson confirmed that Misfits Market and Blue Apron will remain separate brands, with “Misfits Market operating behind the scenes as a fulfillment partner.”

Misfits Market is a discount grocery delivery service that focuses on providing “imperfect” products that typically don’t make it onto store shelves. It’s unclear whether products included in future Blue Apron meal kits will reflect Misfit Market’s standards.

“We are sorry to hear the news about FreshRealm and wish their team the best,” a Blue Apron spokesperson said. “Blue Apron prides itself on making home cooking easy with chef-crafted recipes and high-quality ingredients that customers are proud to put on their table. We are in the process of transitioning to a new fulfillment provider and are working closely to ensure a smooth and reliable experience for customers.

Does FreshRealm supply food to other meal kit companies?

Yes. FreshRealm acquired meal kit company Marley spoonin the United States in 2024. FreshRealm was also a third-party producer for HelloFresh’s ready-to-eat meals. It’s unclear whether these companies are considering switching to a new provider at this time.

Correction, April 30: A previous version misidentified the potentially contaminated ingredient in ready-to-eat meals from Blue Apron and Marley Spoon. The vegetable should have been identified as cauliflower.