{"id":1403,"date":"2015-12-05T19:58:51","date_gmt":"2015-12-06T00:58:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/sprig-uber-for-healthy-meals\/"},"modified":"2015-12-09T19:54:00","modified_gmt":"2015-12-10T00:54:00","slug":"sprig-uber-for-healthy-meals","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/sprig-uber-for-healthy-meals\/","title":{"rendered":"Sprig: Uber for healthy meals"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s no denying that a number of start-ups these days can be described as \u201cUber for X\u201d \u2013 the delivery of a product or service on-demand. There\u2019s an Uber for groceries, cleaning, laundry and even massages [1]<\/a>. It\u2019s not surprising that some are already failing<\/a> given they are directly copying Uber\u2019s operating model without adapting it to the specific \u201cX\u201d they are delivering. Sprig<\/a> \u2013 known as \u2018Uber for healthy meals\u2019 \u2013 is an exception.<\/p>\n

\"uberforthatweb_30014\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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What\u2019s Sprig’s business model?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Sprig delivers healthy, gourmet meals directly to a consumer within 15 minutes of placing an order. Customers use the Sprig app to select one of three different meal choices (menu changes daily), and are charged $9-12 per meal plus a small delivery fee.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe feel like the current food system gives customers an unfair choice, either convenience or quality. Sprig\u2019s mission is to eliminate that choice\u201d \u2013 Gagan Biyani, Sprig CEO <\/em>[2]<\/a><\/p>\n

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At its core, Sprig\u2019s value proposition is to deliver both convenience and quality. This resonates most strongly in urban areas with a high density of young professionals, who are increasingly looking for healthy, quality food without the long wait or investment in the kitchen. While it is too early to label Sprig a definitive success (founded in 2013), its rapid yet disciplined growth<\/a>, positive reviews<\/a>, and strong VC backing<\/a> identify it as effective thus far [3]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Sprig<\/a><\/p>\n

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How does the operating model supporting this?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In brief, Sprig\u2019s operating model is to cook huge quantities of a few meals, then load them into cars that drive around neighborhoods to ensure they are always close by when a customer places an order. Sounds slightly strange until you dig into the model and understand how it drives the two sides to Sprig\u2019s value proposition \u2013 convenience\u00a0and quality.<\/p>\n

With regards to convenience (15 minute delivery), Sprig leverages technology that is core to Uber\u2019s operations. It uses predictive analytics to anticipate key variables such as demand\u00a0by neighborhood and demand for each specific meal option, and it uses data science to determine opttimal delivery routes and to drive Uber-like dynamic delivery pricing to match supply with demand and avoid long wait times [4]<\/a>. However, what really allows Sprig to be successful in delivering convenience is the ways in which it has adapted Uber\u2019s operating model for meal delivery:
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