Territory Foods Review 2024: Locally-Driven Meal Delivery

Overview

Territory Foods collaborates with local chefs in many areas. With so many meal delivery services on the market, finding a unique spin can be a challenge. Territory Foods takes an innovative approach by delivering locally cooked, high-quality healthy meals tailored to various diets like Whole30, Paleo, Keto, and Vegan.

Instead of a 1-size-fits-all kitchen churning out mass-produced meals, Territory Foods partners with local chefs to ensure your meals arrive fresh. It adds a nice personal touch to meal delivery, but how does it work out in practice?

If you want fresh, healthy meal deliveries, Territory Foods is worth a look. It gives you the convenience of a national meal delivery service with a connection to the local culinary scene. Read on to see how Territory Foods can fit into your meal plans.

What’s on the Territory Foods Menu

Territory Foods has partnerships with local chefs and catering companies in several key urban areas. As it has grown, it has also established relationships with several larger food production services that specialize in making high-quality clean meals and can ship across a wider area. Here is a sample of meals Territory Foods offers in northern New Jersey. 

Chef Damian and Rasa are both in the DC metro area, which is just a few hours away from Newark. Rasa is a South Asian restaurant that has operations in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Damian Dajcz owns 6 restaurants in the region and is a regional celebrity chef. 

Evermade Foods LLC is also in Northern Virginia, but it is a much bigger operation. Territory Foods provides recipes that Evermade prepares and packages. Because it has much larger cooking and shipping capacities, Evermade meals can be found on the Territory Foods menu from Newark, New Jersey, to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Meal Options 

The number of meal options you have depends on where you live. Because my New Jersey zip code is in the NYC metro area, I have a choice of 91 meals. If I still lived in my rural Pennsylvania birthplace, I would have just 35 selections to choose from. That’s a reasonably good number, but you will only get the full Territory Foods experience in a few select areas.

The Territory Foods menu has a good variety of cuisines, with Asian, North African, and Latin American influences present in many entrees. The larger menu has more choices, but they follow the same pattern. And all meals arrive fully prepared, so you just need to heat them up in the microwave or oven. 

There are a few breakfast options each week, but most Territory Foods meals are better suited for lunch and dinner. And unlike many meal delivery services, Territory Foods does not have a marketplace where you can order bulk proteins or sides. Its meals are great for adults with adventurous palates but are unlikely to win fans among fussy children. 

You also can choose between a small selection of multi-portion sides. Chef Damian’s Asparagus Rice Pilaf (pictured above) will feed 4. There are also options for high-quality proteins, like roasted chicken and grilled salmon. 

Customization

Territory Foods offers the following menus:

• Performance Nutrition

• Low Carb

• Plant-Based

• Paleo

• Keto

• Whole30

• Mediterranean

• <500 Calories

Northern New Jersey has more specialized menu options than rural Pennsylvania. Vegans residing in northern NJ can choose between 30 different plant-based recipes. Susquehanna County herbivores have a whopping 7 choices. 

You can also filter out items containing many common problem ingredients. But be advised that Territory Foods meals are not certified gluten-free, dairy-free, or free of any allergens.

The disclaimer explains why the meals are not certified. It’s because they’re prepared in kitchens where gluten, dairy, and other allergens are present. This should not be a problem for people with mild to moderate sensitivities. But if you have serious gluten sensitivity or celiac disease, check our list of the best gluten-free meal delivery services.

Many Territory Foods meals are made with organic produce. Other Territory Farms chefs source their ingredients from local, family-owned farms that may not qualify for – or be able to afford – an official organic certification. All beef is grass fed or grass fed and grain finished, and all fish and seafood is wild-caught or sustainably raised. 

Unboxing

Your Territory Foods meals arrive fresh, never frozen. The containers stack easily in the refrigerator and are clearly labeled, so you will have no trouble finding the meal you need when you want it. 

Meals on the local delivery menu are good for up to 5 days after delivery and are delivered biweekly. Meals shipped by UPS are good for up to 8 days. Labels include suggestions on which meals should be eaten first. 

Meals shipped via UPS also come with a Fresh Tag card that indicates whether or not your meals are within the correct temperature for consumption. If the sticker on that card is green to light orange, your meals are safe to eat. If the sticker is deep orange or red, your meals have become too warm to be consumed safely.

The box, insulated liner, meal container, tray, and sauce ramekins are recyclable. The gel from the thawed ice pack, meal labels, stickers, and food safety cards go in the trash. Boxes are made from renewable fiber by a vendor certified to Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) standards. The liner is made from recycled water bottles. 

Cooking with Territory Foods

Since Territory Foods has already done the cooking, you just remove the lid, heat the meal up, and enjoy. The provided trays are microwave safe, but not oven safe. Each meal has heating instructions on the label. Territory Foods recommends oven or stovetop heating for best results. 

Shortlist of My Favorite Meals

Best Breakfast: Garden Baked Eggs with Sweet Potato Hash

These Garden Baked Eggs are the brainchild of Ethiopian chef Meski Worku, 1 of Territory’s most popular chefs. Eggs are baked sunny side up over spinach and tomato. Then you get a side hash of roasted sweet potatoes, red peppers, and onions. It’s a great way to start your morning, especially with a nice cup of Ethiopian Yirgacheffe coffee. 

If you like this dish, check out Worku’s other entrees, particularly her vegan Ethiopian Berbere Lentils with Brown Rice and Braised Collard Greens.

Best Lunch/Dinner Entree: Chicken Fajita Bowl with Cilantro Rice

This dish has Mexican-Style seasoned chicken strips with sautéed peppers and onions, served with a side of cilantro rice. It’s made by Demeter’s Pantry, a woman-owned small business that offers certified organic Mediterranean and Latin American meals. And with 49 g net carbs and 39 g of protein, this is also a great choice for athletes and fitness buffs.

If you like Demeter’s Pantry’s Mexican-inspired rice bowl, you should also try out its Asian-inspired Chicken Fried Rice with Sesame-Ginger Stir Fry Vegetables.

Best Low-Calorie Meal: Seafood Paella with Aromatic Saffron Rice

With meals like Seafood Paella with Aromatic Saffron Rice, dieting just got easier. This meal from Virginia chef Damien Dajcz features garlic sautéed shrimp, scallops and calamari with sweet peas tossed over saffron rice. It tastes so good, you’ll forget it has just 397 calories. And with 31 g of protein, bodybuilders working on definition can enjoy this dish without guilt. 

Chef Damien is a regular at Territory Foods, and you’ll find quite a few of his options on every weekly menu if you happen to be in the New York to Washington corridor. 

Prices

Territory Foods charges reasonable prices for the quality of its meals, but it’s definitely more expensive than many other prepared meal delivery services. While you may find 1 or 2 meals for $11.99 per serving, most single-serving meals will cost between $14.99 and $20.99. 

Prepared ingredients range from $11.99 for vegetables to $20.99 for precooked proteins. Vegetables typically come in 4-serving sizes, while proteins are generally in 2-serving packs. 

Your minimum order will vary depending on your location. In a local delivery zone, your minimum order is 10 meals, while in a national delivery zone, you can order a minimum of 8 meals. 

In most local delivery zones, delivery costs $9.99 per order. In the New York and San Francisco areas, the fee is $10.99. Since food is delivered biweekly, you’ll be charged twice a week. 

Fees for national shipping customers range from $11.99 to $17.99 per weekly order. Meals to national customers are shipped via UPS 2-day delivery. 

Shipping & Delivery

Deliveries for customers within Territory Foods local delivery zones are made twice weekly by an in-house team or a third-party local delivery team. My Newark, New Jersey address puts me in the NYC region, so I am eligible for the larger menu and twice-weekly deliveries.

Customers outside those delivery zones will have weekly deliveries completed by UPS. They receive an order confirmation email each Friday with a UPS tracking link included. Those deliveries are sent via UPS 2-day delivery and will arrive on Sundays to your residential address.

How Territory Foods Works

Ordering with Territory Foods is easy, and subscriptions are optional. Here’s how you can place an order in 4 easy steps. 

How to Sign Up

1. Accept or Modify Suggestions. After you enter your zip code, Territory Foods gives you a suggested selection of meals. You can accept these suggestions, replace them with different items, or add more items up to the maximum order of 12 meals.

2. Create an Account. For this step, you will need to provide an email address and create a password. 

3. Provide a Delivery Address. Enter the location to which you want your Territory Foods box to be delivered. 

4. Provide a Payment Method. Territory Foods accepts Visa, Mastercard, Amex, JCB, UnionPay, Discover, and Paypal. You can also choose at this stage to sign up for a weekly subscription or make a 1-time order. 

Managing Your Subscription

To skip or reschedule an upcoming delivery, you must do so by Thursday at 11:59 pm local time. Otherwise you will have to wait for the following week. You will have to do this on the website, as Territory Foods presently has no app.

If you want to change or cancel your subscription, log into your Dashboard and select the order you want to change, then select Manage Subscription. Scroll down to the Cancel Your Subscription option, and follow the instructions on the pop-out that appears. 

If you resubscribe, you’ll have to re-enter meal preferences and dietary restrictions. To avoid this inconvenience, you can pause your orders for up to 4 weeks or switch your subscription to a 1-time order. You must cancel before Thursday at 11:59 pm local time to avoid getting another Territory Foods box.

Customer Service

Territory Foods offers a live chat option. When I asked a question about heating meals, Tammy M. responded almost instantly and provided me with exactly the information I needed.

You can also reach Territory Foods by email at hello@territoryfoods.com or by phone at 213-344-0755. And if live chat is not available, you can leave a message or check the FAQ, which contains answers to most commonly asked questions. 

Every order comes with a full satisfaction guarantee. If you have any issues with a product, send an email and Territory Foods will provide a refund. 

How Territory Foods Compares to Other Meal Delivery Services

• Territory Foods vs. Factor: Both services send prepared meals to your home, but Factor also offers a selection of smoothies, breakfast items, and keto desserts as add-ons in its Market. With a selection of 35+ weekly meals, 40+ add-ons, and the option to mix and match across meal plans, you definitely won’t be bored with Factor’s offerings. Prices are a little less expensive than Territory Foods, starting at $10.49 per serving. The price you’ll pay depends on how much you order, with the per serving price reducing with larger orders.

• Territory Foods vs. Green Chef: Territory Foods offers some entrees made with organic produce, but Green Chef sends you meal kits that are USDA certified organic and are made with 95%+ organic produce and meats. Green Chef lets you mix and match from a menu of 40+ meal kits. If you like cooking and you follow a diet such as keto, gluten free, or plant-based, Green Chef could be worth a try. As well as the meals, there are weekly add-ons including lunches, breakfasts, bulk proteins, and salads. Prices start at $9.99 per serving. 

• Territory Foods vs HelloFresh: Territory Foods sends you single-serving prepared meals that are great for singles and couples, but HelloFresh offers you a wide variety of meal kits that are great for large, hungry households. HelloFresh is designed for families with many kid-friendly meals. The menu has many low-carb and low-calorie offerings, but you won't find much for keto or paleo diets. If you don’t follow a niche diet, then HelloFresh would be worth checking out. Prices are super-affordable at $3.32 per serving. The maximum order is 6 meals for 4 people.

The Bottom Line: Is Territory Foods Worth It?

Territory Foods is definitely worth it for dedicated paleo dieters. The Paleo menu at Territory Foods is cheaper, and more interesting, than the meals you’ll find at most Paleo services. I’d also recommend the Performance Nutrition menu for athletes who are also foodies. 

For people in a local delivery zone, Territory Foods is also an excellent choice. You get fresh meals from well-known regional chefs, along with a very broad menu of choices. I was very impressed by the available selection to my home address. 

You will still find great meals at Territory Foods if you’re in the national delivery zone. But the selection is smaller and you can get very similar prepared meals for a lower price with a Factor subscription. 

Overall, I think Territory Foods is a good value for the price. I would like to see it develop more relationships with regional chefs and expand its local delivery zones further. But as it is, Territory Foods has carved out a unique niche in the meal delivery service industry.

FAQ

Where does Territory Foods deliver?

Territory Foods delivers throughout most of the continental US via UPS. But it also has several local delivery zones where you can also order meals designed and prepared by popular local chefs.

Is Territory Foods organic?

Many but not all Territory Foods meals are made with organic produce. Some are made using locally-sourced ingredients from family farms that might not be able to afford an expensive organic certification.

Is Territory Foods expensive?

With prices starting at $11.99 , Territory Foods is 1 of the more expensive services we cover. But the quality of its ingredients and its reliance on local chefs give it an excellent price-to-value ratio.