Jenn Dods
What a Crock Meals is a Pennsylvania-based meal delivery company that offers chef-prepared, frozen meals designed to be cooked in a slow cooker. Founded in 2014 by Justin and BrieAnna West, the company ships nationwide across the United States. It specializes in ready-made meals aimed at busy individuals and families seeking home-cooked food without the need for traditional prep or cooking.
History
What a Crock Meals was founded in 2014 by Justin and BrieAnna West. The concept emerged from their personal experience of preparing slow cooker meals in bulk while balancing work and family life. According to Justin West, the couple would prep meals together every Sunday and freeze them for the week—an approach that evolved into a business concept.[1]
They opened their first production kitchen in September 2014, after overcoming delays related to permits and construction. The business quickly scaled to include e-commerce ordering and nationwide frozen meal shipping.[2]
Products and services
The company’s primary offerings are portioned, frozen meals designed for slow cookers. Menu items include entrées such as Chicken Marsala, Italian Beef, Pulled Pork, and vegetarian options, as well as soups like Broccoli Cheddar Ale.[3] Meals are vacuum-sealed and labeled with cooking instructions.
Key features:
- À la carte ordering with no subscription required
- Gift bundles for holidays, care packages, and special occasions
- Rotating seasonal menus, about 60–70 items
- Single-serving portions for individuals, families, and seniors
New recipes are introduced monthly, with full seasonal menu updates each quarter.[4]
Operations
What a Crock ships to all 48 contiguous U.S. states from its Pennsylvania facility, using dry ice and renewable insulated packaging. Shipping costs vary by region and order size, with free or discounted options available.[5]
The company plans to open an additional production facility in the western U.S. to improve shipping rates and reach.
Sustainability
The company emphasizes sustainability and food waste reduction. It reports minimal food loss due to pre-portioning and freezing of meals. Additionally, it uses 99% renewable packaging materials for the majority of its shipping orders.[6]
Community engagement
The company, through its subsidiary Bulk Foods Delco, assembled and distributed care packages containing frozen meals and pantry staples for over 300 former Crozer Health employees impacted by hospital closures in May 2025. Founder Justin West described the effort as "support for the people that have literally taken care of us for the last 50 years."[7]
Media coverage and recognition
- In 2016, *Be Well Philly* profiled What a Crock for its convenience-focused “dump-and-go” slow cooker meals.[8]
- In 2017, *Philadelphia Magazine* named it one of the city’s “Best Dinner Planners,” stating it “has out‑convenienced the Blue Aprons of the world.”[9]
- That same year, WPVI-TV’s *FYI Philly* awarded it “Best Meal Planners” in its “Best Local Helpers and Fixers” segment.[10]
- In July 2025, the *New York Post* ranked it among the best U.S. meal kit services for its flexible ordering and extensive menu.[11]
See also
References
- ↑ "What a Crock, Meals To Go 2025: Slow Cooker, Premade Meals". DeliveryRank. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ↑ "What a Crock, Meals To Go 2025: Slow Cooker, Premade Meals". DeliveryRank. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ↑ "What a Crock review: Frozen meal kit delivery service". Reviewed.com. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ↑ "What a Crock, Meals To Go 2025: Slow Cooker, Premade Meals". DeliveryRank. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ↑ "What a Crock, Meals To Go 2025: Slow Cooker, Premade Meals". DeliveryRank. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ↑ "What a Crock, Meals To Go 2025: Slow Cooker, Premade Meals". DeliveryRank. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ↑ Madeleine Wright (May 6, 2025). "Delco business steps up to help ex‑Crozer Health employees after closure". CBS Philadelphia. Missing or empty
|url=(help) - ↑ "Company Slinging Prepackaged Crock‑Pot Meals Comes to…". Be Well Philly. June 7, 2016. Missing or empty
|url=(help) - ↑ "2017 Best Dinner Planners: What a Crock". Philadelphia Magazine. Missing or empty
|url=(help) - ↑ "Best Local Helpers and Fixers – Best Meal Planners: What a Crock". WPVI‑TV. August 14, 2017. Missing or empty
|url=(help) - ↑ "I tested 25 meal delivery kits to beat grocery store burnout—these 13 won". New York Post. 2025-07-18.
External links
References
This article "Jenn Dods" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Jenn Dods. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
- ↑ "What a Crock, Meals To Go 2025: Slow Cooker, Premade Meals". DeliveryRank. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ↑ "What a Crock review: Frozen meal kit delivery service". Reviewed.com. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ↑ "What a Crock opens at Market on the Fareway". Philadelphia Magazine. June 7, 2016. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ↑ "Company Slinging Prepackaged Crock‑Pot Meals Comes to…". Be Well Philly. June 7, 2016. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ↑ "2017 Best Dinner Planners: What a Crock". Philadelphia Magazine. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ↑ "Best Local Helpers and Fixers – Best Meal Planners: What a Crock". WPVI-TV. August 14, 2017. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ↑ "I tested 25 meal delivery kits to beat grocery store burnout—these 13 won". New York Post. 2025-07-18. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ↑ Madeleine Wright (May 6, 2025). "Delco business steps up to help ex‑Crozer Health employees after closure". CBS News Philadelphia. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
