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Review of Thrive Market Grocery Delivery 2024

Find out why so many shoppers are turning to this online grocery store.
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Thrive Market is an online grocery store that sells nutritious food products, such as dried and canned goods and frozen foods, at a discount to members. The company prioritizes ethically-raised animal products, organic foods and takes steps to reduce its environmental impact, making it popular amongst environmentally- and health-conscious consumers.

Thrive Market members pay a monthly fee in order to have access to its favorite products at a discounted rate.

Read on to learn more about Thrive Market, including what they offer, how the membership process works and how Thrive Market compares to traditional grocery stores.

This content is meant to be informative, but should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention or treatment of health problems. Always speak with your doctor before starting any new supplement or exercise regimen.

What is Thrive Market?

Thrive Market is an online grocery store that caters to health-minded individuals. The company was started in 2014 by founders Nick Green, Gunnar Lovelace, Kate Mulling and Sasha Siddhartha. After realizing that many parts of the country did not have access to healthy food options, Green and the co-founders created Thrive Market to make shopping for healthy food more convenient and affordable.

Thrive Market isn’t like a typical online grocery store, as they primarily sell nutritious items, such as grains, legumes, nuts, seeds and healthy snack foods. Thrive Market only sells foods from companies and farms that align with its vision of promoting human health while reducing environmental impact. Currently, Thrive market offers 6,900 products from over 800 brands.

Thrive Market Standards

Thrive Market products must meet strict standards, and many ingredients and foods are banned from being sold on its site. For example, the company bans all GMO foods and products that contain artificial flavors, artificial colors and artificial preservatives. High-fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated fats, the artificial sweetener acesulfame K, bleached flour and BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) & BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) are other ingredients and additives banned by Thrive Market.

In addition to banning certain foods, additives and ingredients, Thrive Market only permits certain ingredients if they meet the company’s sustainability standards. For example, products that contain palm oil are only allowed to be sold on the website if the palm oil is responsibly sourced from Central or South America and not from areas where deforestation is a concern, such as the rainforests of Southeast Asia.

Cane sugar, which can be found in Thrive Market products like candy and other sweets, must also be sustainably produced.

In addition to food quality, Thrive Market has strict standards when it comes to its environmental impact. In fact, the company is currently carbon-neutral and it is working towards becoming carbon negative by 2025. Carbon-negative companies must remove more carbon from the atmosphere than they emit, while carbon-neutral companies remove the same amount of carbon that they emit. In addition to being an environmentally-friendly company, Thrive Market also gives back to communities by donating a free membership to a family in need for every yearly membership purchased and contributing funds to non-profits and disaster relief efforts.

All Thrive Market warehouses are TRUE-Certified for Zero Waste, which means they recycle or repurpose at least 90 percent of the materials that enter its warehouses. In order to maintain this certification, Thrive Market must continue to meet the 90 percent diversion requirement every year.

What Does Thrive Market Sell?

Thrive Market sells products from popular health food brands such as Siete, Bob’s Red Mill, A Dozen Cousins, Artisana and Simple Mills. In addition to these brands, Thrive Market also carries its own line of products.

In addition to dried, canned and frozen foods, Thrive Market also sells non-alcoholic beverages and alcoholic drinks. The Thrive Market site sells grains, nuts, seeds, nut butters, cereals, meat and poultry products, frozen fruit, ice cream and even wine. Keep in mind that Thrive Market does not sell fresh produce or unfrozen meat, seafood or dairy products.

Related Post: Best Meat Delivery Services

In addition, Thrive Market also sells beauty products, like makeup and shampoo, supplements, household items, pet food and workout gear.

Its massive selection of high-quality, nutritious food products and dedication to sustainability has gained Thrive Market a loyal customer following.

Pros

  • Offers a variety of nutritious foods, including dried, canned and frozen products
  • Environmentally-friendly practices
  • Carbon-neutral and transition to carbon-negative by 2025
  • Carries products suitable for paleo, keto and vegan diets
  • Customers save up to 30% on products
  • Thrive Market has a low-price promise and will match competitors' prices
  • Donates to families in need
  • Ships directly to all addresses within the contiguous United States
  • Autoship available
  • User-friendly website
  • Has a “buy it again” tab, which makes it easier to reorder your favorite products
  • The company frequently offers free gifts and sends discounts to members

Cons

  • Does not sell fresh produce
  • Some items require a two- to three-product minimum
  • Some items on the Thrive Market website are more expensive than items sold in some grocery stores
  • Some customers report that canceling memberships can be a difficult process

How Does Thrive Market Work?

ThriveMarket

Thrive Market is a membership-based website, meaning that you must pay for a membership in order to purchase items from its site.

Customers can choose between a monthly or yearly membership. The yearly membership costs $59.95, while the monthly membership costs $12.00 per month. Customers who sign up for the yearly membership save 41% compared to customers who pay monthly for an entire year. Signing up for a membership is easy and takes just a few minutes. If you opt for the yearly membership, Thrive Market offers a 30-day window in which you can request a refund if you decide the service isn’t for you.

No matter which membership you choose, Thrive Market guarantees that you’ll make back the annual membership fee in savings each year. If you don’t, Thrive Market will pay you the difference in Thrive Cash, which can only be used at Thrive Market when you renew your membership.

The membership fee gives you access to Thrive Market’s discounted prices, exclusive sales and free gifts. You can place orders whenever you like or schedule monthly orders to be delivered automatically. Customers receive a 30 percent discount on their first auto-ship box.

Thrive Market has no order frequency requirements or limits, meaning that customers can place orders as often as they like. To make reordering your favorite items easier, the Thrive Market website has a “Buy it Again” option, which lists all of the items you’ve previously purchased. Customers can also create shopping lists, including lists of favorite items, to make it easier to keep track of foods and other products that they’ve enjoyed or would like to purchase in the future.

Once you sign up for a Thrive Market Membership, you can shop for goods on the Thrive Market website or on the Thrive Market app, which is available for iOS and Android.

Shipping

After your order is placed, Thrive Market offers fast and free shipping, as long as you meet a certain limit. Here’s more about the shipping costs:

  • Grocery: $5.95, and free shipping on orders over $49 
  • Frozen: $19.95, and free shipping on orders over $120 (A $65 order minimum is required to checkout with frozen)
  • Wine: $13.95, and free shipping on orders over $79

Depending on where you live, your box will be shipped with FedEx, Lasership, OnTrac and USPS (via FedEx Ground Economy). Thrive Market currently ships to all contiguous United States street addresses via ground shipping methods. Keep in mind that Thrive Market can’t ship to P.O. boxes and they do not ship to Alaska, Hawaii or international addresses.

Most Thrive Market orders are processed within 12 hours of placement and ship within 24 hours. When your order is shipped, Thrive Market will send you a shipping confirmation with tracking information.

Here’s more about delivery times:

  • Most pantry orders will arrive within two to four days after placing your order.
  • Frozen will arrive within about two to three business days once they have been shipped from our warehouse. Frozen orders are usually shipped Monday through Wednesday.
  • Wine orders typically arrive within three to six days after placing your order.

Customers can view their order status at any time on the Thrive Market website.

Orders are packed using eco-friendly practices and mostly recycled materials. Dry grocery products are packed in recyclable boxes and void-fill paper that is made from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified 100 percent recycled content. Frozen items are packed in the same FSC-certified 100 percent recycled content boxes, with curbside recyclable packaging, plastic-wrapped fiber insulation and dry ice.

Thrive Market limits its plastic use and prioritizes eco-friendly packaging. In 2022, the company reduced plastic shipping materials by 70 percent, and they continue to cut its plastic use whenever possible.

Related Post: Best Healthy Meal Delivery Services

Quality of Products and Ingredients

Thrive Market grocery delivery service food items

Thrive Market offers an array of food, home products, supplements, pet products, beauty and wellness products and even alcoholic beverages. Here’s more about what they offer.

Grocery

Thrive Market offers a variety of grocery items, including dried and canned foods, grains, legumes, snack foods, nuts and seeds, nut butters, oils, nut milks, coffee and tea, cereals, condiments, baking items and so much more.

You can filter products based on your dietary restrictions and preferences, making it a safe and convenient option for people with food allergies or other dietary restrictions.

Here are some of the dietary filters offered on the Thrive Market website:

  • Dairy-free
  • Plant-based
  • Grain-free
  • Vegan
  • High-fiber
  • Keto
  • High-protein
  • Organic
  • Whole30
  • Low FODMAP

Related Post: Best Keto Meal Delivery Services You Should Try

You can also filter products based on their environmental impact and sustainability practices, as well as ingredients and allergens.

Some of the most popular grocery items on the Thrive Market website include:

  • Thrive Market brand Organic Dry Roasted & Salted Cashews: $12.32
  • CHOMPS Mini Grass-Fed Beef Chomplings: $8.79
  • Thrive Market Brand Avocado Oil: $10.99
  • Primal Kitchen Avocado Oil Mayo: $10.29
  • Thrive Market Organic Pitted Medjool Dates: $8.99
  • Simply Organic Ground Cinnamon: $8.99
  • Siete Grain Free Tortilla Chips: $5.29
  • Thrive Market Organic Apple Sauce: $2.99
  • Thrive Market Jasmine Rice: $5.99
  • Rao’s Homemade Marinara Sauce: $7.49

Thrive Market’s online grocery store is packed with options for kids and adults including snack foods, canned seafood products, dried fruit, low-sugar drinks and pantry staples like avocado oil and spices. The website also offers a large selection of drinks such as sparkling water, teas and juices. Many of its products, such as maple syrup, coffee, snack foods and sea salt, are offered in larger sizes, making it a convenient choice for families.

All of Thrive Market’s grocery products are of high quality and must meet the company’s strict standards for sustainability.

Frozen Products

Though Thrive Market doesn’t offer fresh produce or fresh animal products, such as fresh vegetables and eggs, it does sell frozen goods, like meat, seafood, ice cream, frozen meals, bread, fruit and vegetables, pastas and more.

Some of the most popular frozen items on the Thrive Market website include:

  • Strong Roots Cauliflower Hash Browns: $6.99
  • Base Culture Sourdough Bread: $9.99
  • Capello's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough: $13.99
  • Sweet Nothings Spoonable Smoothies: $2.89 per cup
  • Food For Life Sprouted Whole-Grain English Muffins: $6.49
  • Kevin’s Paleo Chicken Tikka Masala: $10.79
  • Alexia Sweet Potato Fries: $6.79
  • Cascadian Farms Frozen Organic Blueberries: $16.99

Thrive Market also sells frozen meat, seafood and poultry products such as salmon filets and ground beef. Thrive Market brand frozen animal products must meet strict standards for sustainability, animal welfare and environmental impact.

For example, its beef is from cattle that are pasture-raised on small and mid-sized farms in Chile. The animals are 100 percent grass-fed and -finished and spend 365 days a year outdoors.

Similarly, Thrive Market’s seafood is caught in areas of the ocean that are actively monitored to prevent overfishing and the fishermen that supply Thrive Market seafood work to minimize bycatch, or non-targeted species that are caught during commercial fishing for a different species.

All of the seafood available at Thrive Market is sustainable and traceable—meaning each piece of fish is caught from a region that is being monitored for overfishing. Many of its seafood products are certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (or MSC), a non-profit organization that sets international best practices for sustainable fishing.

In addition to frozen meat, seafood and poultry, Thrive Market also offers healthy, fully-prepared frozen meals, which make a smart choice for busy people who want quick yet nutritious options.

Wine and Alcoholic Drinks

If you prefer sustainably-farmed, organic wines and low-sugar alcoholic beverages, you may want to try out Thrive Market’s selection of wines, ciders and more. Thrive Market carries wines from vineyards worldwide that use organic, biodynamic or sustainable practices. The wines sold on the website undergo minimal filtration and contain no added sugar, oak chips or color-correcting additives. They are also low in sulfites.

When shopping for wine, customers can filter their selection by wine type and can also choose preferences like pesticide-free, low-sugar and organic.

In addition to red, white, sparkling and rosé wine, Thrive Market also sells hard ciders and alcohol-free wine.

Related Post: The Best Non-Alcoholic Wines

Household Goods and Other Items

Though best known for its grocery items, Thrive Market also sells home goods, supplements, beauty products, pet items, home fitness equipment, cleaning products and home accessories. The wide range of products sold at Thrive Market makes it a convenient website for people who want to stock up on groceries as well as other items they use regularly, such as laundry detergent, soap and pet food.

Thrive Market offers a variety of clean beauty and hygiene products, including makeup, shower gel, tampons and toothpaste. Some of the beauty brands popular amongst Thrive Market customers include Well People, Burt’s Bees and Weleda. In 2023, Thrive Market introduced its own beauty brand f.a.e. by Thrive Market: Clean Beauty For All, Everywhere. f.a.e. is a collection of clean and cruelty-free beauty products, such as shampoos, facial oils, lotions and conditioners. The products are free from ingredients like parabens and phthalates and are cruelty-free.

In addition to beauty products and household goods like cleaning products, Thrive Market customers can also choose from a variety of dietary supplements, including vitamins, protein bars, minerals, protein powders, fish oil and herbal supplements.

Thrive Market Cost vs Grocery Stores

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Though members do save money by using the Thrive Market site while having access to a variety of nutritious foods and other products, shopping at some grocery stores may be less expensive. For example, shopping at a local discount grocery store or purchasing groceries from a large retailer like Walmart will likely be cheaper than shopping at Thrive Market.

However, this completely depends on where you’re shopping, your purchasing habits, food preferences and more. If you usually shop at more expensive stores such as Whole Foods or local organic grocery stores, then switching to Thrive Market might be a more affordable option.

Thrive Market items are priced similarly to those sold by Whole Foods, though some items sold on Thrive Market may be more expensive. For example, Whole Foods 365 brand prices its raw organic cashews at $.62 per ounce, while Thrive Market sells its raw organic cashews for $.72 per ounce. So, although some products on Thrive Market may be sold at a lower price point than other popular grocery stores, it’s still a relatively expensive website.

That said, the quality of the food and Thrive Market’s strict sustainability and ingredient standards set the company apart from most grocery stores. Overall, Thrive Market is a good choice for health-minded and environmentally-conscious shoppers who want access to their favorite healthy foods at a discounted price without having to step foot inside a traditional grocery store.

Who Should Use Thrive Market

If you’re looking for a one-stop shop for most of your grocery, wellness and household needs and want the convenience of online shopping, then Thrive Market is the right choice for you. Not only does Thrive Market offer a wide variety of healthy foods for both kids and adults, customers can fill their carts with beverages, cleaning supplies, pet food and even beauty products all from the comfort of their own home.

Thrive Market makes it easy for you to follow a nutritious diet and even offers frozen, full-prepared meals as well as foods like frozen seafood and vegetables, so you can always have the ingredients you need to make a complete meal. This makes Thrive Market an excellent option for busy individuals who struggle to find the time to stock their kitchens with healthy items.

Thrive Market is also a helpful alternative for people who live in areas where access to healthy food options is limited.

Plus, you can feel good supporting Thrive Market as the company has strict health and sustainability standards and does its best to limit its impact on the environment.

Who Should NOT Use Thrive Market

Although Thrive Market is a good option for some people, it’s not the best choice for everyone. For example, because Thrive Market doesn’t offer fresh foods, it’s not the best choice for people who consume mostly fresh ingredients like fruits and vegetables.

Also, if you prefer shopping in person or purchasing all of your grocery items, including fresh produce, in one store, Thrive Market may not be the right fit for you.

Lastly, though you can save money using Thrive Market, it’s still relatively expensive. Those on a strict budget may find that Thrive Market doesn’t offer foods and other products within their price range. That said, Thrive Market does offer free yearly memberships to families in financial need.

What Customers Are Saying About Thrive Market

Thrive Market has mostly positive customer reviews. The company has close to 4,000 reviews on the third-party rating platform Trustpilot, with an average score of 3.6, which is considered "average."

73 percent of customers rate Thrive Market at five stars and comment that being a Thrive Market member has helped save them money while providing their families with nutritious foods. Positive reviews also mention that Thrive Market has impressive customer service and that the company is quick to remedy any issues. Customers enjoy the convenience of online shopping, the easy-to-use website and the wide variety of high-quality items offered on Thrive Market.

Negative customer reviews report that canceling memberships can be difficult and that customer service can be difficult to contact. Also, some customers complain about receiving too many emails from Thrive Market.

Overall, most Thrive Market customers are happy with the service and the quality of Thrive Market products.

Thrive Market Brand Reputation

Thrive Market has an excellent online brand reputation and mostly positive customer reviews.

In terms of employee satisfaction, most employees like working at Thrive Market. On the employment site Glassdoor, Thrive Market has received 235 employee reviews, with an average rating of 3.7 stars out of five. 88 percent of the employees who left a review approve of Thrive Market’s current CEO, Nick Green, and 64 percent would recommend working for Thrive Market to a friend. In comparison, Whole Foods has a 3.5 out of five stars on Glassdoor, based on over 18,336 reviews and only 60 percent of employees would recommend working at Whole Foods to a friend.

Overall, Thrive Market is a reputable company and seems to care for its customers and employees. They also seem to make an effort to ensure its employees and customers are happy.

Thrive Market FAQs

Do you have to order every month from Thrive Market?

No. Thrive Market members can order as often or as infrequently as they like.

How fast is Thrive shipping?

Most pantry orders will arrive within two to four days after placing your order. Frozen will arrive within about two to three business days once they have been shipped from our warehouse. Wine orders typically arrive within three to six days after placing your order.

Does Thrive Market have physical locations?

No. Thrive Market is online only.

Can I browse Thrive Market without a membership?

Though you can you see the categories of food and other products that Thrive Market offers, you can’t browse its products, search for specific items or make a purchase without a membership.

Is Thrive owned by Amazon?

No, Thrive Market is not owned by Amazon. It is privately held.

Takeaway: Is Thrive Market Worth It?

Thrive Market is a membership-only online grocery store that offers a variety of nutritious groceries, including canned and dried goods, frozen foods and drinks. The company also sells home goods, pet food, beauty products, cleaning products and many other items.

Thrive Market members can access nutritious foods and other popular products at a discount. However, the items sold on the website are generally more expensive compared to items you would find in a local discount grocery store. That said, Thrive Market offers high-quality products that meet strict sustainability and human health standards, which is why the company has gained a loyal customer following.

Overall, Thrive Market is an excellent choice for people who want access to hundreds of nutritious foods, supplements and even household items without having to travel to the grocery store.

If you’re interested in trying out Thrive Market, visit its website to sign up today.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.

Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.

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