HelloFresh’s swift exit from Japan marks a failure on the part of the meal box provider. After more than a year of preparation and search for employees, the company’s Asian expansion plan fell short of expectations. Founder Thomas Griesel admitted to his failure in a letter to employees and pointed to a lack of profitability and retention as the primary causes for the exit.

While it is understandable that not all business ventures succeed, it is concerning to see a company not abiding by legal requirements and not showing adequate respect for its employees. The fact that the Japanese team was only notified on December 20 that they would lose their jobs on December 31 is unacceptable and violates the 30-day notice period required by law. This kind of behavior is not only disrespectful to employees but can also damage a company’s reputation.

It is troubling that HelloFresh hoped to keep the termination quiet for as long as possible by not notifying the press in advance. This type of behavior undermines transparency and accountability and raises questions about the company’s ethics and values.

Overall, HelloFresh’s exit from Japan highlights the importance of careful planning and thorough market research before launching in a new country. While setbacks can occur, it is crucial to handle these situations with respect and professionalism. The company’s actions in Japan fall short of these standards, and it is imperative that they learn from this experience and take steps to prevent similar failures in the future.

What did the Japanese customer say to HelloFresh? “Your meal kit was a miso-take!”