After receiving complaints from Brooklyn residents, HelloFresh will end its street team program throughout New York City, the company told CBS2 in a statement.
Many New Yorkers found the meal-delivery service’s street solicitation efforts invasive, with one classifying their tactics as “borderline harassment” on Twitter.
These @HelloFresh Brooklyn Heights street solicitors need a lesson in manners…. borderline harassment.
— Jason Ostrander (@JasonAlanNYC) July 29, 2017
Complaints — which go back to at least September 2016 on Twitter —include solicitors, who have been dubbed #HelloFreshZombies, following residents down the sidewalk and onto trains and buses or physically blocking them as they try to walk away.
@HelloFresh your canvassing in Brooklyn has turned to harassment. Complete disrespect for the neighborhood’s residence. #Williamsburg
— Jeremiah McDaniel (@Jeremy8Adams) September 27, 2016
If voter reg operations had as many canvassers in downtown Brooklyn as HelloFresh does, BK would have the highest turnout ever in November
— sarah k. kennedy (@sarahkkennedy) July 5, 2017
Super annoyed to be hit on by @HelloFresh team in Brooklyn. watched them target other young women. Like I don’t get enough str harassment
— Jamele Watkins (@jamwatk) July 5, 2017
The @hellofresh zombies were out in full force in Brooklyn today as well.#HelloFreshZombies
— Anthony David Adams (@AnthonyAdams) August 4, 2017
HelloFresh’s Twitter account has responded to some of the complaints with promises to pass them to its sales team manager, but on Tuesday, the company told CBS2 that the street teams will be phased out by Friday.
“We have recently been made aware of this unfortunate situation and have made the decision to shut down our street team program in the New York metro area,” HelloFresh said. “We are committed to delivering a positive experience around home cooking to more people in a way that accurately reflects the HelloFresh brand, and anything else will not be tolerated.”
