instore - March 2018 - 30
MEAL KIT MAYHEM
The last year has been somewhat of a whirlwind when it comes to
news surrounding retailers and meal kits. Every week seemingly brings
another deal between a supermarket and a meal kit business, or a new
meal kit initiative. Below is a small look into some of that recent news.
Albertsons acquires Plated
September brought news that Albertsons Companies, one of the nation's
largest grocery retailers, had purchased premier meal kit service Plated.
The strategic step brought Plated's technology and data capabilities to
Albertsons as the retailer increased focus on innovation, personalization,
and customization. "With Plated, we've found a partner who shares our
commitment to delicious, affordable food, superior technology and
innovation," says Bob Miller, Albertsons chairman and CEO.
That knowledge and data likely played a huge role in the Albertsons
Companies decision to acquired Plated for $200 million in September.
"With Plated, we've found a partner who shares our commitment to
delicious, affordable food; superior technology and innovation; and
world class customer service," Albertsons chairman and CEO Bob
Miller said at the time. "Plated knows its customers better than anyone,
and together we will accelerate our ability to serve them."
Supervalu launches Quick'n Easy
Supervalu's line of meal solutions, launched in November, consists of
three categories: Ready to Enjoy, Heat & Eat, and Prepare at Home.
The Prepare at Home offerings are meal kit options with ingredients
already chopped, sliced and measured, including pre-seasoned and
pre-portioned meats. "Quick'n Easy is a great example of a program
developed and tested in our retail business that can be rolled out to our
wholesale customers," says Supervalu president and CEO Mark Gross.
With the deal, Plated has the ability access and even display in a
retail environment through Albertsons locations across the country.
Albertsons, in turn, has access to that valuable technology, database,
systems and culinary experts who put the Plated platform together.
"That's going to create an interesting dynamic," Uetz says. "It's been
interesting to watch the dynamics of the different ways the retail
community has been stepping into this program."
H-E-B goes simple
Popular Texas supermarket retailer H-E-B rolled out its Meal Simple kits
in the fourth quarter of 2017. The chef-inspired meals range from salads
to casseroles to entrees. Unlike some heat-and-eat options, these kits
require some preparation by the home chef.
Costco teams with True Food Innovations
Retail advantages
According to Nielsen, instore meal kit sales reached more than $80
million last year, up nearly 7 percent from the previous year. Of the 25
percent of Americans who say they've tried a meal kit in the past year,
17 percent say they purchased one in a supermarket.
True Food Innovations announced early in 2018 that it was debuting
a fresh True Chef Meal Kit at Costco and Bashas stores in Texas and
Arizona. True Foods president Robert Jones says the company has
developed first-of-its-kid patent-pending formulations for fresh meal kits
specifically for retail. The kits will launch nationally throughout 2018.
"It's fair to expect that the rate of future acquisitions of players in the
meal kit space could accelerate, particularly as retailers intensify
their focus on expanding online offerings in the wake of the Amazon
Kroger expands Prep+Pared
Costco is bringing meal kits to the club store setting with True Chef.
The Kroger Co. expanded its Prep+Pared line of meal kits to four new
divisions in December, bringing the total of participating stores to nearly
200. Several new divisions were set to get the meal kits in early 2018. The
line is part of Kroger's Our Brands portfolio and the announcement of a
new Culinary Innovation Center will likely lead to further advancements.
Meijer offers inspiration
Midwestern retailer Meijer, in February, announce its Meal Inspirations,
four new kits that offer three recipes included on a peel-away label. The
recipes call for minimal additional ingredients and each is ready in less
than 40 minutes with no chopping of vegetables. The company also
introduced four vegetable kids called Roasters.
Publix rolled out its Simple Meals initiative, which consists of a kiosk
near its prepared foods department that has recipe cards and all the
ingredients necessary to make the meal at home. "Its all about helping
customers learn to have fun in the kitchen," says Publix spokesperson
Kimberly Reynolds. "We make cooking at home very non-intimidating."
30 * MARCH 2018 * instore
THEFANCYNAVAJO.COM
Publix's unique take on meal kits
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of instore - March 2018
instore - March 2018
Need to Know - Dabates and definitions
Spotlight - By the numbers
Merchandising - Branded baked goods
Specialty Insights - Organic deli products
Cover Story - Bi-Rite Market's Sam Mogannam
Commissary Insider
Insight Insider - Bi-Rite commissary
Equipment - Pizza Production
Food Safety - Allergen detection
Packaging - Grab 'n Go grabs market share
R&D - Investing in the Silicon Valley of food
Equipment & Packaging - Latest innovation: Frying technology
instore - March 2018 - instore - March 2018
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instore - March 2018 - 5
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instore - March 2018 - 7
instore - March 2018 - Need to Know - Dabates and definitions
instore - March 2018 - 9
instore - March 2018 - Spotlight - By the numbers
instore - March 2018 - 11
instore - March 2018 - Merchandising - Branded baked goods
instore - March 2018 - 13
instore - March 2018 - 14
instore - March 2018 - 15
instore - March 2018 - Specialty Insights - Organic deli products
instore - March 2018 - 17
instore - March 2018 - 18
instore - March 2018 - 19
instore - March 2018 - Cover Story - Bi-Rite Market's Sam Mogannam
instore - March 2018 - 21
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instore - March 2018 - Insight Insider - Bi-Rite commissary
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instore - March 2018 - 36
instore - March 2018 - 37
instore - March 2018 - Equipment - Pizza Production
instore - March 2018 - 39
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instore - March 2018 - 41
instore - March 2018 - Food Safety - Allergen detection
instore - March 2018 - 43
instore - March 2018 - 44
instore - March 2018 - 45
instore - March 2018 - Packaging - Grab 'n Go grabs market share
instore - March 2018 - 47
instore - March 2018 - 48
instore - March 2018 - 49
instore - March 2018 - R&D - Investing in the Silicon Valley of food
instore - March 2018 - 51
instore - March 2018 - Equipment & Packaging - Latest innovation: Frying technology
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https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2018_12_01
http://digital.instoremag.net/sosland/isb/2018_11_01
http://digital.instoremag.net/sosland/isb/2018_10_01
http://digital.instoremag.net/sosland/isb/2018_09_01
http://digital.instoremag.net/sosland/isb/2018_08_01
http://digital.instoremag.net/sosland/isb/2018_07_01
http://digital.instoremag.net/sosland/isb/2018_06_01
http://digital.instoremag.net/sosland/isb/2018_05_01
http://digital.instoremag.net/sosland/isb/2018_04_01
http://digital.instoremag.net/sosland/isb/2018_03_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2018_02_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2018_01_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2017_12_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2017_11_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2017_10_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2017_09_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2017_08_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2017_07_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2017_06_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2017_05_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2017_04_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2017_03_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2017_02_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2017_01_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2016_12_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2016_11_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2016_10_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2016_09_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2016_08_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2016_07_01
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https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2016_02_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2016_01_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2015_12_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2015_10_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2015_07_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2015_06_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2015_06_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2015_05_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2015_03_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2015_01_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2014_11_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2014_09_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2014_08_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2014_06_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2014_07_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2014_05_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2014_03_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2014_01_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2013_11_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2013_09_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2013_08_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2013_07_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2013_06_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2013_05_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2013_03_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2013_01_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2012_11_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2012_10_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2012_09_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2012_08_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2012_07_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2012_06_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2012_05_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2012_04_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2012_03_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2012_02_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2011_12_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2011_10_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2011_09_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2011_08_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2011_07_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2011_06_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2011_05_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2011_04_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2011_03_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2011_02_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2009_02_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2008_12_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2008_09_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2008_08_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2008_07_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2008_05_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2008_04_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2008_02_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2007_12_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2007_08_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/isb/2007_07_01
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