Kroger Co. rolls out its recently acquired Home Chef meal kits to Kroger stores in select locations, beginning in Illinois (Mariano’s), Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin (Pick ‘n Save and Metro Market).
The retailer and Home Chef announced the launch of weekly rotating in-store meal kits, as well as the test of the new Home Chef Express product, a quick-cook meal kit ready to eat in 15 minutes, according to a company press release.
“We are excited to introduce Home Chef’s new retail meal kits to our store customers,” said Robert Clark, Kroger’s senior vice president of merchandising. “Offering a rotating menu of recipes is one more way we are providing our customers with innovative culinary experiences and choices. The Home Chef meal kits will redefine the way customers shop for, prep, and cook their meals.”
The Cincinnati based retailer acquired the meal-kit company for $200 million back in, saying in a press release that the partnership would “revolutionize how families shop for, prep and cook their meals.”
Kroger will expand Home Chef meals to more stores next year
The in-store meals will include Home Chef’s ingredients and recipes, with each meal serving two and starting at $8.50 per serving. The meal-kits will rotate weekly in stores, which will offer four meal-kits at a time.
Founded in 2013, Chicago-based Home Chef is one of the largest meal-kit companies in the U.S., with over 3 million meals delivered each month. The company delivers nationwide.
“We’re excited to take this first step in revolutionizing mealtime by bringing Home Chef’s signature variety and great-tasting meals directly to Kroger customers. We are also looking forward to introducing our new line of Home Chef Express meal kits that address a major customer need—faster meals,” said Pat Vihtelic, Home Chef’s founder and CEO.
Kroger will expand the meal kits to the rest of its supermarkets in 2019.