Why Kroger Did a Standalone Restaurant

The team at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® was scratching their heads and asking themselves ‘Why did Kroger build a standalone restaurant’ when it was announced.  They pondered did Kroger not learn anything from Publix Supermarkets when they were left with no alternative other than sell their ‘fast casual’ restaurant chain of 24 units?

Does Kroger think they can be as good of a restaurant operator as Wegmans? Foodservice Solutions® team likes Amore Restaurant and Wine Bar by Wegmans. Wegmans Amore is filled with Italian Classics has become destination dining for many.

Then there is Next Door, by Wegmans filled with all-natural, sustainable and organic ingredients that come from their stores and are specially selected for you by thier chefs. Or do they think they want to be like Whole Foods and have a restaurant like ‘The Pub or The Burger Bar.

The team at Foodservice Solutions® joked that with 18 banners / brands currently maybe Kroger thought that having one more made sense.  The new standalone restaurant called Kitchen 1883, since it is located a short distance from the company’s Cincinnati headquarters may be just a proving ground for testing new menu ideations, service formants or place for Kroger corporate employees to relax and have craft cocktails.

Daniel Hammer, Kroger's vice president of Culinary Development and New Business stated "The restaurant will feature a made-from-scratch menu, hand-crafted cocktails, and a community-centered atmosphere." …"With Kitchen 1883, our goal is to create a gathering place that offers a genuinely delicious place to relax and experience our food," Wow all that from a Grocer who opened Main & Vine? 

Don’t explore outdated retail foodservice tactics to uncover the undercurrents of retail foodservice customer migration.  If you 18, 19, 20, or 21 one brands garnering incremental customers is not easy unless you have the ability to elevate customer focused relevant meals, menus, messaging, and food components to drive adoption.  Success does leave clues and the team at Foodservice Solutions® has been Looking A Customer Ahead and has the clues to empower effective foodservice strategies.

Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing tactics look more like yesterday that tomorrow?  Visit www.FoodserviceSolutions.us for more information or contact: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us Remember success does leave clues and we just may the clue you need to propel your continued success.