Rouses Market Helping Restaurants Sell Meals while Closed

Neighbors being neighbors helping the community find some normalcy while edifying its relationship with consumers.  Our Grocerant Guru® Steven Johnson wants to thank Kat Martin for bringing this story to the world.  We are all in this unusual Coronavirus situation together some cities and states are experiencing it much worse than others.  Here is some bright news for everyone.  

In short at Rouses Market customers buy meals in-store, restaurants keep the profits. We all have heard or seen that restaurants have been forced to close. In areas where coronavirus pandemic is reaching its peak So, Rouses Market is testing a program where customers can buy to-go meals prepared by some of their favorite restaurants that are being sold in Rouses stores. The following is from Martin’s story:

“We are one food community, and much as we can, we will support each other during these difficult times,” said Donny Rouse, CEO of Rouses Market. “Our customers visit our stores for lunch or dinner, not just for groceries. This gives restaurants another way to sell takeout, and our customers another way to support some of their favorite restaurants and chefs.”

Rouses is offering turtle soup and grits and grillades prepared by chef Tory McPhail of Commander’s Palace, and pita and hummus prepared by chef Alon Shaya of Saba at Rouses Market in downtown New Orleans. Other local options include plate meals from Big Mike’s BBQ at the Rouses Market in Thibodaux, including fried catfish for Lent. Frank Brightsen will begin selling at Rouses Market in Uptown New Orleans in the coming days. Bread from Bywater Bakery will be available at two New Orleans locations to be announced.

“We’re also trying to help restaurants that find themselves with a surplus of inventory. We purchased a large quantity of USDA prime beef steaks from Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse. They will soon be in our stores,” said Rouse.    

Rouse also encourages those in the hospitality industry who find themselves temporarily out of work to apply for immediate open positions at the stores. Several grocers are looking to partner with foodservice operations to help keep their staff employed during the pandemic as restaurants dine-in facilities remain closed.  How can you help your neighbors?

Are you looking for a new partnership to drive sales? 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 have the clue you need to propel your continued success.