Meal Kit company Chef’d is taking to new territory this week and partnering with Smithtfield Foods to take its kits out of the street and into the grocery aisle with new in-store offerings. Chef’d meal kits will now be available throughout 27 states, at more than a dozen prominent retailers including Costco, Harris Teeter, Tops, Hy-vee, Weis, and Gelson’s Markets.
“Meal kits are the fastest growing channel across the entire food industry,” says Sean Butler, Senior Vice President of Retail at Chef’d. “The expansion of Chef’d into retail enables us to serve the large group of shoppers who have never tried a meal kit but are eager for non-subscription solutions. Our goal is to give more shoppers more meals in more places to help them eat better, save time, and explore new flavors.”
According to a press release, the new partnership is intended to bring Chef’d—a subscription-less meal kit service that offers next-day delivery on thousands of recipes from Chefd.com—to new audiences and new occasions.
In-store versions of Chef’d kits will feature “elevated versions of weeknight dinner classics,” including: 20 Clove Garlic Chicken with Mashed Purple Potatoes and Spinach; Weeknight Chicken Pad Thai with Carrots and Sugar Snap Peas; and Black Truffle Butter Sirloin Steaks with Roasted Garlic Potatoes and Asparagus.
“Chef’d looks forward to rapid expansion in the coming months. As the market leader in the industry, we are dedicated to investing in new technology to continue to enhance the at-home cooking experience and to provide greater value to our customers,” says Kyle Ransford, CEO of Chef’d.
In-store meal kits serve two and have SRPs starting at $14.99.
Chef'd's announcement comes less than two months after competing meal kit provider Blue Apron announced a similar partnership with Costco, bringing Blue Apron products to the retailer's shelves.
Could other meal kit providers follow suit, bringing pre-prepared meals to grocery aisles? For more on fresh food in the dairy, deli, bakery, and specialty food space, keep reading Deli Market News.
