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GOURMET NEWS DECEMBER 2018 www.gourmetnews.com Retailer News RETAILER NEWS 1 2 BRIEFS Choice Market Announces Disruptive Convenience Store Format with Autonomous Checkout Denver, Colorado-based Choice Market has announced plans for a disruptive, multi- modal convenience store format on the site of a former restaurant on Colfax Avenue. Choice combines the operating hours, store size, and transaction times of a traditional convenience store with the product selection of a natural grocery and fast casual restaurant. The new format, which will open during the second half of 2019, will include a 2,700 square foot Choice Market as well as fuel pumps, electric vehicle supercharging, bike share terminal, electric scooter charging sta- tions, and solar collection on the canopy. Cus- tomers will have the option to skip the checkout process, order and pay ahead via the Choice Mobile App, or they can check out as they normally would at any other store. "There's nothing more valuable than our customer's time and we are really excited to offer this new format which allows them to combine several different shopping occa- sions in one stop, while providing them the option to skip the checkout process all to- gether," said Mike Fogarty, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Choice Market. "If customers cannot make it to the store, we will deliver any of our products to their doorstep within 45 mins. That is true con- venience." To enable the autonomous checkout, Choice has partnered with AVA Retail, which uses artificial intelligence, computer vision and internet of things to track customer's purchases within the store. This platform uses far less hardware and infrastructure than other competitors while still leveraging the powerful Microsoft Azure cloud. "Real convenience is what Choice Mar- ket is doing using our technology – offer- ing their customers a truly automated experience," says AVA CEO Atul Hirpara. "Retail is undergoing a major transforma- tion. With the power of AVA's technology, Choice Market is pioneering this transfor- mation!" Choice currently has one location open in downtown Denver and a second store which is under construction and will open in the second quarter of 2019 in south Den- ver. With the upcoming changes to liquor laws, Choice will also be one of the first companies in Colorado to offer delivery of prepared foods, groceries, and full strength beer in one transaction. To help facilitate this growth, Choice has hired industry veteran John Varsames as the Chief Operating Officer. Varsames has more than 30 years of experience with opening and operating natural groceries; including leadership positions at Wild Oats, Whole Foods and Alfalfas. For this project, Choice has partnered with local developer St. Charles Town Company, which has a long history of adaptive reuse and urban revitalization in the Denver area. "A contemporary, fresh, and local market will fill a huge void in this dense part of the city. It has been nearly two decades since we had Wild Oats next door to this site," said Charlie Wool- ley, Principal at St. Charles Town Com- pany. "We are pleased to partner with Choice to bring fresh food and innovation to the neighborhood." GN Kroger Shares Top Food Trends for 2019 Kroger has released its top food trend pre- dictions for 2019, compiled by its team of Our Brands new product developers and chefs. The top trend on its list is a taste for regional flavors. Inspiration is coming from Nashville hot chicken, Southern Ap- palachian pimento cheese and other geog- raphies, according to Kroger. America's culinary heritage is as varied as it is deli- cious. Consumers will see a growing num- ber of products influenced by local, regional and global tastes. Plant-based foods are next on the Kroger list. Consumers are finding it is easier than ever before to incorporate more plant- based fare into their daily diets. By electing to go meat or dairy free, whether for a meal, a Meatless Monday, Flexitarian Friday, or every day of the week, there will be more plant-based options available to power through the day. Last year, 31 percent of consumers participated in meat-free days once per week. Kroger is catering to these customers with its Simple Truth Coconut- milk, Simple Truth Powdered Coconutmilk Creamer, Simple Truth Meatless Patties, Simple Truth Tofu, Simple Truth Greens & Grains Risotto, Simple Truth Organic Lentils, Simple Truth Organic Light Red Kidney Beans, and Simple Truth Organic Hummus. More consumers are purchasing better- for-you products and subscribing to differ- ent eating styles, from vegetarian to flexitarian to keto and paleo. A recent study reports 15 percent of the U.S. population identify as vegetarian or vegan. Kroger is re- sponding by offering and developing new products that make it easy for any customer practicing any lifestyle to find foods to sup- port their health and wellness journey. Kroger is also predicting that Americans will continue to be interested in maintain- ing gut health in 2019. Medical studies show that a healthy gut is the foundation of overall wellness, and more than ever be- fore, consumers are seeking foods that sup- port self-care and healthy immune systems. Consumers will find a growing number of products rich in probiotics – good bacteria – and flavor, and the grocer predicts that those customers will continue to be inter- ested in products like kombucha, Greek yogurt and milks with added probiotics. Finally, Kroger expects to see consumers looking for low-sugar products and natural sweeteners. Many consumers are motivated to reduce or eliminate sugar and/or con- sume alternate natural sweeteners like honey and agave. In fact, 47 percent of con- sumers say they are working to minimize their sugar intake. New solutions and foods will continue to be added to grocery shelves to help consumers find products rich in nutrition and flavor and lean on sugar. GN Kroger Family of Stores Hiring 10,000 for the Holidays The Kroger Co. is hiring more than 10,000 associates across its family of stores this hol- iday season. Talent development is a core driver of the company's Restock Kroger plan. The company continues to invest in reward- ing and meaningful benefits for all associates. Kroger is investing an incremental $500 mil- lion in associate wages, training and develop- ment, as part of Restock Kroger. Available seasonal career opportunities include sup- porting customer service, e-commerce, mer- chandising, operations and the pharmacy. GN Kroger and Home Chef Kick Off Nationwide Retail Rollout The Kroger Co. and Home Chef have launched weekly rotating in-store meal kits at Kroger stores in select locations. The company is also rolling out a limited market test of the new Home Chef Express product, which is a quick- cook meal kit ready to eat in about 15 minutes. Home Chef's meal kits will first be available at select locations in Illinois (Mariano's), Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin (Pick 'n Save and Metro Market). Kroger anticipates rolling out Home Chef meal kits to additional markets in 2019. Each week, there will be four Home Chef meal kit options available in participating store locations. The same recipes will also be available to customers through www.homechef.com, where shoppers will find even more weekly variety. Meijer Supports Hurricane Michael Relief Efforts with $25,000 Donation to Team Rubicon As residents of the Florida panhandle begin the massive clean-up from the devastating effects of Hurricane Michael, Midwest retailer Meijer has donated $25,000 to Team Rubicon to help their efforts to support those affected by the devastating storm. Team Rubicon is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that utilizes the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams. Founded in 2010, Team Rubicon has responded to more than 300 disasters across the United States and around the world to provide immediate relief to those impacted by natural disasters and humanitarian crises. At no cost to Florida residents impacted by Michael, volunteers with Team Rubicon are providing disaster relief services, such as route clearance, debris removal and expedient home repair. Their aim is to identify the most economically-challenged communities and help expedite the recovery process. And through continued service, many military veterans who volunteer with Team Rubicon gain a renewed sense of purpose, community and identity as they transition to civilian life after hanging up their uniforms. The Fresh Market Donates for Feeding America As a national partner of Feeding America ® , The Fresh Market ® established a program to offer guests and team members a way to assist those affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Florence. The specialty grocer's 161 stores raised $96,180 in cash donations from September 18 through October 2, 2018, with all of the money being donated to Feeding America. Funds go to secure products needed most after natural disasters, including emergency food boxes, hand-held snacks, pop-top ready-to-eat items, shelf-stable pantry items, cleaning supplies and personal hygiene items which are delivered to areas that were badly affected by Florence.

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