Whole Foods is exploring employing commercial kitchens to supply prepared meals for its food bars, reports The Wall Street Journal. The chain is looking into creating its own kitchens and buying existing kitchen spaces.
This decision will shift meal preparation to in-house, as much of the food production for the grocer had been outsourced to other companies after it closed its own kitchens years ago. Those familiar with the topic indicate that operating its own kitchens will give the chain better quality control.
Since the COVID pandemic, Jeff Turnas, senior VP of global culinary at Whole Foods, said the grocer has had to rethink what it sells, adding more prepackaged meal options for shoppers. The company plans to expand sushi, sheet cake, and juice offerings in the coming months.
This year, prepared food sales in U.S. grocery stores are over 30 percent higher than in 2019, according to Circana. Kroger, Albertsons, and other U.S. supermarkets are investing heavily in prepared foods to draw convenience-seeking shoppers. Full Story (Subscription Required)
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