Kroger and ghost kitchen servicer Kitchen United opened its first Kitchen United Mix location inside a Ralph’s grocery store in Los Angeles, Calif. This pairing offers fresh, restaurant-quality meals from a mix of operators directly to Ralphs’ shoppers.
The kitchen center will enable customers to place an order digitally using Kitchen United's proprietary MIX platform via web, mobile, or an in-person ordering kiosk. Customers can then pick up their meal on-site or have it delivered. Restaurant staff will prepare the orders and delivery service fees will be determined by third-party providers.
The first off-premises-dining-only Kitchen United Mix offers mix-and-match meals from Fresh Brothers, Bushi by Jinya, Sajj Mediterranean, Doghaus and more.
The Los Angeles location is just the first of the Kroger-Kitchen United collaborations. Additional locations in Texas are anticipated to open soon.
Grocers bringing restaurateurs on-site for a store-within-a-store concept is nothing new, but it’s a trend that is gaining steam as operators scramble to meet the consumer demand for convenience.