CINCINNATI, OH - Kroger’s Houston Division is working to ensure that local restaurants are supported, namely by entering into partnerships and launching a program that gets restaurant meals to consumers. Partnering with several Houston restaurants, the retailer is offering chef-prepared meals at pop-up locations at select stores.

“One of my favorite things about Texas is the food. We are thrilled to support our local community and local businesses by offering prepared meals through this partnership,” Kroger President Joe Kelley said in a statement to news source My San Antonio. “We are excited to be able to extend this program and support our local community. It’s something we are very proud of.”

Kroger is not alone in this endeavor, as H-E-B recently announced a pilot of a similar program. Selling full meals from local San Antonio restaurants, H-E-B is also helping restaurant and foodservice operators during this time.

On the heels of this news, Kroger also issued a statement alongside the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (USFW), in which both said that federal and state governments need to recognize grocery store associates as “extended first responders,” or “emergency personnel.”

Kroger Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen and UFCW International President Marc Perrone released the following statement:

"Working together, Kroger and the UFCW have already taken significant steps to keep Kroger associates safe and reward them for their incredible sacrifices throughout this ongoing crisis. The truth is more must be done and it must be done now. Given the significant daily risk these workers face, we are calling on all of our federal and state leaders to take immediate action. Specifically, we are requesting our nation's leaders to assign a temporary designation of first responder or emergency personnel status for all grocery workers. Make no mistake, this designation is absolutely critical as it will ensure these frontline workers have priority access to personal protection equipment like masks and gloves. This urgent call for temporary first responder or emergency personnel status is not just about protecting grocery store workers, it is also about protecting the customers they serve and our nation’s food supply in general.”

To read the statement in full, click here.

AndNowUKnow commends Kroger for working in partnership to keep business flowing and workers safe.

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