NEW YORK, NY - After Albertsons acquired Plated last September, we reported that this move was a strategic step to focus on innovation, personalization, and customization. Now, Albertsons is further honing in on the multifaceted desires of the company’s consumer base by staging a nationwide Plated roll out. By the end of the year, Plated meal kits will be available in hundreds of stores across the country, meeting consumers wherever, whenever, and however they chose to shop. This move is a major jump from Plated’s current brick-and-mortar availability in just 40 grocery stores and two major markets.

“This is the next big step in our journey to enable everyone to enjoy fresh, delicious meals. We’ve delivered millions of meals to Americans through our acclaimed subscription service, and now we’ll be able to meet and serve millions of new customers with an entirely new level of convenience,” said Josh Hix, Co-Founder and CEO of Plated. “Since partnering with Albertsons Companies last year, we’ve accelerated our growth and are thrilled to bring an elevated culinary experience to more people in more ways. Today we’re announcing that in addition to our subscription offering, customers near hundreds of Albertsons Companies stores will be able to pick up last-minute or order online for on demand delivery.”

This move plays off of the industry wide shift toward instant consumer satisfaction, whether it be with value-added products or with same day delivery.

“We are excited to have Plated meal kits in our stores. Plated’s culinary expertise allows us to offer customers, premium-quality, chef-designed recipes for amazing meals they can prepare at home,” said Pat Brown, Group Vice President, Merchandising and Strategic Initiatives, Albertsons Cos. “Plated is not just a meal kit, it’s a culinary experience. That’s what sets us apart. Our customers learn new techniques, and can experiment with delicious and culturally diverse recipes.”

The company boasted in a recent press release that by the end of 2018, customers at Albertson Cos. will be able to enjoy this unprecedented level of culinary convenience at select Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, and Haggen locations. Currently, the meal kit is only available in 20 Safeway stores in Northern California and 20 Jewel-Osco stores in the Chicago area. With this expansion, the meal kit will be available not only in stores nationwide, but also for two hour Instacart delivery, online ordering for same day and scheduled at home delivery, and in-store pick-up through the Albertsons Companies click-and-collect Drive Up and Go service.

The new retail offering will debut with a collection of six meal kits created by Plated’s expert Culinary Team led by Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef Elana Karp. The dishes currently available for purchase are as follows:

• Crunchy Chicken Milanese with Honey Mustard and Arugula
• Roasted Chicken au Jus with Orzo and Peas
• Beef Noodle Bowls with Dinosaur Kale and Mushrooms
• Steak Frites with Creamy Shallot Sauce and Sautéed Spinach
• Skillet Grandma Pie with Parmesan-Kale Salad
• Pine Nut–Crusted Salmon with Creamy Tomato Farro and Roasted Green Beans

To follow industry trends and market innovations, keep reading AndNowUKnow.

Albertson Cos. Plated