LOS ANGELES, CA - Meal kit company Chef’d has announced a slew of new retail locations as the category continues to boost its presence in brick and mortar. The company announced it will be available in 30 select Walgreens and Duane Reade stores in the metropolitan New York area, in partnership with Smithfield Foods.
“Since its launch as the only non-subscription meal kit company, Chef’d has been dedicated to providing customers with more quality meal kit offerings in more locations,” said Kyle Ransford, Chef’d CEO. “Through our expansion into New York area Walgreen’s stores in partnership with Smithfield Foods, we are able to extend meal kits to new audiences and occasions.”
This marks Chef’d company’s first drug-store chain retailer, where a selection of its meal kits will now be available for last-minute pickup from refrigerated displays at convenient Walgreens locations. Chef’d meal kits will be available at 28 stores in New York State, including 22 in New York City, one in Forest Hills, one in Yonkers, and four in Brooklyn. They will also be available in two New Jersey locations one in Hoboken and one in Jersey City.
Each Chef’d kit features ready-to-cook pre-portioned ingredients, like fresh herbs, leafy greens, and USDA Choice proteins. According to a press release, in-store Chef’d meal kits are designed for convenience, with total prep-to-plate times of 10 to 30 minutes, and 1-2 pan clean up. In-store meal kits serve two or more and start at $15.99, and meal selections at Walgreens will include:
- 20 Clove Garlic Chicken with Mashed Purple Potatoes and Spinach
- Chicken Tikka Masala with Basmati Rice, Raita, and Naan Bread
- Herb Crusted Flank Steak with Roasted Potatoes, Sugar Snap Peas, and Horseradish Cream Sauce
By leveraging Smithfield’s extensive experience at retail and vast distribution network, Chef’d said it now offers quick and easy recipes at more than a dozen retailers in 27 states.
The launch is currently a pilot program in the drug-store chain’s metropolitan locations, and as this and other meal kit companies quickly look to a broader brick and mortar presence it will be interesting to see the sector’s next move.
