Kroger Hospitality

Kroger Hospitality is a division of The Kroger Co., one of the largest supermarket chains in the United States. This division focuses on enhancing the customer experience by integrating dining and hospitality services within Kroger's retail environments.

By offering a variety of food and beverage options, Kroger Hospitality aims to create a more engaging and convenient shopping experience for its customers.

Key Initiatives

One notable initiative is the Kitchen 1883 restaurant concept, launched in 2017. It offers a fresh take on New American comfort food, featuring a made-from-scratch menu and hand-crafted cocktails in a community-centered atmosphere.

The inaugural location opened in Union, Kentucky, adjacent to a Kroger Marketplace store. The menu includes items like braised beef short ribs with horseradish mashed potatoes and charred carrots, reflecting a blend of American and international flavors.

In 2019, Kroger expanded Kitchen 1883 to Anderson Township, Ohio, with a standalone restaurant separate from the grocery store but within the same parking lot. This tested customer response to a standalone operation.

In 2020, Kroger introduced the On the Rhine Eatery, a food hall in a new store in downtown Cincinnati.

This eatery features various local restaurant brands including Kitchen 1883 Cafe and Bar, Dope Asian Street Fare, Django Western Taco, Eli’s BBQ, and Queen City Whip.

The food hall accommodates up to 200 customers with both indoor and outdoor seating, plus a full-service bar.

Partnerships

In 2021, Kroger collaborated with Kitchen United to open Kitchen United MIX locations inside select Kroger stores. These virtual food courts housed multiple restaurant brands, allowing customers to order from various menus for pickup or delivery.

However, in 2022, Kitchen United closed these ghost kitchen locations within Kroger stores to refocus on its software business.

Locations

• Cincinnati, OH, USA – headquarters of Kroger Hospitality and site of On the Rhine Eatery
• Union, Kentucky – home to the first Kitchen 1883 location adjacent to a Kroger Marketplace store
• Anderson Township, Ohio – location of a standalone Kitchen 1883 restaurant

Conclusion

Through these initiatives, Kroger Hospitality continues to innovate and expand its dining and hospitality services.

Its goal is to provide customers with a seamless and enjoyable experience that combines quality food with the convenience of grocery shopping.