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Raley’s launches its own line of meal kits

Selection gives customers more flexibility in deciding what’s for dinner

Russell Redman

October 31, 2018

2 Min Read
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Western grocery chain Raley’s has rolled out a line of more than a dozen chef-created meal kits under its own brand.

The West Sacramento, Calif.-based retailer said its meal kit offering takes a different approach by providing customers affordable, on-demand dinner solutions in four ways: full kits, quick kits, side dishes and build-your-own kit components.

The full meal kits come with all items to make a complete meal, while the quick kits include precut vegetables and cooked chicken “to get dinner on the table fast,” Raley’s said. Meanwhile, the steamable vegetable sides can be paired with a grab-and-go rotisserie chicken, and the build-your-own kits include different combinations of sauces, starches and vegetables that give customers more flexibility in deciding what’s for dinner. 

Citing Nielsen research, Raley’s said more than half of consumers want to be able to build their own meals by buying components separately, and about 70% want to try new recipes and new foods. Customers, too, are seeking meal kits focused fresh food, health and nutrition. 

“We want to be the destination for our customers looking for a healthy, home-cooked meal,” according to Evelyn Miliate, Raley’s chef and culinary innovation manager, who developed the recipes. “Fresh kits are an affordable solution to dinner that customers can trust.” 

Serving two to four people, the full meal kits cost $16.99 to $19.99 and come in six recipes, including vegetarian curry, chicken with red wine sauce, chicken tarragon, butter chicken, steak with peppercorn sauce, and salmon with cilantro yogurt sauce. Preparation time is 25 to 40 minutes.

Three quick kits are available: mole enchiladas, Greek-style pasta and sage butter gnocchi. Priced at $14.99, these kits take 25 to 30 minutes to prepare and serve four people. They are intended to be part of a meal with a rotisserie chicken. 

The build-your-own kit components, at $3.99 to $4.99, include a choice of nine sauces, eight whole grains and starches, eight vegetables and meat freshly prepared by an in-house butcher, Raley’s said.

All steamable, the four vegetable sides cost $4.99 each and include broccoli parmesan, green beans with parmesan, Mexican-style vegetables and Italian-style vegetables. They take three minutes to prepare and serve two people. 

“The kits include high-quality ingredients and offer great variety, so your family doesn’t get bored with the same recipes,” Miliate said.

The meal choices are seasonal, and recipes will rotate quarterly, Raley’s said. Customers can find the new meal kits in stores or online, with options for curbside pickup or home delivery.

Overall, Raley’s operates 129 stores in California and Nevada under the Raley’s, Bel Air Markets, Nob Hill Foods, Food Source and Market 5-ONE-5 banners.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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