Effective today, Ukrop’s-branded items can be purchased at all eighteen Kroger stores in the Richmond area, making Kroger the largest retailer of Ukrop’s products in the entire Richmond region.
“We’ve been in Richmond since 2000, and have long admired the Ukrop’s brand,” said Anne Jenkins, customer communications manager for Kroger Mid-Atlantic. “Our customers have been asking for Kroger to carry Ukrop’s products, and today we’re happy to be granting Richmond that very wish.”
More than 180 Ukrop’s items will be sold in Kroger stores across Richmond, including all the classics like White House Rolls, Rainbow Cookies, chicken salad, and more. Ukrop’s sections have arrived in the delis and bakeries, reflecting the Ukrop’s brand under a theme called, What Do You Crave, Richmond?
Stores are currently being retrofitted and re-set to accommodate the new product assortment.
Custom cake iPad kiosks have been installed to make ordering classic Ukrop’s cakes easier and more accessible than ever before. Customers can choose from creating the cake at the kiosk, ordering at the bakery counter or selecting to have cakes delivered to a local Kroger when ordered online at Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods’ website. In most cases, custom cakes that are ordered online can be delivered to Kroger within twenty-four hours.
In addition to products, more than one hundred Kroger associates have been educated on Ukrop’s history, company standards, the product offerings, and more in order to bring the Ukrop’s brand to life at Kroger. The commitment to proudly serving Ukrop’s products is reinforced by the deli and bakery associates outfitted in cobranded Ukrop’s and Kroger uniforms.
“We’re taking this partnership very seriously at every level in the store. We’re thrilled to be offering more Ukrop’s products than any other retailer, and we’ll work to make sure our customers’ expectations are exceeded,” said Barbara Buck, deli merchandiser for Kroger Mid-Atlantic.
“Having partners like Kroger enables us to reach and connect with more people in the Richmond community, which has always been important to us,” said Bobby Ukrop, president and CEO of Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods. “We’ve spent a lot of time with the Kroger team, and we’ve seen their genuine dedication to our brand and to ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction.”
