Some operators that had previously relied primarily on inhouse foodservice have begun bringing in more restaurant concepts from outside, especially local brands or others whose offerings are an especially good fit.

Whole Foods Market has been bringing in small local or specialty restaurant brands for several years, and Hy-Vee made a splash with its Wahlburgers partnership, bringing that wellknown chain to its customers in the Midwest.

More recently, Kroger Co. has begun partnering with some small restaurant brands, including Eli’s Barbecue, Rapid Fire Pizza and Mazunte Taqueria. Kroger’s Mariano’s banner now appears to be following that playbook, rolling out the Pork & Mindy’s barbecue concept to several Chicagoland stores.

Other operators featured on the following pages include Meijer, which opened a Mayan Buzz Café in its new Bridge Street Market store in Grand Rapids, Mich.; Price Chopper Supermarkets, which has been rolling out concepts and menu items that it tests at its Market Bistro store in Latham, N.Y.; and Rouses Markets, which complements its in-house barbecue and sandwich concepts with a branded Asian stir-fry offering.