HOUSTON – Consumers looking to dine out now have additional options to consider aside from traditional restaurants; the grocery store and the mini-mart.
While supermarkets have long offered items like rotisserie chicken, companies are now expanding their menus with fresh, made-to-order selections in an effort to draw customers away from restaurants.
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Kroger Co. is experimenting with putting grilling stations between its meat and seafood areas, following the lead of other stores like Whole Foods Market.
While sales of dinner are declining at fast-food and casual-dining restaurants, eating dinner at grocery stores has risen seven percent over the past five years to 1.8 billion visits annually, according to the market-research firm NPD Group Inc.
Restaurant chains are taking note. The president of McDonald's said grocery and convenience stores are among the top competitors it contends with.
The added offerings bring additional complexity and cost, according to grocery store owners, but they said it is worth it for the number of people turning to stores as dining destinations.