Last updated on November 21st, 2019 at 08:12 am
Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons Cos. is shifting its Plated brand from a dinner-based subscription solution to a comprehensive in-house culinary brand that will join the company’s lineup of private label products.
As a result, Plated’s subscription service will be phased out at the end of November, giving way to a sharper focus on how the brand can help deliver a differentiated in-store experience. The company plans to expand the Plated brand with new product offerings in additional stores in 2020.
“Our vision for Plated includes an expanded set of products that goes far beyond a dinner-based solution and into a comprehensive in-house culinary brand,” said Geoff White, EVP and chief merchandising officer. “With a broader scope of offerings, we see Plated solving customer demands around convenience, lifestyle and cooking experience, while adding yet another layer of interest to our in-store journey.”
The marketing and product development team behind the company’s Own Brands will manage the expansion of Plated into a holistic home meal solution.
Albertsons Cos. says Own Brands remains an important source of growth and innovation for the company. Own Brands penetration grew from 23 percent in FY2017 to 25.3 percent in Albertsons Cos. most recently reported quarter. The Own Brands team launched 1,100 new items in 2018 alone.
The decision to formally bring Plated into the company’s lineup of Own Brands comes after extensive testing of the meal kits’ in-store performance in its Safeway stores in Northern California. The company found that shoppers who purchase Plated products are more likely to have families and have a larger basket than the average shopper.
“Plated’s brand appeals to our most loyal and highest value customers, especially those that skew towards convenient, fresh and organic products,” White said.
As the Plated portfolio grows in the store, its products will be available for purchase online through stores’ existing e-commerce platforms, which offer delivery in as little as two hours or pickup through its Drive Up & Go service.
