Coborn’s has partnered with Swedish salad company Picadeli to add high-tech salad bars to two Minnesota locations: at Coborn’s in Sauk Rapids and at Cash Wise Foods in Waite Park.
The new salad bars are part of a pilot program in the region, which is expected to expand to 13 additional stores later this year. Unlike traditional salad bars, Picadeli offers guests elevated options including plant-based proteins, grains, seafood and seasonal specialties. The units use digital signage and touch screens to showcase the nutritional values of all ingredients and temperature-controlled food compartments to ensure optimal food safety and less waste.
“Picadeli is known worldwide for revolutionizing the salad bar, and we’re delighted to offer our guests a healthy and quick meal option focused on freshness, variety and flavor,” said Dennis Host, SVP of marketing and communications of Coborn’s.
“More importantly, this distinguished salad bar features innovative technology to keep food safe and prioritizes variety and proper food hygiene. During the COVID pandemic, we were forced to close almost all of our self-service salad bar offerings to ensure our guests’ safety. We’re excited to be able to bring back the salad bar with a new, innovative offering through our partnership with Picadeli.”
The Picadeli salad bar, which rotates menu items for new options and offers seasonal favorites and variety, prioritizes safety with features like hand sanitizer and bowl dispensers, sneezeguards, a mounting system for utensils to prevent contamination of allergenic foods, temperature and hood sensors, shielding hoods and a patented air flow refrigeration system.
“It’s well known that eating fresh and healthy food in the United States is not usually affordable or accessible. We aim to change that by giving Americans greater access to healthier food that is also fast, convenient and easier on the wallet,” said Picadeli CEO Patrik Hellstrand.
“Our entry into Minnesota with the opening of the Picadeli bar in the Sauk Rapids location represents a new phase of our growth in the U.S., and we are thrilled to be expanding in partnership with Coborn’s.”
The remaining locations in the initial pilot program will open in the coming months.
About Coborn’s
St. Cloud, Minnesota-based Coborn’s is a 103-year-old employee-owned grocery retailer with about 10,000 employees and 77 grocery stores across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois under the Coborn’s, Cash Wise Foods, Marketplace Foods, Hornbacher’s, Tadych’s Marketplace Foods and Sullivan’s Foods banners.
Coborn’s Inc. also operates fuel, liquor and pharmacy locations. To support its more than 135 various retail business units, Coborn’s operates its own central bakery, dry cleaning facility and grocery distribution center.
In 2021, Coborn’s was named The Shelby Report of the Midwest’s Retailer of the Year.
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