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Albertsons selling cheap, restaurant-quality takeout meals

September 9th, 2008, 6:00 am · 5 Comments · posted by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer

Albertsons launches grab-and-go restaurant-style meals

Responding to consumer demands for more grab-and-go foods, Albertsons has introduced a new line of value-oriented gourmet takeout meals.

The Culinary Circle line also features salad dressings, hors d’oeuvres, spreads and high-end desserts, the chain said.

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Albertsons launches grab-and-go restaurant-quality mealsAlbertsons launches grab-and-go restaurant-style mealsAlbertsons launches grab-and-go restaurant-style meals

Albertsons launches grab-and-go restaurant-quality mealsRosemary Chicken, grab and go meal at Albertsons

Albertsons spokeswoman Lilia Rodriguez said the premium food line “delivers a casual restaurant meal experience at home, at a fraction of the time and cost of cost of dining out.”

Albertsons, Orange County’s largest traditional supermarket with 44 stores, says the premium to-go meals are priced about “20 to 25 percent below casual restaurant food.”

Main dishes include Pork Carnitas Enchilada Casserole, Rotisserie Chicken, Chicken Marsala over Linguini. Sides and soups include Rosemary Garlic Roasted Potatoes, Oven Roasted Vegetables, Chicken Noodle, Tuscan Tomato & Vegetable. Prices range from $3.99 to $5.99.

The move comes as no surprise.  Fresh & Easy, Costco and Trader Joe’s are becoming known for their gourmet meal solutions. Sales of ready-to-eat meals sold in food stores generated roughly $25 billion in 2007, according to restaurant consulting firm Technomic.

My take: I stopped by an Albertsons on my way into work and had trouble finding these new Culinary Circle items. I spotted some in the salad dressing aisle and in the deli area. But, I really had to hunt for the label.  When I walk into Fresh & Easy, Trader Joe’s or Vons, I know exactly where to find grab-and-go meals.

If Albertsons wants to make things easy for on-the-go shoppers, I suggest the supermarket chain do a better job of displaying these value meals in its stores.

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 5 Comments

  • Jody says:
    September 9, 2008 at 6:44 am

    If you buy from the Albertson’s on 17th and Tustin, be sure of the expiration date. I can’t tell you how often I’ve almost bought something from this store and the expiration date has passed - as recently as last week I bought some chicken on Wednesday and it was bad by Friday. I will never buy anything “fresh” from this store again. They may save a few bucks by getting rid of old product, but they’ve lost a customer for good!

    Post Reply
  • tm says:
    September 9, 2008 at 6:51 am

    The problem you had finding the meals speaks more to the size of the stores than to the offerings. I truly believe that the large grocery store is becoming obsolete. I go to Fresh n Easy and Trader Joe’s because not only do they have these items, but the stores are small and easy to navigate. I can get in and out quickly, I can’t do that at Albertson’s. I grew tired of having to walk the whole store for a few items. I don’t shop for a week or two at a time because I can’t keep produce fresh at home for that long. If I’m going to the store anyway, I’d rather shop for just a few meals at a time.

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  • ocbear says:
    September 9, 2008 at 1:54 pm

    I go to Costco and stock up on fruits and vegetables and avoid most of the artery-blocking fatty-prepared foods. In Europe it’s easier to find fresh prepared food with basic ingredients. Here in the US it seems everything is mixed with mayonnaise or mustard to cover up the taste of whatever is underneath.

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  • Catlee says:
    September 9, 2008 at 3:47 pm

    I saw this new line at Albertson’s 3 weeks ago. They were all in the refrigerated case where they have the prepackaged: potato salads, deli meats and cheeses. Some look good to try, but haven’t bought any yet. My Albertson’s in Irvine replaced the Boston Market line of meals with this Culinary Circle Line.

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  • jocey says:
    September 9, 2008 at 10:53 pm

    I don’t care what they come out with! They are too freakin expensive. Traders,F&E,Sprouts,farmers market,food for less,Winco are what’s up!

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