Albertsons Cos., Boise, Idaho, acquired Plated, a New York-based meal kit service. Plated will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Albertsons Cos.
In teaming up with Plated, Albertsons Cos. adds a meal kit company with leading technology and data capabilities, a strategic step for the company as it continues to focus on innovation, personalization and customization. Among the key projected outcomes of this deal is for Plated to become what is dubbed as the first omni-channel meal kit offering with national scale.
“Today’s consumer is looking for a variety of personalized shopping alternatives, and this transaction is the latest example of Albertsons Cos. meeting our customers wherever and however they like to shop,” says Bob Miller, chairman and CEO of Albertsons Cos. “With Plated, we’ve found a partner who shares our commitment to delicious, affordable food, superior technology and innovation and world-class customer service. Plated knows its customers better than anyone, and together, we will accelerate our ability to serve them. We are excited to offer our customers more online options and fresh, quality ingredients along with distinctive recipes at their doorstep or through traditional shopping trips.”
Plated will benefit from Albertsons Cos.’ resources and national reach with over 2,300 stores to scale its business and introduce new offerings. Albertsons Cos. will enable Plated to expand beyond its existing subscription model by offering Plated meal kits at many store locations, across its digital channels and through a variety of distribution options. Plated’s marketing and acquisition efforts will also benefit by gaining exposure to Albertson Cos.’ 35 million customers per week.
“Joining Albertsons Cos. presents an amazing opportunity to accelerate our positive impact on the future of food in America by making fresh, delicious food more widely available,” adds Josh Hix, co-founder and CEO of Plated. “Albertsons Cos. is at the forefront of the changing food and grocery landscape with their customer obsession, their large national store footprint and their exciting plans for the future of the grocery store. We’re excited to be partnering with them to shepherd our growth while preserving the unique strengths that define Plated today. There’s tremendous upside for Plated’s customers, whose experience with our brand will only get better. As meal kits continue to gain traction in the marketplace, we believe the winning formula combines choice, flexibility, culinary expertise and the ability for customers to buy across channels–all of which we are now singularly positioned to deliver in collaboration with Albertsons Cos.”
Plated will continue to be led by Hix, and will continue to be headquartered in New York with fulfillment centers nationwide.