Store reopens its doors as Fresh Fare

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Jim Noelker An employee at the new Fresh Fare by Kroger on Stroop Road in Kettering checks the produce.

By Kelli Wynn, Staff Writer Updated 1:23 AM Thursday, July 30, 2009

KETTERING — One reason Kroger can expand during these tight economic times is because restaurants are closing, company President Geoffrey Covert said.

“ People are buying a lot more food to cook at home,” he told reporters Wednesday, July 29, during the sneak peek of the Fresh Fare by Kroger store, 530 E. Stroop Road .

The store, the first of its kind in the Dayton area, had been closed since February for renovation.

Two of the features that will help shoppers enjoy more meals at home are The Bistro and Chef On The Run. Both stations have chefs preparing food daily that can be eaten at the site or taken home.

Cincinnati-based Kroger has refrigerated trucks that will collect the leftover food and deliver it to area facilities that aid the homeless, Covert said.

Other features include:

Murray’s, a New York-based cheese company .
Sushi bar.
Wine section with more than 2,400 selections.
Starbucks.
Boar’s Head Fine Delicatessen.
Stations for seafood and grilling.
Floral and photo shops .

The store also has kosher and organic products, along with an international foods section.

“Pricing is exactly the same as the other stores in Dayton, Cincinnati and northern Kentucky. We run one price program for the stores,” Covert said.

“We have seen our customer count go up. So we’ve got more customers than we’ve had ... ’cause everybody is hurt by the economic times. We’ve lowered our prices pretty dramatically over the last four or five years.”

Kroger officials hope the new store will enhance their shoppers’ culinary experiences and be a place where shoppers can find “an amazing” selection of fine foods, gourmet foods and hard to find items.

As far as staff, Covert said they added about 200 additional jobs.

“We expect the sales to increase, and we’re looking forward to it,” he said.

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