SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- Price Chopper here is trying to increase awareness of its home-meal replacement offerings through a combination of traditional circulars and its web site home page.
and ready-to-eat entrees and side dishes.
The chain also promotes quick service for meal customers, a factor considered key to successful meals marketing by most industry analysts. In a January circular, Price Chopper promised to open one register exclusively for ready-meal purchases made from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Officials from the 90-store Price Chopper chain did not return telephone calls seeking comment about their meals program.
In a recent promotional piece, Price Chopper pushed ready-to-eat marinated roast chickens weighing 3 pounds, priced at two for $6.89, and a meal consisting of two roast chickens, four hot side dishes, 12 rolls and an 8-inch apple pie, priced at $14.99.
The ready-to-eat promotional section also included pizzas, with various toppings, priced from $6.99 to $8.99, two salads and a sandwich.
Hot roast chickens were offered for sale in 26 Price Chopper stores, hot pizza in 20 stores.
In the ready-to-heat section, Price Chopper offered three soups and stews, priced from $1.99 to $2.99 for 16-ounce servings; a "homestyle" dinner of turkey breast, mashed potatoes, gravy and vegetables for $3.99 per 19-ounce serving; and a beef dinner of sirloin tips, rice pilaf, sauteed mushrooms and vegetables for $3.99 per 16-ounce serving.
Also listed in the ready-to-heat section was a side dish of carrots with dill for $2.99 per 10-ounce serving, a 13-ounce beef pot pie for $3.49, a 23-ounce quiche Lorraine for $5.29, and 12 ounces of meatballs in tomato sauce for $3.49.
Ready-to-cook meals included marinated chicken breast for $1.98 per pound, breaded pork chops at $2.99 per pound, meatballs at $1.98 per pound, crab-stuffed shrimp at $1.99 each and shrimp-stuffed sole at $1.99 per 5-ounce portion.
