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Kroger Fresh Fare Opening Draws Huge Crowd

Before Kroger Co. opened the doors of a new store here featuring its new Fresh Fare format on Thursday, a large crowd had begun lining up outside by 3:30 in the morning, a local resident told SN.

DAYTON, Ohio — Before Kroger Co. opened the doors of a new store here featuring its new Fresh Fare format on Thursday, a large crowd had begun lining up outside by 3:30 in the morning, a local resident told SN.

The Kroger Fresh Fare replaces a former traditional Kroger unit that had closed.

There were planned giveaways like $10 gift certificates and sausage sandwiches planned for the first 300 people to enter, but part of the crush to get in to see the new format was probably spurred by a preview article that appeared in the Dayton Daily News earlier in the week. The article detailed two new features — Chef On The Run and The Bistro —stations at which chefs are daily preparing fresh food to be eaten at the store or taken home.

The format also features a tortilla machine, which turns out fresh tortillas throughout the day, and a Chippery-brand machine that makes fresh potato chips. An artisan cheese shop, managed by New York-based Murray's Cheese is also an attraction in the new store.

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