CINCINNATI — Fulfilling a partnership announced in August 2007, the Kroger Co. today opened the first of three Cincinnati-area Murray’s Cheese departments in its Kenwood Towne Place store here.

The occasion marks the first time that Murray’s Cheese, the venerable New York artisan cheese shop, has ever opened a location outside New York City.

"Our mission is to bring great cheese to as wide an audience as possible,” Rob Kaufelt, owner of Murray’s Cheese, said in a release. “This partnership is a huge step toward that goal. I have spent many years building Murray's reputation, and I would not have agreed to this partnership without complete confidence that Kroger is committed to offering a cheese program to which I can proudly attach my company's name."

The Murray’s Cheese department will be one facet of the “Fresh Fare by Kroger” concept, which offer shoppers a broader array of services and service departments than traditional supermarkets. The location will also feature a wine shop, a bakery, a full-service sushi bar and “The Bistro” prepared-meal department.

Murray’s employees created an extensive, 300-page service guide exclusively for staffers at the new location, and have spent the past month in Cincinnati working closely with their Kroger counterparts in an effort to give Kroger shoppers the same level of service enjoyed by shoppers at Murray’s Greenwich Village flagship in New York.

Kroger will debut two additional Murray’s Cheese locations in Cincinnati area stores during the next few weeks.

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