BJ's and Fareway Stores beef up their partnerships with meat industry

Grocery retailers are beefing up their partnerships in the meat industry.

BJ’s Wholesale Club has partnered with ButcherBox, a direct-to-consumer meat brand, ButcherBox announced last week.

Through August, BJ’s shoppers can purchase The Grill Box, five of ButcherBox’s most popular cuts of frozen meat, in 129 of BJ’s locations on the East Coast.

 “Our launch in BJ’s is helping us reach a new target customer, one we know is focused on quality and value, but may be hesitant to shop online for their groceries,” said Mike Salguero, founder and CEO of ButcherBox, in a statement. “We are also excited to help existing customers shop in store between their monthly deliveries. We’re humbled at the opportunity to expand our community to the BJ’s community and bring them the ButcherBox experience.”

With more than 7 pounds of meat, the Grill Box retails for $99 in select BJ’s clubs in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Virginia.

 BJ’s isn’t the only retailer partnering with the meat industry.

Midwest Quality Wholesale, a  subsidiary of grocery retailer Fareway Stores, recently purchased Webster City Custom Meats, Inc.

Fareway also operates seven stand-alone meat markets with the next Fareway Meat Market expected to open this summer in Kansas City, Missouri, according to the grocer’s website.

Fareway, which is a family-owned business, has 133 stores in seven states.  The Midwest grocer on Tuesday will host a groundbreaking ceremony for a new store site in Norwalk, Iowa.