COPPS IS TESTING IGA, KRAFT CENTER FOR MEAL SOLUTIONS

Maryellen Lo Bosco

STEVENS POINT, Wis. --- Copps Corp. here is testing a new meal-solutions center that features IGA and Kraft brand grocery items in weekly recipies.

Phase 1 of Cafe IGA Quick Meal Makers, a joint IGA-Kraft program, was tested for 13 weeks in Copps' IGA food centers and in the seven-store Quality Foods retailer, headquarters in Wisconsin Rapids. That phase was completed at the end of October.

According to Pat Sylvester, communications coordinator for IGA Inc., Chicago, the 4-foot-by-6-foot meal-solutions center could become a national program. Copps is planning a second phase of the test with additional chain, and possibly more manufacturers.

"[Initial results were} pretty positive," Sylvester said. "The meat people saw some incremental increases." Officials at Copps declined to comment on the program.

The meal center, which is singed Cafe IGA Quick Meal Makers, features a variety of Center Store ingredients that can be used to make meals like Beef Teriyaki and Chicken Stir Fry. Items have included rice, barbeque sauce and beans.

In addition to Center Store items, the recipies may also call for dairy, fresh or meat items.

As a result, the centers either include a cooler or have signage that directs consumers to other departments in the store.

Jeff Zollpriester, general manager for Quality Foods, said the test had "fair results" in his stores. While Quality Foods set up the Cafe as a grocery endcap, the Cafe can be located anywhere in the store to give it more emphasis.