Kroger-owned Home Chef partners with plant-based brand Impossible

Home Chef, the meal kit brand run as a subsidiary of The Kroger Co., has new meatless options for shoppers in the meat department, the company said on Friday.

The Kroger Co.’s Home Chef has teamed up with plant-based brand Impossible to offer shoppers its first in-store plant-based meat alternative option with these meat mainstay recipes: meatloaf with Impossible Beef made from plants and taco stuffed poblano pepper with Impossible Beef made from plants, Home Chef said in a statement.

The ready-to-cook meals are available in store only at select Kroger banners nationwide, including Fred Meyer, Dillons, Fry’s, Ralphs and more, Home Chef said.

Earlier this month, Home Chef added a new line of meal kits that feature television host, best-selling author and philanthropist Rachael Ray’s fan-favorite recipes.

The first Rachael Ray Home Chef meal kit, in stores now, guides customers through an easy-to-follow recipe created by Ray herself, the grocery retailer said.

"Personalized food experiences do not have to be complicated. We know customers have busy schedules and we're excited to offer special meal kits that even the most inexperienced home cook can prepare, offered in collaboration with Rachael Ray,” said Dan De La Rosa, group VP of fresh merchandising, in a statement.

In July, the meal kit-maker welcomed the brand's new state-of-the-art production center in Douglasville, Georgia, expanding the company's presence in the Southeast.

Kroger merged with Chicago-based Home Chef in 2018, in a transaction with an initial price of $200 million, with future earnout payments of up to $500 million over five years contingent on achieving certain milestones, including significant growth of in-store and online meal kit sales.