The Kroger Co.’s Quality Food Centers (QFC) is expanding a partnership with Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria to offer Tutta Bella’s Grab-n-Go food options at 31 stores in Washington’s Puget Sound area.
Plans call for the new Grab-n-Go locations to be rolled out over a four-week period, QFC and Tutta Bella said late Monday. The partnership started last July, when a counter service Tutta Bella “grocerant” opened inside QFC’s new Kirkland Urban store.
The ready-to-go items include entrees, salads and desserts. (Photo courtesy of QFC)
Since then, four other Grab-n-Go sites have been launched at Factoria Mall, Downtown Bellevue 8th Street, Harvard Market and Broadway Market.
“Tutta Bella is a beloved Seattle brand, and the expansion of its Grab-n-Go items inside our QFC locations is really a result of how well it has performed during our initial rollout, coupled with the request from our valued customers to expand the availability across a wider geographic area,” QFC President Chris Albi said in a statement.
“During this unprecedented time for small businesses, as we’re committed to doing everything that we can to support our local partners and this decision, the timing of this expansion feels right, and it feels like a true win-win for all involved," he added.
Tutta Bella’s Grab-n-Go options include its most popular signature salads, homemade ready-to-heat entrees and tiramisu dessert. The food is made fresh, delivered from one of Tutta Bella’s restaurants.
The Grab-n-Go offerings are made at a Tutta Bella restaurant. (Photo courtesy of Tutta Bella)
Also, beginning on Wednesday at QFC’s U-Village store, Tutta Bella’s D’Asporto food truck will bake and serve the Seattle-based chain’s Neapolitan pizzas. The truck then will visit multiple QFC stores on a weekly basis.
To help workers displaced by the coronavirus pandemic, QFC last week hired dozens of hourly Tutta Bella employees in various roles. The companies noted that local restaurants have seen an unparalleled sales decline during the crisis.
Tutta Bella operates five neighborhood restaurants in Seattle, Bellevue and Issaquah, as well as the counter operation at QFC’s Kirkland Urban store.
“QFC has been a tremendous partner for us, in so many ways, and we’ve been thrilled with the overwhelmingly positive response we’ve received from customers who discover and decide to purchase one of our items inside their locations,” commented Joe Fugere, founder and CEO of Tutta Bella. “It also is no secret that this is, no doubt, the most challenging time we’ve experienced in our 15 years of business. And as we continue to fight for our company and our people, we’re extremely grateful for the opportunity to expand this partnership across the metro area.”
QFC stores getting Tutta Bella Grab-n-Go offerings include locations in Uptown, Capitol Hill, Northtown Bellevue, North Mercer Island, U-Village and Bellevue East (this week); Edmonds, West Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Canyon Park and Bella Bottega (March 30); Redmond, Totem Lake, Northgate, Ballard and Holman Road (April 1); Interbay, Rainier, West Seattle, South Mercer Island and Coal Creek (April 6); and Westwood Village, Renton, Issaquah, Pine Lake and Klahanie (April 8).
Overall, Bellevue, Wash.-based QFC operates 61 stores in western Washington and in Portland, Ore.
