SpartanNash Debuts In-Store Brat Shop
Just in time for summer grilling, food solutions company SpartanNash has launched its new Brat Shop at all Family Fare, D&W Fresh Market and Martin's Super Market stores. The limited-time, in-store destination is devoted to all things bratwurst.
Brat Shop features a curated selection of bratwurst, including sweet and smoky Honey BBQ, tangy Pineapple Teriyaki, zesty Taco Cheddar and spicy Hot+Sweet Red Chile. Regional-inspired flavors include the Philly Cheesesteak and the Michigander classic brat that offers a little cherry-kissed twist.
"Let's be frank, we know that summer memories are made around the grill, and every grill master enjoys a little flex for their guests," said SpartanNash SVP and Chief Marketing Officer Erin Storm. "The Brat Shop helps grillers up their game with a wide range of crowd-pleasing brats. We can't wait for you to discover your favorite new flavor, made fresh daily in our stores."
According to a nationwide survey of 2,000 adults, commissioned by SpartanNash and conducted by Talker Research, nearly two-thirds (66%) of respondents consider summer grilling season their favorite time of year, with Gen Z respondents saying more than any other generation that the missing link for the best summer ever is a barbecue. The findings also revealed that 77% of respondents enjoy experimenting with new flavors at cookouts.
In the Midwest — where SpartanNash operates nearly 200 retail grocery stores — 42% of respondents said they enjoy eating brats at a barbeque, and of those who eat bratwurst, 51% of Midwesterners eat at least one per month.
[RELATED: What Value Means to Protein Shoppers]
Consumer preferences are also shifting when it comes to how brats are dressed and served. One in 10 Americans prefers to eat brats plain. Younger consumers are increasingly reaching for ketchup, cheese and spicy peppers. Side dishes also reflect generational tastes: While 70% of Baby Boomers prefer potato salad, about half of Millennials and Gen Z favor mac and cheese.
Backed by the expertise of SpartanNash's meat department and complemented by offerings in every aisle of the grocery store, Brat Shop is available through Labor Day weekend.
With 20,000 associates, Grand Rapids, Mich.-based SpartanNash operates two complementary business segments: food wholesale and grocery retail. Its global supply chain network serves wholesale customers that include independent and chain grocers, national retail brands, e-commerce platforms, and U.S. military commissaries and exchanges. On the retail side, SpartanNash operates nearly 200 brick-and-mortar grocery stores, primarily under the banners of Family Fare, Martin’s Super Markets, and D&W Fresh Market, in addition to dozens of pharmacies and fuel centers. The company is No. 45 on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer’s 2024 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America.