Ralphs Grocery Co. is carrying a new line of corporate brand products, imported directly from the most food-rich regions of the world.
Ralphs parent company, The Kroger Co., developed HemisFares, which is found exclusively at the Kroger family of stores, including Ralphs stores in Southern California.
Kroger introduced the brand with 27 authentic Italian products currently on shelves in Ralphs stores and plans to add more products and countries soon.
"Just like American barbecue can mean many different flavors: spicy, smoky, more of a vinegar base, Italian food changes considerably as you travel across the country," said Gil Phipps, Kroger vice president of corporate brands. "Imagine landing in Italy and getting an in-depth, guided tour from village to village, experiencing the single best example of the most beloved foods from each region. Our goal with HemisFares is to bring only the best food finds to our customers."
Kroger is working side-by-side with food connoisseurs to identify regional culinary treasures from around the world. Kroger's corporate brands team travels to those regions, diving into what makes each treasure and locality unique.
Gelato, for example, originated in Sicily. HemisFares Sicilian Gelato is made from grass-fed cows that roam the Sicilian countryside. These cows are milked daily and provide the fresh cream used to make HemisFares Sicilian Gelato.
The packaging on each product tells the story of the food find. It takes customers on a journey, explaining precisely where it came from and what makes that product the best-of-the-best. Each HemisFares item has a "find number" on the packaging to direct customers to other similar products in the HemisFares brand that they may enjoy.
Customers can expect additional HemisFares products over the next year, from regions including Spain, Japan and others.
"Whether you're epi-curious or just like eating and sharing incredibly tasty food, when you see our HemisFares brand, you can trust the product within is the best this planet has to offer – bar none," said Phipps. "
Ralphs was founded in 1873 and currently operates 209 supermarkets from its headquarters in Los Angeles. Kroger, one of the world's largest retailers, employs nearly 400,000 associates who serve customers in 2,623 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 34 states and the District of Columbia under two dozen local banner names including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry's, Harris Teeter, Jay C, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith's.
