As graduation season approaches, a Michigan grocery chain sees a prime opportunity to jazz up its catering service to help reel in more sales.
Busch’s Fresh Food Market, which has 16 stores in southeastern Michigan, announced Wednesday that it has expanded its catering menu and started using new serving trays that provide “an upscale presentation” at consumers’ party tables.
The catering menu additions, which become available on Monday, include a wider selection of hot foods as well as artisanal baked goods made daily from the grocer’s central bakery. The menu will also feature themed meals such as BBQ, Italian and Mexican dishes, along with fresh sushi trays.
All of the chain’s stores will offer the expanded menu, which comes in time for graduation gatherings and the summer party season, Busch’s said.
The wide-ranging catering menu spans dayparts with offerings like a “taco bar with all the fixings,” breakfast pastry trays, deli trays, dessert platters, house-made lasagna, a roast beef tenderloin platter and more.
In an effort to support local businesses, one of the new charcuterie trays will feature made-in-Michigan goat cheese, brie and cheddar, while the Mediterranean Bites Platters are made in partnership with Beirut Bakery, a local business offering authentic Middle Eastern food.
“Our aim is to make our guests’ get togethers as easy and as delicious as possible this season and for them to feel proud of the food on their table,” Busch’s Director of Food Service Joanne Zlotorzynski said in the announcement.
Founded in 1975, Busch’s is a family-owned independent chain headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Other grocers, including Publix and ShopRite, also have catering menus centered around graduations. Earlier this year, Albertsons launched Celebrations, a digital hub for party planning available across all of its banners’ websites and apps that gives shoppers more customization options as well as hosting inspiration.
