As the weather gets chilly, Wegmans is rolling out a new meal option called Hot Bowls.
The grocer confirmed in an email to Grocery Dive that its new program debuted at its Chapel Hill, North Carolina, store last week and that the company plans to bring the offering to its three other locations in the state — Raleigh, West Cary, Wake Forest — before the end of November.
With Hot Bowls, customers can order their own customized bowl or a signature bowl offering, which spans a variety of cuisines, like Mediterranean, Latin and Asian options.
The bowls are assembled in-store, Wegmans said, noting that customers can order them for delivery through the grocer’s Meals2GO App.
Wegmans also offers a selection of pre-packaged bowls, including Latin Chicken with Quinoa Brown Rice, Salmon Teriyaki with Black Pepper Sauce and Asian Vegetables, and Chicken Shawarma Salad.
The Hot Bowls program is replacing the grocer’s Burger Bar stations at its North Carolina stores, the Raleigh News & Observer reported last week.
“As we continue to innovate, we’re seeing our areas like Asian, Pizza, Subs, Sandwiches, and Bowls experience strong growth across the company,” Wegmans said in a statement to the publication.
The move by Wegmans comes as the grocer tests different meal concepts to snap up shoppers’ dining dollars. The grocer opened its second Next Door high-end sushi restaurant earlier this year. Wegmans also updated its mobile app and website this year to improve digital discovery and add more personalization to its online shopping experience.
Wegmans has over 110 locations across nine states and Washington, D.C.
