i honestly thought this was going to be a troll post (Grind your meat), but I would say that they probably will as other supermarkets have done. The days of the full service meat counter and actual meat cutters are probably dwindling. just my opinion
I heard a few years ago Kroger is gonna do away with grinders because the USDA wanted everyone that grinds meat to test it for e-coli and salmonella before it is sold. I also heard the testers are expensive and Kroger doesn't want to pay for them all so they would get rid of the grinders. But that was like 3-4 years ago and we still have ours. They might keep them in the service case stores but not the other ones. I do agree Kroger does have something to offer with meat cut in stores but it doesn't seem like it's hurt Walmart not having it, people will buy meat regardless. For the service case comment, we lose a crap ton of money with ours. We have to carry stuff no one wants, who's gonna pay $1.25 for one meatball! We just mark it down and try to sale it but it still won't sale. Lunch-meat is where we make the most profit.
well as long as were still cutting beef i dont see the grinder going anywhere any time soon, were still grinding store trim and Roasts customers bring us to the counter wanting them ground up
With the advent of the Zero trim sub primal and the future of pre pack meat, in some KMAs it is there already ( Tennessee, Atlanta,MIssouri and soon to a plant near you) Though my store is one of the smallest sales wise and having no service, there are 3 or 4 days the grinder doesnt get used( no sense in trying to bring 3 0r 4 pounds of trim ).This is why they are buttholes about cutting to standard, not the margin and markup they keep telling us Store trim is an exit strategy not a merchandising tool. Now all I've just told you is what comes from the GO and the Division Merchandising people. Make up your own mind. Every division is different but eventually we will all the the same.
^i'm wondering what store/division you're in because before i got transferred to the store i'm at now, i have NEVER heard of a meat dept. without a service case.
when I worked at Kroger - I did the meat grind a couple times a week with this cute co-manager and a couple cashiers and bakery/deli clerks. even did the meat grind with a few customers