A Game-Changer for Retail Efficiency

Credit: Associated Foods Stores

Tackling Labor Challenges in Retail Foodservice

With labor shortages continuing to challenge grocery and deli departments, Associated Food Stores (AFS) and ARO are turning to centralized production as a practical solution. By moving key items like cheeseballs, soups, salsas, and meal kits to commissary-style production, store teams can focus more on customer service and merchandising rather than being overwhelmed with in-store food prep.

From Cheeseballs to Soups and Salsas

The initiative began with one high-demand item: cheeseballs. During the holidays, demand often outpaces store capacity. By producing cheeseball mix in bulk and shipping it in five-gallon tubs, teams can simply scoop, package, and sell—streamlining the process while keeping quality consistent. The program quickly expanded to include other prepared foods such as salsa, soups, and meal kits, offering stores greater variety with less labor strain.

A Key Partnership with Tall Hat Foods

A critical piece of this effort is the partnership with Tall Hat Foods, led by Certified Master Chef Kent Andersen. Tall Hat brings together food science, culinary expertise, and lean manufacturing to help AFS achieve both scale and consistency. With a reputation for quality, freshness, and efficiency, Tall Hat Foods enables retailers to meet customer expectations while giving store teams more time to engage with shoppers.

Scaling Production with Food Safety in Mind

The centralized production strategy isn’t just about efficiency—it also prioritizes food safety and shelf life. By working with a third-party microbial testing facility, AFS can provide accurate use-by dates and maximize product life. This ensures customers get safe, high-quality food every time, while stores benefit from reduced waste and improved inventory control.

Laying the Blueprint for the Future

The success of the initial cheeseball production—over 6,000 pounds made for Halloween—proved that centralized production works. With support from leadership, vendors, and multiple AFS departments, the initiative has become a blueprint for how to better support both corporate and member stores. The result: less pressure on store employees, more consistent products, and greater efficiency across the retail system.

*The original article may be found here, created by Associated Food Stores.