Kentucky Proud

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Commissioner Comer announces Kentucky Proud-Kroger partnership

Agriculture Commissioner James Comer announces Kroger's new commitment to Kentucky Proud on Friday in Louisville. (Kentucky Department of Agriculture photo)

 

Kroger adds 125 Kentucky Proud products in 88 stores throughout the Commonwealth

 

For Immediate Release
Friday, November 7, 2014
For more information contact:
Ted Sloan
(502) 564-1138

Tim McGurk

(502) 423-4854

 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Dozens of Kentucky family farms and small businesses will benefit from a historic partnership between Kentucky Proud and Kroger, Agriculture Commissioner James Comer announced today.

Next to a Kentucky Proud display at the Springhurst Kroger supermarket on Brownsboro Road, Commissioner Comer said that Kroger will sell 125 products from 34 Kentucky Proud producers in 88 stores throughout Kentucky. Comer said the initial purchase filled a 10,000-square-foot warehouse and totaled $350,000, a record for a single transaction in the history of Kentucky Proud.


“A purchase of this scope will make a big difference to these people,” Commissioner Comer said. “Kroger has always carried a wide selection of local products, and we appreciate Kroger’s continuing commitment to Kentucky Proud producers.”


“For decades Kentucky Kroger stores have offered a significant variety of locally sourced products, especially in our produce, meat and deli departments,” said Tim McGurk, public affairs manager for Kroger’s Louisville division. “But this week, thanks to tremendous support from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Kroger is taking the ‘Buy Local’ initiative to an entirely new level. We know that our shoppers will be thrilled to find all the new products from Kentucky farm families and local producers available in our stores.”


Commissioner Comer also used the occasion to introduce Kentucky Proud Popcorn, a premium popcorn product made from corn grown by western Kentucky farm families. The popcorn is processed by Preferred Popcorn, founded by Nebraska popcorn grower Norm Krug, which purchased a Murray, Ky., family’s popcorn business and maintained connections to Kentucky growers.


Fishmarket Seafood, a family-owned distributor in Louisville, will distribute the products to all 88 stores, which was instrumental to coordinating a product launch of this scope, Kroger officials said.


At the Louisville event, Commissioner Comer showed two television commercials that will support the Kentucky Proud launch and video of a flyover of Weisenberger Mill in Midway.
Featured guests on hand for the event included:

  • Bryan Kittleson, Scott Chapski, Penny Goddin, and Taryn Mynear of Kroger
  • Steve and Brad Smith of Fishmarket Seafood
  • Brian Churchill and Dave Roberts of Preferred Popcorn
  • Ben and Hannah Hornback of Manitou in Hopkins County, members of a farm family that grows Kentucky Proud Popcorn
  • Catrina Hill of Louisville, founder of Catrina’s Kitchen, which makes seasoned mixes
  • Amy Henson and Wes McFadden of Laurel County, makers of Rock Bottom Goat’s Milk Soap


The event followed a similar announcement Thursday at the Tates Creek Kroger in Lexington.
To find out more about the Kroger-Kentucky Proud partnership, go to www.kyproud.com/kroger. For more information about Kentucky Proud Popcorn, go to www.kyproudpopcorn.com.

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