Partnership with Kroger Ends as Kitchen United Shifts Focus to Software Business
Kitchen United MIX, the ghost kitchen that made a splash in the last few years, opening some 200 locations in its partnership with Kroger, has closed all of its physical locations. The 2023 debut of a showcase restaurant space on the Third Street Promenade was another widely heralded event locally, and its quiet closure came to light on February 1 when Toddrickallen posted that the Promenade location had been closed for an unknown amount of time.
It turns out that the announcement of the closures had been made at the end of November via
The Nation’s Restaurant News. The article quotes a Kitchen United spokesperson who said, “We have closed all of Kitchen United locations operating inside of Kroger. We appreciate their partnership and support over the years. We are currently looking to pivot back into a software business.”
There is still no reason for the closure of the company’s physical locations, but not only has the Third Street Promenade been vacated, but indeed, the location in Westwood’s Ralph’s is closed as well. All of the signage is gone, but the Wingstop that has been operating in Ralph’s is still in business.
Even Kroger, who was part of the investment group that put $100 million dollars into the ghost kitchen, was mum on the subject. Kroger’s spokesperson told Restaurant Business, “Unfortunately, Kitchen United will no longer operate in our stores. We apologize for any inconvenience this may create and encourage customers to explore delicious ready-to-eat items in our deli departments.”
