DES MOINES, Iowa — Kum & Go is rolling its made-to-order fresh-food menu to another market, this time on its home turf. The new menu is making its way into its Des Moines, Iowa-area convenience stores.
Piloted in 2021 in Kum & Go’s Little Rock, Ark., and Omaha, Neb., markets, the menu will now be available at all stores in the Des Moines area by the end of 2022.
“The goal of our new menu is to further support Kum & Go’s initiative on ‘democratizing healthy’ within the convenience space,” said Jac Moskalik, vice president of food innovation for the Des Moines-based company. “We strive to give our customers something different including healthier, better-quality options in the food space without sacrificing quality and speed of service, which is true to our convenience roots. We have certainly challenged the perceived ‘norm’ of convenience-store prepared food and are excited for what the future holds.”
- Kum & Go is No. 18 on the CSP 2022 Top 202 ranking of U.S. convenience-store chains by store count.
The new made-to-order menu features stackers and bowls for all dayparts and includes premium ingredients and fresh toppings and sauces—as well as grab-and-go burritos.
“Old favorites including pizza and bakery items remain on the menu as well and continue to be focus areas for future innovation and enhancements,” the company said.
Kum & Go is setting ingredient-quality standards not normally expected in the c-store space, said Natasha Ratzlaff, director of category management. The chain also is adding ingredients such as brown rice and spinach bowl bases not normally found at c-stores, she said.
“We do still bring in fun convenience-store flair through creative toppings such as Takis on our mango pork stacker and Corn Nuts on the Chimi Chicken Bowl,” she added
Kum & Go will continue rolling out the refreshed brand and new food program across its entire footprint over the next several years, the company said.
Established in Hampton, Iowa in 1959, Kum & Go is a fourth-generation, family-owned convenience-store chain with more than 400 locations. Kum & Go plans to hire more than 5,000 associates across all locations this year, adding 176 food positions as it expands its brand and food program in Des Moines.
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