Dive Brief:

• Meijer has partnered with Hissho Sushi, the country’s second-largest sushi provider to offer a sushi and craft beer bar at its Brighton, Michigan location. ​
• The sit-down restaurant offers rolls made by sushi chefs along with dim sum and dishes like Asian chicken wings. Local favorite Bell's Brewery provides the beer selections.
• The concept will roll out to a second Meijer store in Royal Oak this year, according to a local report. ​

Dive Insight:

In their quest to lure in diners and drinkers who might also decide to shop their stores, retailers have turned to a variety of different bar and restaurant concepts. The latest concept from Meijer and Hissho Sushi shows that companies want to continue pushing the envelope in order to stand out.

Meijer's full-service sushi restaurant and bar was developed by Hissho, the nation's second-largest sushi provider, which provides grab-and-go sushi to around 100 of the retailer's stores. According to the Livingston Daily, the new concept opened last week and offers breakfast items like avocado toast and acai bowls in addition to lunch and dinner service. It will also serve popular wines alongside craft beer selections from local brewer Bell's.

Sushi has been a supermarket staple for decades now, with Vons in Marina del Ray, California being the first to debut sushi in a grocery store in September 1986, according to Taste. But American tastes and desires have shifted over the years, and retailers are seeing an opportunity to offer more than just grab-and-go selections. 

Hy-Vee and Kroger-owned QFC have recently opened sushi bars inside their new stores, while Wegmans offers sushi to-go through its delivery app. Target began testing sustainable sushi in 2018, and Walmart recently added fresh-made sushi to 28 stores in the Charlotte, North Carolina area.