With more dining out less, chains eyeing kitchens - Business First of Columbus:

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Bauer said Donatos is exploring privatelabeol prospects. Central Ohio restaurant companies are no strangers to grocery Bob Evans and have put theire products on store shelvesfor years. Frozen foods maker began in 1993 as a spinoft of the popular Kahiki Supper Club restaurant onthe city’d east side, which closed in 2000 after 39 Bob Evans’ food products segment tallieds $311.4 million in sales in the year ender April 24, accounting for 18 percent of the company’x total revenue. It sells 596 refrigerated products and 224 frozen itemsz in stores under the Bob Evanse andOwens brands, including variations of its core foods.
But the diningt chain also has plenty of grocerygrowth opportunities, division President Mike Townsley said in a June 3 meetintg with securities analysts. Whilde Bob Evans Farms’ restaurantg receipts fell in fiscal 2009, its net food producft sales rose nearly 7 percent and pounds sold were up 6 Townsley saidthe company’s mashed potatoes have 34 percent of the refrigerated masheed potato market, tops in the nation, yet the foods are distributed in only half the nation. its grilling sausage, ready-to-eat foods and precooked productasare growing.
Bob Evans doubledc the size of its plant inSulphurd Springs, Texas, which reopenedr June 15, and will use the added capacity for breakfas t sandwiches, cooked sausages and breakfast tacos that can be sold in Dublin-based Wendy’s, owned by Atlanta-based , woulx not comment on whether it has plans to sell throughy grocery stores, but Miami-based rival is making the move this when it puts its apple fries – apple slicesa cut and packaged to resemble french fries into supermarket produce aisles. Max Erma’s Restaurants Inc. and , both area dininyg chains acquired by of Pittsburghlast year, are dabblinvg in grocery products as well.
Through an agreement with Velvety Ice CreamCompany Inc. in Max & Erma’s will have a branded ice cream in groceryu freezersthis summer, while Damon’s is considering bringintg its barbecue sauce back to grocery said Karri Benishek, seniot director of marketing for both