Busch’s Fresh Food Market will hold its storewide Oktoberfest celebration Sept. 21-Oct. 4, turning its 16 southeast Michigan stores into a cross-department showcase of German foods, seasonal beers and store-made products, anchored this year by a new exclusive: house-made Sauerkraut Bread.
The bread, introduced for this year’s event, is made from scratch by the Ann Arbor-based grocer’s artisan bread team in Clinton, Michigan, where sauerkraut adds moisture and a tangy depth similar to sourdough while complementing a traditional rye profile. The company positions it as a pairing platform for the rest of the event’s assortment, from pastrami and corned beef to grilled brats, knockwurst and Swiss cheese.
“Oktoberfest is a celebration that fits naturally with the food traditions of southeast Michigan and the flavors our guests look forward to each fall,” said Chris Romano, director of merchandising at Busch’s. “We bring the celebration to life throughout the store, from fresh brats and traditional German foods to specialty grocery items and a great selection of Oktoberfest beers from local and international brewers. It gives our guests everything they need to create their own Oktoberfest experience at home.”
Storewide celebration
The event’s merchandising reaches every department, pairing Busch’s store-made items with Michigan suppliers and German imports. Featured products in addition to the new Sauerkraut Bread include:
- Busch’s store-made fresh brats, artisan soft pretzels, German potato salad and Black Forest and Bavarian Apple Spice cupcakes;
- An Oktoberfest Bavarian meatball meal, and garlic and herb butter spaetzle;
- Michigan favorites such as Winter’s fully cooked bun-length bratwurst and Dearborn original sauerkraut, plus braunschweiger;
- Weihenstephaner Festbier and non-alcoholic lager and Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest Märzen;
- German grocery specialties including Hengstenberg products, Bechtle noodles, Lowensenf mustard, Hero nectar and Haribo candy; and
- Fresh potatoes, radishes, Michigan green cabbage, yellow onions and Oktoberfest bouquets.
The event continues a year-round calendar of cultural and seasonal food celebrations for the family-owned independent, which has built a resume of storewide events including its St. Patrick’s Day program, summer Cherryfest and Hatch Chile Fest, each pairing in-house production from its Clinton bakehouse with local supplier partnerships.
Founded in 1975, Busch’s Fresh Food Market operates 16 stores in five southeast Michigan counties with more than 1,600 associates.