# Pasta-Focused Grocery Bars The Whole Foods Market Mac & Cheese Bar will Open in Denver By Michael Hemsworth | Published 2017-10-26 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mac-cheese-bar References: [delimarketnews](https://www.delimarketnews.com/retail/whole-foods-introduces-new-cheese-focused-concept/robert-schaulis/mon-10232017-1249/5168) The [Whole Foods](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/goodles-glutenfree) Market Mac & Cheese Bar comes as the latest concept by the brand that will help to offer shoppers with a different kind of dining experience within the natural food retailer's location in downtown Denver. Coming as a "[grocerant](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/goodforyou-pasta)" concept that puts a restaurant-style eatery in a grocery store, the pasta bar will offer shoppers with access to ample macaroni, cheese and even [vegan options](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kraft-notmac-cheese-cups) to choose from. Decadent meat options like pulled pork will also be made available to satisfy preferences for more artisanal approaches to the classic pasta comfort food. The Whole Foods Market Mac & Cheese Bar, as previously mentioned, will be test marketed at the brand's location in Denver to see how it fares and if it's a viable option to roll out nationwide. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.1/10 - Popularity: 32% | Activity: 23% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Grocerant Concepts:** The rise of grocery stores with in-house dining options presents an opportunity for innovative food concepts inside retail spaces. - **Artisanal Comfort Foods:** Consumers' demand for unique and elevated versions of classic comfort foods drives opportunities for chefs to experiment with premium ingredients and flavors. - **Vegan Dining:** The growing popularity of veganism creates a market for plant-based options in traditional comfort foods. ### Where This Applies - **Grocery Retail:** Grocery stores can explore the incorporation of dining experiences within their locations to attract more customers and boost sales. - **Food Service:** Restaurants and food service providers can tap into the trend of offering upscale versions of comfort foods to meet consumer demand for elevated dining experiences. - **Plant-based Food:** Companies in the plant-based food industry can capitalize on the demand for vegan options by creating innovative plant-based varieties of classic comfort foods. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Homemade-Inspired Premade Pasta Dishes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/allie-bs-mac-cheese.md) - [High-Fiber Macaroni Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/goodwheat-1.md) - [Vegetable-Forward Macaroni Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/supermac.md) - [Cheesy Artisan-Inspired Pastas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/goodles-mac-and-cheese-flavors.md) - [Gourmet Macaroni Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mac-cheese-frozen-ready-meals.md) - [Cheese-Filled QSR Combos](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/schlotzskys-mac-and-cheese.md) - [Dairy-Free Instant Macaronis](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/daiya-mac-cheese.md) - [Gourmet Dairy-Free Macaroni Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/daiya-deluxe-mac-cheeze.md) - [Familiar Frozen Macaroni Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kraft-mac-cheese-deluxe.md)