Coborn’s, Swedish company pilot high-tech salad bar

Coborn’s and Swedish salad company Picadeli have announced that a new high-tech salad bar has opened at Coborn’s in Elk River at 19425 Evans St. NW.

The Picadeli salad bar will also be available at Coborn’s grocery stores in Princeton and Ramsey beginning April 10 and Otsego on April 17.

The new salad bar is part of a pilot program in the region, which is expected to expand to additional stores later this year. Unlike traditional salad bars, Picadeli offers guests elevated options including plant-based proteins, grains, seafood and seasonal specialties. The units use digital signage and touch screens to showcase the nutritional values of all ingredients, and temperature-controlled food compartments to ensure optimal food safety and less waste.

“Picadeli is known worldwide for revolutionizing the salad bar and we’re delighted to offer our guests a healthy and quick meal option focused on freshness, variety and flavor,” said Dennis Host, senior vice president of marketing and communications of Coborn’s, Inc.

“More importantly this distinguished salad bar features innovative technology to keep food safe and prioritizes variety and proper food hygiene. During the COVID pandemic, we were forced to close almost all of our self-service salad bar offerings to ensure our guests’ safety. We’re excited to be able to bring back the salad bar with a new, innovative offering through our partnership with Picadeli.”

The Picadeli salad bar, which consistently rotates menu items for new options and offers seasonal favorites and variety, prioritizes safety with features like hand sanitizer and bowl dispensers, sneezeguards, a mounting system for utensils to prevent contamination of allergenic foods, temperature and hood sensors, shielding hoods, a patented air flow refrigeration system, and more.

Picadeli salads cost around $8 per salad.

“Our entry into Minnesota with the opening of the Picadeli bar in this location represents a new phase of our growth in the U.S., and we are thrilled to be expanding in partnership with Coborn’s,” said Patrik Hellstrand, Picadeli’s CEO.