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Yes. I have three independent cheese shops in two blocks of my Midwest home. And a grocery store with a cheese counter that's on par with Whole Foods. The farmers markets and the lowrent chain get the best sharpest freshest Wisconsin cheddar, which I greatly prefer to New York sharp cheddar.

When I lived in Texas, 15 years ago, the posh HEB had a cheese counter that rivaled any of the above shops. It's the only place outside of that Twin Peaks episode I've ever seen a smoked cheese pig.

I think it won't last. I think that there are enough places to get cheese for people who want it that it isn't necessary and that many people have plenty of other things to spend money on right besides cheese. In my midwestern hometown, the Kroger stores aren't particularly nice and a lot of people choose to shop at the locally owned grocers or a kroger competitor. I can think of at least three nonmajor chain stores to buy cheese.

i live in nashville, and the only grocery store in the most affluent part of town (where the likes of al gore live) is a kroger. there is a nearby whole foods, but kroger is closer. there are some nice krogers and some runty krogers--and yet, there is a not-so-nice kroger right in the middle of my own rapidly gentrifying (and now unaffordable) neighborhood. it'll be interesting to see what happens.

I think it's an interesting idea. Sure, those who already buy exceptional cheeses from their local shop won't be too wowed by the process. But people doing their regular shopping, who aren't familiar with nicer cheeses, will get exposed to the idea and open up to it. They'll taste samples, learn from (hopefully) well-trained mongers, and have access to cheese that's taken care of by affineurs, as opposed to pre-packaged vacuum sealed stuff typical of supermarkets.

This can only expand interest in the subject, and eventually the new fans will seek out other stores and find their favorites. Competition only forces the other places to work harder to bring the best to the market.

My fine state of Wisconsin is called "America's Dairyland" for a reason. We midwesterners don't need cheese education, thank you very much!! I find the prejudice that the Midwest requires to be enightened (on any subject) from the coasts insulting.

I live in a tiny (pop. 10,000) college town in Indiana that is completely devoid of any decent cheese selection. If the Kroger in town participates in this partnership, I'll be the happiest girl on earth!

I just moved to Houston from Ithaca, NY. I'm still whining over losing my beloved Wegmans. Close to our home is a fancy Kroger. It's pretty bad (comparatively).
I have been trying to go to HEB, Central Market, and Whole Foods, instead of shopping at Kroger. Obviously I have access to great cheeses at all of these.

I'm afraid that, in general, I have a bad attitude about Kroger.

I'm curious how the product offerings will differ in the Kroger stores from the stand-alone stores. I love Murray's because it is often the only store in the country that imports certain types of cheeses. Where I grew up in Texas, there were great cheese shops, but it was still hard to find a good Vacherin for New Year's.

I am always surprised at how many people seem to take this partnership personally -- just because this is a New York based chain doesn't mean they are trying to "educate" people in the Midwest. I would just be excited to have even more great cheese options.