Kramer Foods has been a Hinsdale neighborhood grocery store since 1953. Whether you need homemade soup for lunch, some hand trimmed meats for your dinner or some fresh fruit to fuel your kids soccer team, we are committed to providing you an enjoyable shopping experience. Kramer’s prides itself on providing not only the best quality products available but also outstanding service that keeps our customers shopping with us year after year.

It all started when Frank Kramer, who previously had a store in Chicago, came to Hinsdale in 1953 and set up business on Washington Street. Kramer’s IGA was born in the building that now houses the “Jade Dragon” restaurant. Later in that year, upon discharge from the service, Joel Nelson went to work as the produce manager. He had planned to work about six months or until his electrician apprenticeship became available, yet Kramer and Nelson worked together so well that the apprenticeship never happened. What started as a short stay for Joel lasted over 50 years. In June of 1960 Kramer’s IGA moved to the newly expanded Grant Square shopping center. In 1961, Frank Kramer decided to move his family to Florida and left Joel to manage the business. Joel became owner of the store in 1981 when he purchased the store from the Kramer family. In 1986, Kramer Foods moved once again from where Walgreens is today to its larger present location. Though both Joel and his wife Joyce have passed away, the standard of excellence that Joel sought in the operation of the business is still intact today. Ron and Kim Ludwigson, Joel’s son-in-law and daughter, with the help and dedication of many long standing employees, strive to make this family run business a special place to shop.

At Kramer Foods it is our grocery department where you can find all your classic items, but this is also where you will find many unique specialty foods, including many items that you would not be able to find anywhere else. One of our unique product lines is Bea‘s preserves, pickles and ready to bake homemade cherry, apple and four berry pies that come straight from Door County, Wisconsin (these are in the front freezer and are absolutely delicious). We also have many local suppliers who bring in their special salsas, soups, pasta sauces and even quinoa dog biscuits. We have an ever growing selection of organic and natural foods and also a nice selection of ethnic items. Customers sometimes ask for an item that we don’t usually carry and the next week they arrive to find that it is already on the shelf. It is our goal to provide the finest products available.

In our meat department we have only the finest and freshest meats available. Our beef is always choice grade and trimmed to the highest standards. All our ground meats are ground fresh daily, not pre-packaged from a warehouse. We make our own Italian sausage and brats, which are perfect on the grill or in your favorite recipes. Looking for the natural choice in your meat options? We now carry naturally grown beef, chicken, pork and bison, along with a large selection of naturally made sausages. Our meat cutters are always available and happy to assist you in any way that they can. Whether it is trimming tenderloin, boning a chicken breast or helping with cooking instructions and ideas, our meat department is here to help.

Not a day goes by that some wonderful aroma isn’t filtering through the store. Our soups are homemade daily with the finest and freshest ingredients. There is a large selection of meats and cheeses, including Boar’s Head. If you are looking for a sandwich, we can make one just the way you like it. We have a monthly lunch menu featuring a daily hot sandwich and a few different delicious homemade soups. Click on the “monthly deli menu” for the current months selections. If a party tray is what you need, our sandwich trays are available with a wonderful assortment of sandwiches on rye, wheat, white, little rolls or flaky, buttery croissants. We also make deli meat and cheese trays with freshly sliced meats and cheeses of your choice and our fresh fruit trays use only the freshest of the seasons best fruits! Don’t forget our vegetable trays filled with wonderfully fresh vegetables surrounding our delicious homemade spinach dip or creamy traditional ranch. We have many homemade salads daily, including our heavenly chicken salad that has been a local favorite for years. We also make pasta, potato, chicken, egg and ham salads. Some other favorites include our tomato, basil and mozzarella salad, taffy apple salad, pineapple cole slaw, traditional salsa, black bean salsa and our creamy guacamole. We are happy to help with custom trays and your holiday menu. Click on the “deli trays” icon for more ideas.

If you are looking for something irresistible to satisfy your sweet tooth our bakery has just what you are looking for. Our bakery has many delicious treats including; special k bars, vanilla bars, rocky road, chocolate caramel bars, cheese crunchers and lemon squares which are baked daily along with bread puddings and a variety of tea cakes and muffins. We also bring in wonderful baked goods from some of the best local bakeries, including cakes, pastries, cookies and breads. We also have some wonderful holiday treats including Easter lamb cakes, Paczkis for Fat Tuesday, and special breads and rolls for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We also have our special chocolate suckers and pretzel buttons that are made just for us. Want a birthday cake or a sweet tray? We would be happy to help with the sweet part of your entertaining.

Our produce is delivered fresh daily with attention given to bringing our customers the best quality from the best location possible. In the fall we bring in Cortland apples straight from the orchards in Door County, Wisconsin. In the summer it is the delicious home grown sweet corn that comes from our local Plainfield farmers. All year long we have delicious juicy, pesticide free, hydroponic tomatoes and crisp cucumbers from McWethy Farms in Three Oaks, Michigan. For those who want fresh organic produce - we have made it our mission to bring in organics that have the quality that our customers have come to expect. Whether it is melons, greens, berries or fresh herbs, we strive to bring in the best of the best!

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