Kansas City small businesses prepare food and merchandise for World Cup

Kansas City businesses are preparing to welcome fans of the defending World Cup champion Argentina and Algeria with local flavors and merchandise as the city hosts part of the tournament beginning June 16. Grocery chain Hen House Markets and ice cream shop Betty Raes are among dozens of small businesses hoping to boost their bottom line and engage with the international event.

Matt Shatto, owner of Betty Raes, which has been voted the city's top ice cream shop for most of the past decade, said the opportunity is exciting for the community. "Anything that puts Kansas City on a stage is exciting for us. If Kansas City wins, we feel like we win," Shatto said. His shop is creating unique flavors aimed at fans of teams that will play at Arrowhead Stadium and be based in the area. For fans of Argentina, particularly Lionel Messi, Betty Raes is offering a dulce de leche ice cream with pieces of alfajores, a popular Argentine pastry. For Algerian fans, the shop has developed a baklava-inspired flavor featuring honey ice cream, phyllo dough, and almonds.

Hen House Markets is offering taste flights inspired by the nations visiting the Midwest. Shatto Milk Co., which makes weekly porch...