The Sixth Sense
LUBICOM Kosher CEO Menachem Lubinsky is the founder and co-producer of Kosherfest, the annual trade event for the kosher food & beverage industry and is the editor-in-chief of KosherToday. The views expressed in this column do not represent the opinions of KosherToday’s publishers and are those of the author alone.
For the current My Sixth Sense article, please visit http://www.koshertoday.com/sixthsense.asp
My Sixth Sense is released on alternating weeks with Eye on Kosher, which can be found at http://www.lubicomkosher.com/eyeonkosher.
April 16, 2006
From the Editor’s Desk...
It’s the morning after, not quite, but it sure feels that way. Passover ’07 is in the books and the indications are that it may also be in the record books. We’re hearing the number 17% for the sales increase and record numbers in other categories as well...While many Jews may have moved on from Passover, we’ve got the story about many non-Jews who already miss the holiday...We also cover the post-holiday shopping spree, which we are told is as busy for some like the pre-holiday rush...Israel’s Independence Day is the focus of many retailers here and in Israel...Nestle may be the largest ethnically-conscious company in the world...Have the Canadians lost their tolerance towards kosher?..Idele Ross covers the story of a big resignation in Israel...Here and There looks at the glatt kosher kitchen at the Newark Hilton, Lufthansa being the # 2 carrier of flying people to Israel and the OU sponsoring a seminar for rabbis... Eda Kram covers a new line of themed sauces.
Welcome back and hope you had a great Pesach!
Menachem Lubinsky
Editor-in-Chief
Passover ’07 Sales May Have Hit Record
New York...Sales of Passover foods this year may have risen by as much as 17%, a preliminary survey of distributors, manufacturers, and distributors shows. If confirmed, it would top the 15% recorded in the 2006 survey and well beyond the numbers of 2000. Some retailers in New York said that shoppers took advantage of the many choices they had and “shopped for best prices,” while newer stores outside of New York reported a late surge of sales that “probably had more to do with educating our shoppers about the products we carry.” According to various studies of the Jewish community, including the 2001-2002 National Jewish Population Study, more than two-thirds of America’s estimated 5.2 – 6 million Jews participate in at least one Seder. An estimated 50,000 Americans vacationed in resorts throughout the world over Passover. Nearly 100 hotels in the US sponsored special Passover programs. Several retailers reached by Kosher Today said that new items “flew off the shelves.” They also saw a spike in sales of snack foods, baking ingredients, and dairy products. The 17% sales increase is an average, given that one manufacturer reported a 22% increase while another said that he “barely reached 7%.”
Many Health-Conscious Americans Will Miss Passover
New York...The Passover holiday may already be history for those who observed the eight-day celebration, but for some health conscious Americans, reminders of the holiday are still in their kitchens. While a big story this year focused on those who covet the sugar ingredient (rather than its corn syrup replacement), some Americans allergic to corn products also stocked up on the special Kosher for Passover Coke. Several retailers told Kosher Today that non-Jewish consumers were asking for the Passover Coke because they were allergic to corn. Another group of non-traditional Passover customers were people with celiac disease, according to an article in the Journal News. Since many Pesach products do not contain gluten, people who suffer from the disease stocked up on the Pesach products. Celiac Disease is a digestive illness that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food, which triggers an autoimmune reaction that damages the intestinal system. An estimated 2 million Americans suffer from the disease. Some of the afflicted customers feasted on the Pesach cakes while others froze the pastries for future use. According to the Journal News, Croton-on-Hudson resident Chris Spreitzer was happily surprised when she moved from California to Westchester seven years ago to see how much gluten-free food was available in mainstream supermarkets at Passover. "It's a well-known secret," said Spreitzer, who is head of the Westchester Celiac Disease Support group, which has members throughout the Lower Hudson Valley. While one could still buy discounted items made with potato starch, it is almost impossible to find any leftover Coke made with the sugar.
Restocking of Shelves Drives Post-Passover Sales
New York...Within hours after Passover had ended last Tuesday night, long lines of chometz-starved customers filled pizza parlors, bagel shops, and coffee houses. In Flatbush, Brooklyn, one Dunkin’ Donuts shop had an endless stream of Orthodox Jewish customers. 24-hour supermarkets and marts were doing a banner business selling cereals and packaged breads. For the next few days, said one retailer, the store looked like the days before Passover, only this time the basket included everything from breads to ketchup and mustard. Many retailers are so focused on Passover that they frequently neglect to address the post-Passover rush. There were also many accolades for kosher distributors and manufacturers who within days managed to help grocery sales get “back to normal.” One store said that his sales for the three days after Passover equaled his 3 days before the holiday. In the offices of the larger chains, an evaluation of Passover ’07 was underway as was a preliminary plan for 2008 holiday.
In Canada, Kosher is Test of Tolerance in Society
Montreal...Democracies like the US and Canada pride themselves in making “reasonable accommodations” for special ethnic and religious groups. These societies are known for their acceptance of kosher food as an accommodation to Jews and others who covet the special dietary foods. But recent developments here have caused some to question the extent of the tolerance, particularly towards kosher. Two ambulance attendants were recently awarded $7,500 each for being prevented from eating their non-kosher lunches in a kosher cafe at the Montreal Jewish General Hospital. In the US, the same incident might have triggered an internal discussion to offer non-kosher visitors a place to eat, rather than an investigation by governement body and a subsequent fine. Then it was the Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital, in the Montreal suburb of Laval, which was “caught” by a hidden camera investigation by the TVA network showing vending machines draped in sheets over Passover. The hospital has always served a kosher menu and since the food in the vending machine was not kosher for Passover, it had draped off the machines. This seemingly “gross infraction” by the Hospital triggered a huge debate in the Quebec press, leading some to speculate that kosher had indeed become a symbol of intolerance. The Hospital admitted that while 80% of its patients were not Jewish, it bent over backwards to accommodate and to attract the 20% who are Jewish, not an uncommon marketing scenario in the US and elsewhere. Jewish leaders do not see these issues as an indication of a shift in societal values, but admit that the two incidents leave some room for thought.
Nestle Invests Heavily in Ethnic Markets
Tel Aviv...by Idele Ross, Bureau Chief and Staff Reporters...Nestle is heavily invested in Israel, through its significant ownership of Osem and other ventures, and may very well be a leader in aggressively pursuing ethnic markets in general. In Israel, the
Nestle Food Service, the institutional division of Osem Foods, recently launched a center of culinary arts offering advanced learning to professionals in the sector. Ayelet Rosen, Director of the division said that people who work in institutional catering always need to innovate and create new menus. Whether it’s the company dining room or attractive serving ideas, they are always looking for new flavors and dishes. The Swiss-based multi-national company has also become the biggest food manufacturer in the halal sector, with more than $3 billion in annual sales in Islamic countries and with 75 of its 481 factories worldwide producing halal food. Nestle products have been kosher certified (under the Orthodox Union – OU) for decades.
Retailers Focus on Israel’s Independence Day
Tel Aviv...by Idele Ross, Bureau Chief and Staff Reporters...No sooner does Passover end, and food manufacturers gear up for Israel Independence Day which falls on April 24th. Israelis traditionally mark the day with picnics. Sogloweck Meat Processors is expecting an overwhelming 80% growth in sales this month compared to the average. This means sales of $13 million and over 1400 tons of processed poultry and meat products ready for the grill. Geocartographia carried out the marketing study for the company. Over half of those polled said they would be spending over $100 on meats for the barbecue – 41% said they would be doing their grilling at home. 41% also expressed a preference for their meat well done. In the US, many marts catering to Israelis will have special Yom Hatzmaut displays while several major chains traditionally merchandise foods made in Israel. It has also become a part of the Fine Food from Israel campaign in the US.
CEO of Mehadrine Market Chain Resigns
Tel Aviv...by Idele Ross, Bureau Chief...Yehuda Porat, CEO of the Shefa Shuk chain of mehadrin (strictly) kosher markets, a subsidiary of Blue Square Supermarkets, has resigned following alleged differences of opinion with management. Ynet Internet news reports that Porat, the Haredi Orthodox businessman who founded the chain 15 years ago under the name Shefa Mehadrine is also on the Blue Square Board of Directors. The Mehadrine chain has 40 branches throughout Israel serving the Charedi (rigorously religious) community. Sources say Porat’s resignation results from Blue Square's recent acquisition of the AM:PM 24 hour chain which also operates on the Sabbath. Even though the management has discontinued the sale of non-kosher products in the stores in the Tel Aviv area, the Orthodox still oppose the collaboration. Sources in the Charedi world told Ynet that Porat was instructed by the rabbinical authorities to leave the company after it became involved with businesses that violate the Sabbath. Blue Square officials have not responded.
Here and There...
Newark...The appointment of Paul Holden, as the new Director of Sales & Marketing at the Hilton Newark Airport was a good occasion for Hilton to remind its kosher customers that the hotel featured a glatt kosher kitchen. The 378-room hotel is currently undergoing a major multi-million dollar renovation of all guest room floors, meeting space, food and beverage outlets and public areas.
Tel Aviv...While El Al carried the lion’s share (40.3%) of the 1.9 million passengers who arrived during the first quarter, 11.6% more than during the corresponding quarter, Lufthansa carried 93,000 passengers, the largest number by a foreign airline, up 13% on the corresponding quarter, and Continental Airlines carried 91,000, up 12.4%.
New York... The Orthodox Union Kosher Division's Harry H. Beren ASK the OU program will present a Kashrut Yom Iyun -- a day of in-depth analysis -- at OU Headquarters on May 1st. The free seminar is designed for members of the Rabbinical Council of America, who will have concluded their annual convention the previous day. For further information, contact Rabbi Grossman at 212-613-8212, or grossman@ou.org.
New Product Showcase...by Eda Kram
World Harbors Introduces a New Line of Sauces and Marinades ... Auburn, ME...World Harbors has introduced a line of 16 global inspired dual sauces and marinades including Argentine Style Chimchurri, Australian Style BBQ, Cuban Style Mojo, East Asian Style Thai, Pacific Fusion Maple Wasabi, French Style Honey Dijon, Hawaiian Style Sweet ‘n Sour, Hawaiian Style Teriyaki, Island Mango, Jamaican Style Jerk, Maine’s Own Lemon Pepper & Garlic, Prairie Fire Steakhouse, Mediterranean Style Italian Grill, Mexican Style Fajita, Oriental Style Cheriyaki Glaze, and Tropical Style Hot Teriyaki. There is. Each product has no added MSG or aspartame and is low in calories, contains no trans-fat, and most flavors are fat-free. The products are certified kosher and pareve by the Kof-K Kosher Certification certified pareve. For more information, visit www.worldharbors.com Press Contact: Mary Beltrante (207) 221-6532 or email: mary@dolcepr.com