Food
KOSHER I NG
Feel like citron vodka lox? It's at Kroger.
ANNABEL COHEN
Top: Reuven
Schwartz is the
kosher market
kashrut super-
visor.
Special to the Jewish News
Bottom:
Kroger's new
"store within a
store."
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t's impressive to have a whole kosher section," said Stacey Mason of
Farmington Hills. She was referring to a new concept from the Kroger super-
market chain — a new, broadened department specializing in high-end
kosher foods and deli items.
And what a department! The Farmington Hills Kroger supermarket, located at
the corner of 12 Mile and Halsted, had its problems. First, the parking lot was not
user-friendly. And the food selections were not bad as far as supermarkets go, but
certainly nothing as extensive as what other supermarkets were offering in this
upscale community.
So Kroger closed its doors and revamped. When the sliding doors finally
reopened a couple of weeks ago, there were more changes than simply the new
parking lot and the built-in cup holders on the shopping carts.
An event marking the renaissance of this store revealed a whole new Kroger — new
look, products, the works. The event included tastings, live music and give-aways, like
floral bouquets. Hundreds of eager shoppers poured in to ogle and.opine.
Kroger President Marnette Perry, from Kroger headquarters in Cincinnati, said
this store would set the standard for other stores in the area. "We recognized that
we had to change the facility," said Perry. "We
added over 12,000 new items. We asked our cus-
tomers what they wanted — what elements —
and we had nutritionists scope out cookbooks to
look for ingredients in the recipes.
"We have everything, all the ingredients for
contemporary cooking. This is our new flagship
store. This store has even more than the
Birmingham, Michigan, store. Here, for example,
we roast coffee in-store."
Perhaps the biggest difference in the
Farmington Hills location is the extensive — and
separate — kosher food department. Farmer Jack
and Hiller stores have traditionally been leaders
in the supermarket industry in this area with
their larger kosher departments in their
Southfield, Oak Park and West Bloomfield stores.
With the exception of a few kosher markets,
which offer perhaps the most comprehensive
kosher-only products, these chains feature specific
packaged products, including meat and chicken
in their aisles, along with kosher products
throughout the store under brand names.
Historically, outside the "kosher aisle," in most
supermarkets kosher shoppers would find prod-
ucts on any shelves in any aisle and check for
appropriate kashrut designations.
In many ways, the new Kroger follows this
format. Shoppers will still have to look in the