With Hiller's sold, supermarkets work to woo Jewish shoppers.
Barbara Lewis I Contributing Writer
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
"We've added some new brands and
have extended the lines of existing brands:'
McClure said. New brands include BaKol
and Mrs. Adler's. Popular Israeli products,
like Osem soup mixes and Bamba and Bissli
snacks, still are available. The "kosher" des-
ignation already printed on shelf tags for a
multitude of items will stay as well.
"Our biggest challenge is that we can't
grind fish:' McClure said. "Our safety stan-
dards won't allow it:'
With the Hiller's sale, Jewish shoppers,
especially at the West Bloomfield location,
worried about losing some of their favorite
kosher or Jewish ethnic foods.
"We've had overwhelmingly positive
responses from shoppers, especially when
they saw that section has been expanded;
McClure said. "People called us and asked
us to keep items. We retained the Empire
chicken, Ungar's frozen gefilte fish, whitefish
spread in the deli, challah and more. We
seized the opportunity; we want to offer
people what they want:'
Also retained were 75 percent of the
employees from the seven Hiller's stores, so
expect to see some familiar faces while shop-
ping.
At holidays, Kroger will expand its selec-
14 August 13 • 2015
JN
tions, including produce.
And McClure says the
company is reaching out
for future sponsorships in
the Jewish community. He
has contact already with
Friendship Circle, Yad Ezra
and Temple Shir Shalom,
and has a working relation-
ship with Rabbi Yehuda
Mann at The Shul.
shelf space devoted to kosher
groceries, Johnny Pomodoro has
senior produce
a full section of kosher dairy and
specialist, and
frozen foods.
Jordan Mannering,
"We have a kosher slicer in
Plum Market West
our deli department, where
Bloomfield store team
we have Empire and Hebrew
leader; Casini is a
National products:' he said, add-
former Hiller's
ing that his meat department
employee.
carries Empire poultry and
Jack's, Hebrew National, Aaron's
and A&H beef products.
Competitors Respond
In April, the store added Ron Forman's
As Kroger establishes itself in former
Deli Nosh, which is not kosher but carries
Hiller's locations, managers of other area
prepared Jewish-style foods.
food emporiums feel now is a good time to
"Our message to the community is we
woo Hiller's Jewish shoppers.
want to be your go-to store Sonenberg said.
Dan Sonenberg, owner of Johnny
Busch's, at 14 Mile and Farmington, has
Pomodoro's Fresh Market in Farmington
expanded its kosher selections from 45 items
Hills, an independent store at 14 Mile and
to more than 150 in the last two months, said
Middlebelt, says he and his wife, Julie, are
John Hunter, director of marketing at the
committed to filling any void left by the
company's corporate headquarters in Ann
change of ownership at Hiller's.
Arbor. The chain has 15 stores throughout
"We have always carried many kosher
Southeast Michigan.
products:' he said. "However, in the last
The West Bloomfield store recently installed
month we have added many more. We are
dedicated slicers for kosher deli meats and
encouraging new and longtime customers to
cheese and a new grinder for fish, he said.
give us their requests. We have fulfilled about
Additionally, Redford Fish and Seafood in
200 requests for new products since the
Redford Township has stepped up to say they
announcement of the Hiller's sale."
will grind their fresh fish for gefilte fish for
Sonenberg says in addition to 12 feet of
the holidays.
Fabrizio Casini,
Busch's, Plum Market and other stores in
the area are pleased they've been able to hire
some of the staff from Hiller's. For example,
Fabrizio Casini, Hiller's longtime director of
produce, has been hired at Plum Market as
senior produce specialist.
Plum Market's store managers also have
reached out to Hiller's Markets' suppliers,
said Todd Belden, marketing director for the
chain based in Farmington Hills.
"We found a great number of new items
that we are happy to add to our selection;
he said, adding that the store now carries
Aaron's Best kosher poultry.
"We've added a kosher-only slicer to the
deli and trained our team members on prop-
er handling of kosher items," Belden said.
Plum Market has an extensive wine selec-
tion, with about 50 premium kosher wines
from Israel and other countries already
offered.
"We have enjoyed increased interest since
Hiller's has closed and have added a handful
of wines and special ordered a number of
items as well; said Denny Walsh, wine team
leader of the West Bloomfield store.
Like most of the markets surveyed by
the JI NI, Plum Market encourages guests to
request specific products, he said.
Kosher Competition on page 16