Key Food Introduces ‘Hybrid Boutique Supermarket’

Key Food Stores Co-operative Inc. will hold the grand opening of its 150th location -- the first to open under the Urban Market banner -- in Brooklyn, N.Y.’s Williamsburg neighborhood on Dec. 6. The celebration will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony and live entertainment.

On hand for the milestone event will be Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez and other local officials, along with such Key Food executives as CEO Dean Janeway, COO George Knobloch, VP of Strategic Planning Chet Koby, and VP of Business Development & Chief Customer Officer Gino Palummo.

“In our constant effort to evolve with changing neighborhoods, we have come up with a prototype that we feel will cater to the people of Williamsburg as well as the surrounding towns, and give them a great shopping experience,” noted Palummo.

Mainstream, Specialty Merge

Key Food characterized the Urban Market concept as “a hybrid boutique supermarket” combining full selections of conventional and specialty products, among them natural and organic items; seafood, meat and produce departments; cheeses from around the world; and prepared foods, grab-and-go options and products made fresh on premises, such as sushi, gelato and fresh mozzarella. Additionally, shoppers can enjoy freshly brewed beverages in the store’s café.

In recognition of its status as Key Food’s 150th store, Urban Market will give 150 customers 20 percent off their entire purchase throughout Dec. 6 only, as well as distributing free reusable shopping bags to customers during the store’s first week of business, while supplies last.

“As part of the Key Food family, my goal is to provide the community with superior quality and a highly enjoyable shopping experience,” noted Colin Xie, the store's owner.

Staten Island, N.Y.-based Key Food consists of 150 independently owned and operated grocery stores with $1.5 billion in annual sales. In addition to Key Food, the stores operate under the Key Food Marketplace, Key Fresh & Natural, Food Dynasty, Food World, Holiday Farms, Locust Valley, Milford Farms and Urban Market banners in all five boroughs, Long Island, upstate New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.