A&P Stores Roll Out Enhanced Kosher Selection

In the first phase of an initiative to boost kosher product variety and quality across its metro New York-area stores, the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. Inc. (A&P) has debuted a greatly expanded selection of Passover holiday staples. Through April 28, Passover shoppers at select A&P, Pathmark, Waldbaum’s and Food Emporium stores in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut will find new and improved Kosher grocery selections for all their holiday shopping needs.

The Montvale, N.J.-based grocer has taken several important steps to improve its kosher offering, including:

• Hiring Barry Eizik to fill the newly created role of kosher category manager. With more than 30 years of experience in the kosher food industry, Eizik is responsible for ensuring that the Jewish community’s needs are consistently met with the highest quality and service.
• Receiving certification from KOF-K Kosher supervision, one of the top U.S. kosher certification agencies, for the sale of all chometz products supplied by A&P’s main distributor. This certification was accomplished with the approval and endorsement of two prominent community leaders, Rabbi Belsky and Rabbi Teitz. A&P customers will now be able to buy all chometz products right after Passover with confidence that they were sold in an appropriate manner.
• Conducting special advertising and promotional campaigns in select stores. A&P is running additional community outreach and in-store marketing campaigns throughout Long Island, Westchester County, Rockland County, northern New Jersey and New York City. Ads are currently running in local Jewish newspapers and online media, and shoppers can find coupons in the weekly circular and targeted e-mails for further savings on popular Passover items. Select stores also feature large signage and shopper-friendly displays of featured kosher offerings.

“A&P’s renewed commitment to improving the variety and quality of its kosher products is terrific for our community,” said Eizik. “Kosher families will have more choices and better shopping opportunities for Passover and beyond. Receiving certification and designating a point person to oversee all of A&P’s kosher operations demonstrates how serious A&P’s leadership is about meeting the needs of its Jewish customers and the community.”

Among the improved kosher for Passover products at select A&P banner locations are prepared foods and deli meats such as fresh kugels, soufflés and soups from Classic, Garden Lites and Mauzone; Golan Deli Meats; and Acme smoked salmon.

A&P has additionally introduced a kosher meat program offering chopped chuck, first-cut premium brisket and Empire chicken. Various stores will also carry a wide variety of favorite grocery items in shopper-friendly displays, including matzos, macaroons, Kadeem grape juice, Tabachnick soups, Streit’s potato latkes and matzo ball mix, and Joyva candy, in addition to cleaning products such as Wieman silver polish.

After Passover, A&P will continue to improve and grow its kosher product assortment year-round to include more fresh meat, poultry, deli, dairy and baked goods, in partnership with off-site suppliers and in-store bakeries and butchers.

“This initiative reflects our renewed commitment to becoming the Store of the Neighborhood for all of our customers who keep kosher,” noted A&P VP of marketing John Moritz. “With our enhanced assortment of kosher product offerings, we hope to deepen our legacy of being more than just a store for the highest-quality products at great prices -- but also being a trusted friend, neighbor and part of the Jewish communities we proudly serve.”

A&P operates 395 stores in eight states and the District of Columbia under the following banners: A&P, Waldbaum’s, Pathmark, Best Cellars, The Food Emporium, Superfresh and Food Basics.