Kosher Frozen Meals Remain Hot Despite Diet Changes
(New York) The market for frozen meals has changed over the past few years, largely due to the growing concern over obesity and nutrition. But convenience ready-to-eat meals have continued to rise sharply in the kosher market because of the community’s need for such meals. This has been true for both the frozen category produced by such companies as Tuv Taam and Meal Mart as well as shelf stable meals produced by La Briute and My Own Meals. In the general market, reports Mintel, a major research company of consumer goods, high-protein diets such as Atkins and South Beach have decreased demand for frozen meals containing potatoes, pasta, or other starches. Consumers are demanding more information about their meal choices, and becoming more selective. As consumers prepare fewer meals at home, and the profitability of servicing these consumers is rising, says Mintel, increased competition is being seen from in-store delis, restaurants, and take-outs. But while kosher purveyors have been paying attention to the increased demands for healthier meals, the category has experienced a 20% increase in the past 5 years, say retailers who stock the foods. Concurrently, both the frozen and shelf stable meals have experienced dramatic increases in foodservice as more institutions appeal to kosher and halal patients by offering the fare.
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Thousands of Americans to Spend Late Sukkot in Israel
(Jerusalem) Thousands of Americans, mostly from the East Coast, are planning to avoid the late October chill of the holiday of Sukkot (October 18-26) by traveling to Israel. One source estimated that as many as 50,000 Americans will spend the holidays in Israel, filling hotels to capacity. The Airports Authority estimates that Ben Gurion Airport just outside of Tel Aviv will handle 740,000 passengers on 5,120 flights over the High Holy Days this year. Traffic will be heaviest on October 7, the Friday after Rosh Hashanah, when the airport will handle 37,000 passengers; and on October 28, the Friday after the week-long Sukkot holiday, when the airport will handle 39,000 passengers. Israeli tourism officials are ecstatic over the continued surge in tourism, which they hope will soon reach pre-Intifada levels. Ben Gurion Airport handled 5.7 million passengers during January-August 2005, an
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Consumer Anger at Duncan Hines Decision Intensifies
(New York) There is growing consternation by both kosher consumers and lactose intolerant people over the announcement that Duncan Hines cake mixes would soon switch from being pareve to a designation of kosher dairy, certified by the Orthodox Union (OU). The story, which broke first in the August 8 th edition of Kosher Today, has since been published in a number of Jewish publications and has become a hot topic of conversation in many Jewish neighborhoods. Many rabbis, columnists in Jewish publications and host of talk show programs on Jewish radio have been urging consumers to call Pinnacle Foods, the Cherry Hill, NJ company that had acquired Duncan Hines. The aftermath of the Duncan Hines is similar to the reaction by kosher consumers and many of the 56 million Americans who are lactose intolerant to Nabisco’s announcement that Stella Dora would go dairy. The company ultimately reversed its decision. Some publications went out of their way to point out that there were alternatives to the Duncan Hines pareve cake mixes, albeit not by brands as well known as Duncan Hines. A letter in the Cleveland Jewish News n oted: “Admittedly, Duncan Hines's mixes can be found at more stores. However, those who are interested might want to check out the organic and kosher sections of their supermarket, where they might find the alternatives. Dave's Supermarket, with its new location on Shaker Square, has a surprisingly large selection of kosher frozen and dry foodstuffs. Among them is Dr. Oetker's white cake mix with the "COR" kashrus symbol (Canadian kashrus group) in the organic section. I suspect there also must be any number of Israeli brands on the market that include pareve cake mix, too.” Thus far, there has been no indication from Pinnacle either to the extent of the protest or if the company is planning to reverse its decision.
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Israeli Food Exports to US on the Rise Again While Imports Decline
(Tel Aviv) Israeli food exports to the US rose by 20% during the first half of 2005 while food imports declined by 35% to $97 million. Sales of Israeli foods in the US began their dramatic rise two years ago just as a Fine Food from Israel campaign was launched by the Israel Economic Mission in New York, headed by Zohar Peri. Food exports worldwide rose by 15.7% in the first half of 2005 to $343.4 million. Despite the decline in the import of US foods, imports rose by 10% in the first half of the year to $538.2 million. Manufacturers Association's Food Industries Association chairman Ron Kobrovsky, the managing director of Central Bottling Company (Coca-Cola Israel), predicted that if food imports continue to grow, they would exceed food exports by $420 million this year. Food imports exceeded exports by $195 million in the first half of the year. Kobrovsky attributed most of the increase in food exports to growing demand for specialty Israeli foods, and to dedicated marketing efforts to boost exports. A breakdown of food exports indicated that exports of fruits and vegetables rose by 30% to $103 million, dairy products rose by 149% to $13.7 million, baked goods rose by 25.5% to $27.5 million, meat and poultry rose by 12% to $27 million, wine and alcoholic beverage rose by 9% to $7.4 million, and chocolate rose by 31% to $5.5 million.
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Kosherfest Invites Exhibitors to Join New Product Showcase for Kids
(Portland, ME) As any frequent visitor to Kosherfest can readily attest, a growing category in the past few years is kosher products specifically targeting kids. Not only have American kosher purveyors targeted kids, but kids has also been a primary focus of the large Israeli food manufacturers, including Strauss-Elite, Tnuva and Osem. The Israelis have invested into special marketing efforts for kids, including creating special kids characters. To profile the new focus on kosher for kids, Kosherfest ’05 (November 15-16, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center) is adding a special new products showcase for kids. A special seminar will also be devoted to marketing kosher products for kids. Bill Springer of Diversified Business Communications and Menachem Lubinsky of LUBICOM Marketing Consulting, co-producers of the 18th annual kosher food trade show, have issued a call inviting exhibitors to participate in the new exciting showcase and other programs. The special display will feature only non-perishables or packaging for perishables.
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Denver Broncos Fans to Get Kosher Food
(Denver, CO) New York sports fans as are fans in such towns as Baltimore already enjoy glatt kosher food while rooting for their favorite teams. Visitors to the recent US Open were also able to enjoy kosher food. But with the new football season comes word that kosher fare will also be available for fans of the Denver Broncos. Zaler's Kosher Foods will man a kosher kiosk at Invesco Field, the home of the Denver Broncos. Zaler’s is owned by Arnie Zaler of Denver and the food will be supplied by Auerbach's Kosher Foods, owned by Jeff Auerbach. The kiosk is located opposite the Broncos retail store and will offer kosher hot dogs and kosher Chinese fare. If you have any questions please contact Jeff Auerbach at 303-289-4521.
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Kosher Food Sent to Katrina Victims
(Houston) A truckload of kosher non-perishable kosher food was dispatched to New Orleans by Met Council on Jewish Poverty. The agency has also been working with individual families fleeing the ravages of Katrina or in some cases New Orleans residents who were stranded in New York when the hurricane hit only to find out that their homes were either destroyed or looted. For Chabad officials on the scene or working in Houston, the main task continues to be responding to the hundreds of calls from relatives who are trying to get their loved ones rescued. Many are frustrated by their inability to get an elderly parent to leave, and have turned to Chabad after other efforts to remove them were unsuccessful.
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NEW PRODUCT SHOWCASE
Eden Introduces New Flavors of Organic Tea
Eden Foods offers several flavors of the highest quality organically grown Japanese green tea including that is superb for any season. EDEN organic Matcha, Bancha, Kukicha, Genmaicha, and Hojicha green tea and Matcha Gift Set are all available at discerning retailers in the U.S.A and Canada at edenfoods.com. For more information please call 888-424-EDEN or email info@edenfoods.com. Retailers and Co-ops please go to access.edenfoods.com. All of Eden’s products are certified circle K.
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