Sales of kosher foods are basically sound despite the recession but some stores say sales may be off by as much as 10%. In an interesting development, kosher seems to be faring better than natural and organic which in some areas is said to be off by 15% – 20%. Most of the retailers reached by KosherToday said that they have observed some fundamental changes in consumer habits. “While many customers are buying as usual, others are cutting back just enough to realize some savings,” said a Bergen County retailer.
The same seems to be true in Brooklyn although natural growth is compensating for the recession related drop. “With a record 3500 births or so in one month recently at nearby Maimonides Hospital, people in this community are feeding more mouths,” said Alex, an assistant store manager in the Flatbush area.
Despite growing competition in this area of Brooklyn, there have been no closings of grocery stores. Instead, stores are competing with many promotions and events and heavily discounting many basic staples. A major distributor said that despite the appearance of being recession-proof, some kosher venues are having “a hard time paying their bills.” He added that while it is never easy, these days it has become nearly impossible in some places.”
Shopping in a West Side kosher grocery, Genie, a 30ish young Orthodox woman with two small children in tow, said: “I really buy what I need these days and hope that my husband keeps his job in a Midtown accounting firm.”
(Source: Kosher Today)
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8 Responses
There’s a hiddush here??????????????????
Other types of more expensive foods have customer who can easily switch (e.g. “organic” to normal).
While we can switch some items (kosher brands to non-kosher brands with a hecksher, for products such as catsup or chocolate), but most all we can do is to eat less (or switch to less expensive foods, beef to chicken, for example).
Correction King supermarket E15 opened same time (and size) as Pomegranate and has closed. Also a few restaurants. May Hashem grant parnassah b’revach vlo b’tzimtzum.
“May Hashem grant parnassah b’revach vlo b’tzimtzum.”
AMEN!
I’ve seen a decrease in promotions and sales in Brooklyn.
King on East 15th had high prices, no easy street parking and was the 2nd supermarket to fail at that location.
Glatt Kosher Kingdom in the 5 towns is doing poorly with little merchandise and few cutomers. It seems they haven’t deceided what they want to be.
Whenever I am at a checkout counter in a suprmarket, and I see the mountains of nosh so many people spend money on, I think to myself, B”H we are not being affected by the recession. (unless people are feeding their kids potato chips instead of cheese, etc.)
How about the fact that the price for Kosher food is ridiculous and not everyone can afford it? If they lowered the prices I don’t think as many places would be hurting so bad. We did that with our technology business and things picked up dramatically. I don’t live in NY and you should see the prices we have to pay. Ridiculous
Its a shame that the consumers are being taken for a ride.
People are being more efficient and a concurrent 10% weight loss would be a healthy thing for many people. Please don’t comment it would affect the parnasa of those in the medical field for people to be a healthier weight.
#8, don’t worry. Statistics show that 98% of the dieters gain every thing back plus a little extra so their parnassah is safe.