Neighbor News
Kosher for Passover Food Industry on the Rise
The Number of Kosher for Passover Products has More than doubled since 2012
Rabbi Paul Kurland (rear) of the Nanuet Hebrew Center in New City, and Laurent Szanto (left), Perishable Manager of the New City Stop & Shop, assist Rita Fogelman (front) as she does her Passover shopping. Fogelman, who has lived in Rockland County for forty-six years, says she is amazed at the variety of Passover product that she can find on the shelves.
Members of the Rockland County Jewish community, Rabbi Paul Kurland of the Nanuet Hebrew Center in New City and representatives of the Kosher food industry gathered at the New City Stop & Shop to discuss the growth of Kosher for Passover products available to shoppers.
"Spending for the eight days of Passover accounts for $1.3 billion of the $12-billion kosher foods market. In 2012, there were 23,000 Passover food items. This year that list has grown to more than 53,000, " said Martin Siegel, Vice President of Supermarket Sales of Kayco, the largest Kosher food distributor in the nation. "The Kosher food industry is melding tradition with modern tastes sensing a change in the market. The industry is rolling out eclectic offerings transforming Passover."
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Rita Fogelman, who has lived in Rockland County for forty-six years, says, "I am amazed at the variety of product that I can find on the shelves. That was not the case when I first moved to Rockland in 1972, and certainly not the case when I was growing up. The variety of Passover foods available makes observance so much easier.”
Among the most unique products that Passover shoppers can find: seaweed snack, frozen riced cauliflower, coconut chews, jarred asparagus, gluten-free cinnamon matzah and lasagna noodles.
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“The bottom line,” says Rabbi Kurland, "is that the 2018 Passover aisle is not your Grandmother’s Passover aisle. A generation ago shoppers were satisfied to find matzah and Gefilte fish, but today’s shopper is looking for everything from Kosher for Passover bagels to s’mores and gnocchi. Some manufacturers are even marketing Kosher for Passover pizza, croutons and imitation bacon.”
