Kosher Food Industry

Retailers Expect Slow Transition to Less Duplication, End to Deep Discounting
New York…

Retailers do not expect an abrupt end to duplication of items, particularly not this coming Passover (April 3-10), a survey of several major retailers indicated. A trailblazing study by Cannondale Associates on the behavior of kosher consumers in the kosher aisle indicated that consumers want less duplication of similar items. Released at last November’s Kosherfest, the study also concluded that shoppers of the kosher aisle wanted more original new items and were not influenced by deep discounting. But the retailers say that while there is a serious effort to introduce many new and innovative items, they do not expect less duplication in the short term. They say that some of the “new” items being marketed for Passover are in fact duplicates of other brands already on shelves in previous years. They also say that basic staples like Matzoh will continue to be “deep-discounted” despite growing competition. One retailer said: “I’ve already heard of more salad dressings, jams, and cookies, none of which is different from other brands I’ve carried over the past few years.” The retailer, however, foresaw “slow change” in years to come.

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