Five Specialty Food Retailers Stand Out as the Best of 2006

The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT) chose the winners of the 2006 Outstanding Retailer Awards. From a serene solar-powered store in California to a bustling Manhattan institution, from a retailer born in the narrow and tough streets of south Philly to a market just steps from the glamour of Miami Beach, these outstanding retailers are serving an ever-increasing niche of consumers who have made quality food a part of their lifestyles. The 2006 winners are: Di Bruno Bros., Philadelphia, Pa.; The Epicure Market, Miami Beach, Fla.; Straub's Markets, St. Louis, Mo.; Woodlands Market, Kentfield, Calif.; and Zabar's, New York, N.Y.

The Outstanding Retailer Awards give specialty food stores, supermarkets, natural food stores, delis and other retailers across the country an opportunity to be recognized as the leaders in their industry. To identify Outstanding Retailer candidates, the NASFT asked its 2,500+ supplier members to name retailers who they admired. Those with the most nominations were asked to submit entries, which included photographs, store facts, articles, menus, newsletters, press kits, training manuals and letters from customers. This information was evaluated by a panel of former Outstanding Retailer winners, manufacturers, distributors and journalists, who chose these five Outstanding Retailers.

The winners are the definition of a successful specialty food store: They provide excellent customer service, introduce their communities to products not found in mainstream grocery stores, and strive to stock the highest-quality, exclusive products that are not mass-produced. In addition, they devote a substantial amount of time to educating their staff and consumers by regularly providing samples, demonstrations and cooking classes. Ultimately, these stores succeed in showing consumers that specialty foods can fit into everyday lifestyles.

WINNER INFORMATION

Di Bruno Bros.: Family owned and operated for 66 years, Di Bruno Bros. has established itself as the culinary pioneer of Philadelphia. The original flagship store on 9th Street in the heart of the Italian Market still maintains the charm and character it did when it opened in 1939. Today, the Di Bruno grandsons, along with a committed staff of food enthusiasts, operate three stores, a full-service catering operation, a state-of-the-art Web site, as well as an importing and wholesale division.

The new, two-story 9,000-square-foot store on Chestnut Street features a 300-square foot cheese cave filled with approximately 500 varieties of cheeses, ranging from locally produced Tarenaise and Baley Hazen from Vermont to imported Shropshire Blue and Colston-Bassett Stilton from England. In addition, 300 seasonal cheeses are offered throughout the year.

The company also has a wide assortment of specialty food items, including olive oils and vinegars, olives and salads, charcuterie, Petrossian caviar, kitchenware and gift boxes. A few doors down from the Italian Market on 9th Street is Di Bruno's Pronto, which specializes in prepared foods. 1730-32 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146; 215-665-9220; 930 S. 9th
Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147; 215-922-2876; Di Bruno's Pronto, 9th & Montrose Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19147; 215-238-0487; www.dibruno.com.

The Epicure Market: Since 1945, Epicure Market has been attracting a diverse clientele from Miami Beach, including past presidents, actors and prominent chefs. Owned by Jerry's Famous Deli in California, the 7,000-square-foot market averages 12,000 customers weekly, many of those loyal fans who appreciate the consistent products and dedicated, experienced staff.

Shoppers can find anything from cuts of beef, veal, pork or lamb to fresh stone crab and lobster from local purveyors to 32 varieties of soups, 425 cheeses from around the world, Italian, Asian, Latin-American and American prepared foods, tropical fruits, more than 900 wines, an expansive specialty chocolate section, a flower shop, and a café. Cheese is the fastest-growing department and with knowledgeable staff, active demos and sampling, this section rivals the prime meat department, which has a carving station three days a week, and a deli that features imported meats, made-to-order sandwiches and an impressive hot food display with a menu that changes daily. Sixty full-time cooks and bakers in an 18,000-square-foot commissary down the block pump out cakes for the bakery, and a variety of breads and prepared foods. 1656 Alton Road, Miami
Beach, FL 33139; 305-672-1861

Straub's Market (A Retail Advisor for The Gourmet Retailer Magazine): Straub's is a family owned and operated chain that has been serving loyal customers in St. Louis, Mo., for 105 years. Straub's started by carrying only USDA prime beef with a few staples to complement the meal. Today, in addition to being the only retailer in town to carry only prime beef, Straub's offers all categories found in regular grocery stores. Over the past eight years, all four stores (ranging in size from 9,000 to 12,000 square feet) have been remodeled to include full kitchens to meet the growing demand for restaurant-quality prepared foods. The deli department sells Straub's No. 1 selling World Famous Chicken Salad. The meat department continues to set the standard with knowledgeable full-service butchers to cater to customer needs. The bakery offers both signature items, such as Gooey Butter cake from in-store ovens, to outsourced items from local bakeries. The wine department is small but the selection is outstanding. The produce department provides specialty items that are sourced directly from growers across the country. In addition, the grocery department carries a vast array of specialty products from around the world. In each department, the staff is on the floor to assist customers. 8282 Forsyth Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63105; 314-725-2121; www.straubs.com.

Woodlands Market: Located in Marin County, Calif., the 11,000-square-foot Woodlands Market continues to be a family owned, independent grocery store. It has overcome odds through bold thinking, community support programs and loyalty to its local customers. Since Woodlands opened in 1986, more than $1.75 million has been invested, not only back into the store in order to meet the customers' needs, but directly back into the community. Woodlands' community support programs are unique among retailers in that the store does no membership cards, advertising or coupons and, instead, commits that part of its marketing budget to local schools and other organizations.

Recently, a solar roof was installed, which provides 25 percent of the market's electricity. In-store, there are three chefs in an open kitchen preparing restaurant-quality food, which includes penne pasta, chicken piccata, beef stroganoff and many salads. Woodlands is known for providing quality products. The produce is both organic and conventional, and purchased from local growers when possible. The meat is from Niman Ranch and the free-range chicken from Petaluma Poultry. Woodlands Market has 150 employees and is a friendly place where people like to shop. 735 College Avenue, Kentfield, CA 94904; 415-457-8160; www.woodlandsmarket.com.

Zabar's: Zabar's is a gourmet family owned and operated grocery, housewares store and online retailer serving customers on Manhattan's Upper West Side — as well as around the country — for more than 70 years. The store, which spans nearly half a block on Broadway, is open 365 days a year and a member of the Zabar family is always on the premises. More than 8,000 pounds of Zabar's custom-roasted coffee and 2,000 pounds of hand-sliced nova salmon are sold weekly. On any given day, customers can choose from more than 600 cheeses. In addition, Zabar's offers an unbelievable assortment of breads, gourmet desserts, preserves and spreads, spices, prepared foods and gift baskets. The second floor is dedicated to housewares and gourmet kitchen gadgets. 2245 Broadway; New York, NY 10024; 212-787-2000; www.zabars.com.

Established in 1952, the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, Inc. (NASFT) is the only U.S. trade association representing all segments of the specialty food industry. Today, there are more than 2,500 members that produce nearly 180,000 specialty food products. For further information on the Fancy Food Show, visit the NASFT Web site at www.specialtyfood.com.