My Sixth Sense
How Different Passover 2008 Will Be!
By Menachem Lubinsky... The list of new products for Passover this year is intriguing. In both food and wines, the emphasis is on products that are healthier and gourmet. Many of the products that were rolled out only a year or two ago with great fanfare are history. The big name brands that dominated shelves in the '90's are also a relic of the past. There still may be sightings of such brands like Season's, Hadar, and Rokeach, but these brands are no longer the names on dozens of new Pesach items. The new items today are from such icons as Osem, Manischewitz and Kedem with many new entries from smaller brands in foods and wines.

The new product selection is also markedly different from just a decade ago. Then, the trend was towards greater variety in items that were already in the Passover mix. There were many new pastries, snack items, and condiments. Today, the trend is to produce more products that are healthier, no spelt, cholesterol, sugar, and low fat. The mix of items ranges from fancy desserts to sauces. There is an effort to introduce any product that can be made kosher for Passover.

One good reason for the change is the changing demographics of the Jewish community, particularly amongst the Orthodox where the majority are now younger consumers with a rich appetite for the new and different. They like to reminisce about grandma's Seder table but at the same time experiment with new items. They enjoy the traditional items but are also concerned about their health, not to speak of the fact that they may be feeding parents and grandparents who are certainly concerned with what they consume. Yes, it is a new world out there that is melding the old and the new and the best testimony of that change is this year's mix of new Passover foods and wines.