Sixth Sense

On the surface it seems that every Passover is the same, regardless of when it falls in the calendar. But in reality Passover is a good time to gauge the strength of the kosher food industry. Who came up with the most innovative new product for the holiday? Has there been a shift in the shopping of customers? Will more

I am one of those that feel a great thrill when a retro brand resurfaces. Thousands recently viewed a video showing Bernstein on Essex Street, the iconic Chinese/American restaurant on the Lower East Side that captivated generations of diners who enjoyed both the environment and the food. So it was no surprise that I

Miami Beach - They came by the thousands for what has become known as “mid-winter break” or even “Yeshiva Week.” For about two weeks, many local restaurants were lulled into a feeling of instant success, only to fall back to the “seasonal” doldrums. My sources here tell me that some are indeed struggling while

In the category of “you can’t make these things up” you can add the many stories recounted in Allan Lieberman’s book, “We Want Mashgiach Now—Tales From A Kosher Cop.” His first person account of life as a mashgiach is extremely humorous and even entertaining. I have always considered the mashgiach (kosher

I was quite intrigued when Osem, the mega Israeli food company, announced last week that it was postponing raising its prices in return for a government promise to eliminate customs on raw materials used by Osem to produce its foods. The end of the year seems to be the season for announcing price increases as giants Tnuva

It seems that every so often I receive a frantic call from a friend about to travel to Israel with the question of “What is a good certification in Israel?” Ask an Israeli and even many American Jews who eat kosher and they will arguably say: “Israel – the whole country is kosher.” Take my friend Jerry from

Food companies that produce kosher exhibit at Kosherfest for a variety of reasons, but mostly as an important event to help their bottom line, meet their existing and new customers, and showcase some of their new products. Forward thinking companies must also think of just how important this annual event for the overall

The horrific attack and loss of life in the Tree of Life Synagogue was yet another reminder of the boundless reach of senseless hate. How sad that Jews congregating in a synagogue should lose their lives there. We all know these people. They walk our streets and shop our stores. They stock up their refrigerators before the

We are supposed to gasp with a big wow when we read these stories but somehow with me they are somewhat of a big yawn. Madonna is looking for a kosher chef whom she is willing to pay $142,000. Two kosher businesses were vying for investments on ABC’s “Shark Tank,” and one of them left with a deal from two of the

In just a few weeks, Kosherfest will celebrate its 30^th anniversary. After experimenting with a consumer event and then a combined consumer/trade event in New York, Miami, Chicago and Los Angeles, Kosherfest was launched as an exclusive trade show for the kosher food industry, the first of its kind anywhere in the world.