The combination of supply chain shortfalls, the return of communal gatherings, and rising prices have led to more consumers stocking up early on foods for Passover, according to some retailers and suppliers in the kosher products industry.
Brisket and prime rib are among the most popular items for the Jewish festival, which lasts eight days beginning April 15, and often includes large family gatherings. The challenges in the supply chain led Prairie Street Prime, a direct-to-consumer supplier of kosher meats and seafood, to boost its supply early for those and other items as the company prepared to meet consumer demand, said Elliot Moscowitz, CEO.
“We've been preparing for this for the last few months by processing and freezing—our freezers are 20 below zero—so we just process and freeze, process and freeze, process and freeze,” he said. “We have adequate supply.”
Prairie Street Prime, which operates processing and shipping facilities in the Northeast and in South Florida, specializes in high-end kosher meats, delivered frozen directly to consumers across the country. It also offers concierge services through which its chefs prepare meals for families or other gatherings.
“Our focus is very much on the experience,” said Moscowitz. “The concierge business is pretty strong.”
The Passover Seder, traditionally eaten at the start of the holiday, includes several foods that have ceremonial significance, including lamb, a roasted egg, horseradish, parsley, and a fruit-and-nut paste called haroset. Passover also includes a prohibition on leaven bread.
Some reports indicated that kosher chickens, which are also popular during Passover, have been difficult to find in retail stores.
“Many pressures on the chicken supply have contributed to less-than-average availability to farms, businesses and the average consumer,” the Jewish Exponent of Philadelphia reported last week.
The report cited the labor shortage at processing facilities, an increase in bulk purchases because of larger Seder gatherings, and the avian flu outbreak as all contributing to the kosher chicken shortages. Eggs, which are also used in several traditional Passover dishes, have similarly been in short supply, the Jewish Exponent report noted.
The fact that Passover and Easter coincide this year has created even more pressure in the market, as consumers have been buying up eggs and other products for home cooking that are used for both holidays.
Retailers contacted by SFA News Daily said they have not seen much impact from the supply chain challenges, however.
“We haven’t seen anything that’s changed how we’re doing things here,” said spokesperson for Cedar Market, a grocery store in Teaneck, New Jersey, that carries a large kosher assortment.
Another retailer, who asked not to be identified said kosher chickens have been “scarce” this year, but declined to comment further.
Cedar Market hasn’t changed its offering much this year from previous years, the spokesperson said.
On social media, Cedar Market has been promoting new Passover items such as snacks from Lieber’s, Paskesz, Haddar, and Dayeinu, as well as quinoa products from Goldbaums, shelf-stable pantry items from Gefen, and desserts from Gusto Buono. The company also offers a Passover grocery shopping list to help consumers prepare traditional meals at home, and also offers prepared foods, including a special Passover sushi menu made with quinoa.
At Gelson’s Market in Los Angeles, which is known for its prepared foods for both Jewish and non-Jewish holidays, the company offers both recipes for preparing Passover dishes at home, such as Red Wine-Braised Brisket and East Potato Kugel, and fully prepared dishes for those who don’t want to cook the whole meal, such as Asparagus Tomato Matzo Brei.
“Whether you need a la carte items or the whole shebang, Gelson’s Kitchen has your Passover meal covered,” the company said in a statement.
Moscowitz of Prairie Street Prime agreed that consumers throughout the country are eager to get back to their normal habits and patterns of life, and to leave the restrictions of COVID behind.
“As someone who’s an entrepreneur and works 80-plus hours a week, there's nothing more that I'm looking forward to than turning off my phone and actually spending quality time with my family with good, top-quality product,” he said.
Related: Food Retailers Discuss Supply Chain With President Biden; Supply Chain Issues Projected to Outlast Pandemic.