ALBERTSONS TESTING ISRAELI FOOD SETS

BOISE, Idaho -- Albertsons here is testing in-aisle sections featuring products exclusively from Israel.

The sections are currently in a handful of stores in South Florida, although the chain hopes to bring them to about 200 units in the near future, Yakov Yarmove, the chain's corporate kosher category manager, told SN at the Kosherfest food show in New York last week.

"This is something we're excited about, and plan to roll out strongly," Yarmove said.

Ranging in size from four to 12 feet, the sections are located in the ethnic food aisle, adjacent to kosher foods. Between 50 and 60 stockkeeping units of authentic Israeli foods and beverages are available.

Yarmove said filling the sections is challenging because each selection must meet U.S. packaging regulations, ranging from nutrition-fact labels to Universal Product Codes.