GIANT EAGLE ROLLS OUT KOSHER DELI

ROSEANNE HARPER

PITTSBURGH - Giant Eagle has unveiled a kosher-service deli in a high-volume store near here and plans to install the concept at other selected stores this year.

"The decision [to put in a kosher deli] was based on a combination of customer requests and on customer demographics," said Dan Donovan, spokesman for the 216-unit supermarket chain.

Officials are monitoring business at the deli, and have not determined store locations for the other kosher delis, he said.

Part of a kosher "store within a store," the deli was installed during a remodeling at the 88,000-square-foot Giant Eagle unit in Bethel Park, a suburb eight miles south of downtown Pittsburgh. (See Page 63 for related article on this store.)

The kosher deli, adjacent to the traditional deli halfway up the "power" aisle, has its own, separate cooler, work space and sink, in addition to its 12-foot service counter and a self-service case. At this point, Nova lox is the department's best seller, with corned beef brisket not far behind. In total, the deli offers 84 stockkeeping units of kosher products, at the service counter and in a self-service case.

"The offerings we're excited about rolling out in 2006 include our kosher delis and charcuteries," said director of deli operations Voni Woods, when the deli debuted in December. The charcuteries will feature premium products including caviar and truffle butters, as well as sausages, hams, and other cured and specialty meats, she said.