Paczki Royalty

ROSEANNE HARPER

ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio — Riesbeck Food Markets staged the coronation of its 2011 Paczki King & Queen at its Annual Paczki Ball here. Customers, casting 400 ballots, voted for their favorite associate to be king and queen. This year, the queen is Diana Michelli, meat department associate, and the king is Cody Ruminski, produce department associate. At left is Carl Richardson, aka Mr. Paczki, bakery consultant and supermarket veteran, who several years ago initiated the promotion of paczki, a pre-Lenten treat, resembling an overstuffed doughnut that had its origins in Poland. Richardson's aim was to pump up mid-winter sales for in-store bakeries — not limited to those in Polish neighborhoods — with something unusual. It worked in many diverse parts of the country.