EATZI'S ROLLING OUT OWN-LABEL LINE

BARBARA McDONALD

NEW YORK -- EatZi's, the Dallas-based supermarket-restaurant hybrid, is rolling out a line of private-label groceries that were available first in Macy's Herald Square store here as a prototype.

EatZi's president, Lane Cardwell, declined to comment on the new program, but a source within the company said earlier this month that private-label groceries have become available in other units.

EatZi's flagship store is located in Dallas. The New York location premiered Oct. 16 with great fanfare. Other locations are in Houston, Atlanta and Westbury, N.Y. A sixth unit is slated to open Jan. 28 in Rockville, Md., in a former Fresh Fields space, sources said.

In Macy's Herald Square, EatZi's leases 17,000 square feet of space in The Cellar department, where the grocery products are displayed in various spots.

Near the cafe, displayed on a two-tiered table covered in white linen, are EatZi's brand infused olive oils, in flavors such as sundried tomato, basil, lemon pepper and rosemary. Some are boxed, with four minibottles to a set for $7.99, while 5-ounce sizes sell for $4.99 apiece. Garlic olive oil was offered in a 12.7-ounce size for $8.99.

Vinegar minisets for $5.99 contain rosemary, balsamic, sweet plum and maple flavors. An Asian oil set for $7.99 contains individual small bottles of toasted sesame, fragrant peanut, spicy sesame and Asian chile oils.

Fruit preserves in several flavors, made especially for Eatzi's by Stonewall Kitchen, Dallas, sell for $5.99 for an 11.5-ounce jar.