Kiryas Joel, Monroe, NY - Some Chasidic Communitys Are Purchasing Foods Just With A "Acceptable" Hechsher

Kiryas Joel, Monroe, NY - In this community of 18,000, the local Landau’s grocery carries a plethora of kosher products, but most carry the endorsement of Chasidic certifying rabbis or from the Central Rabbinical Congress: CRC- (Hisachdus Harabonim). For example, the store carries soft drinks by Mayim Chaim but not from Coca Cola. Other familiar brands in the store include Kedem, Gefen, Klein’s, Golden Flow and Mehadrin.

The natural growth of the Chasidic community is driving sales in these communities to new heights. One kosher manufacturer says that the Chasidic and several other Orthodox communities (including Monsey, NY and Lakewood, NJ) were responsible for most of his 18% sales growth last year. While many Chasidic women shop in major supermarkets, they generally purchase foods with the “acceptable” certifications (Hechsher). Some retailers say that this is true only for certain categories of foods, namely meat and dairy. But groceries in these communities carry “heimishe” (known community) items even in such categories as snacks, cereals, and salad dressings. Israeli items are also sold in these stores, but most with the certification of the Badatz of the Eida Hacharedit in Jerusalem.