Fairway caters to Orthodox shoppers with kosher push

A mainstream regional supermarket chain is reaching out to the Orthodox community, providing glatt kosher catering at all 13 of its tri-state locations in time for Rosh Hashana.

Fairway’s flagship store opened 80 years ago on Broadway and 74th Street on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. That store — which for many years carried pre-wrapped kosher items — is still there “but bigger,” said Rebecca Martin, director of catering for Fairway.

The chain, known for carrying diverse foods and produce, has expanded greatly in recent years to Connecticut, New Jersey, other areas in New York City, Long Island and Westchester, and plans to open at least two new stores each year.

“We saw the need,” said Martin, referring to the kosher consumer.

“In addition to superb quality staples there are also outstanding specialty groceries, prepared foods and kosher items. In the past couple of years we have focused more on kosher, adding kosher prepared foods and kosher catering.” Kosher catering was first available for Passover 2012.

An extensive kosher catering menu — “84 pages because it has a lot of pictures” — is available for Rosh Hashana and pre- and post- Yom Kippur. Orders can be placed online by Aug. 30 and picked up at the nearest store.

Kosher catering is prepared under the supervision of the Kof-K, Martin said.

Westbury store kosher catering manager Risa Katz can be reached at 516 247-6849 or likoshercatering@fairwaymarket.com