NEW KOSHER MEAT SUPPLIER

From Kosher Today (June 23)

New Kosher Meat Producer Joins Small Family of Purveyors
New York…By Sara Cohen…They are the new boys on the block in what is a small family of national producers of glatt kosher meat. Launched four years ago, A. D. Rosenblatt Glatt Kosher Meat is appearing in more locations throughout the country. In Dallas, the meat products are available in supermarkets such as Tom Thumb’s and also at Congregation Toras Chaim. The objective, says the shul, is to offer larger cuts that are being bought at reduced prices ‘with the savings being passed on to our Jewish friends and families.’ Mr. Bob Feinberg, the CFO of Rosenblatt, told KosherToday that the company’s products are kosher certified by the OU and cRc as well as ‘by many other local certifications.’ He said that the company was currently in talks with the Star-K kosher certification. While its corporate offices are in Dallas, the main schechita plant is in Harper, Texas, just 30 miles outside of Wichita, Kansas. While the focus of the industry in recent weeks has been on Agriprocessors in Postville, Iowa, following a raid on undocumented workers, Rosenblatt has experienced steady growth. In Brooklyn’s Glatt Mart, for example, it is one of four purveyors that the store carries. Agriprocessors, Treuth, and Alle are the others. Baltimore Kosher distributes Rosenblatt’s in New York and Baltimore, while Abeles & Heymann, California Delight, and Koshan distribute in other parts of the country. Rosenblatt also has a lamb slaughtering house in Iowa where 300-400 head of lambs are slaughtered each week.

Distributors and retailers say that the sales of kosher meat and poultry has experienced a steady increase of 15% over the past few years. In poultry, the market is dominated by Agri, Empire, Marvid (Canada) and Vineland Kosher consumers. Many of the companies have also taken advantage of a rising demand for deli products, which in addition to such brands as Aaron’s Best (Agriprocessors), also includes Ables & Heymann’s, Meal Mart (Alle) and International Glatt. In addition, several Israeli brands, led by Hod Lavan, have also joined the fray. The distributors say that despite the competition amongst the many meat and poultry brands, some dominate in various markets, which puts supply at the mercy of a single purveyor. The projections are for continued growth, just as the kosher food industry as a whole continues to experience growth.