Booming Kosher Trade Show

By Mica Soffer
Photos by Meir Pliskin

The 26th edition of Kosherfest, the world’s largest kosher food and products trade show, took place Tuesday at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, NJ, with a nod to new products.

16 new products were highlighted – among many other new ones that were showcased at booths – by top supermarket buyers and other industry insiders.

They included Sparkling Ayala’s Herbal Water, Rabbi Mints Classic Kosher Mints, Sabra Guacamole, Bamba Halva and Sugar River Cheese.

Lubavitcher business people and professionals were easily spotted among the 350 exhibitors featuring kosher-certified products from around the globe.

There was Levana Kirschenbaum, an author, chef and restaurateur, who sat on a panel about “The New Demands of an Ever-changing Kosher Palate” alongside Jamie Geller, cookbook author and editor of the Joy of Kosher magazine.

No Lubavitchers were seen around the tasting booth of Moses Vodka, as they were busy manning and visiting booths. We spotted Yingy Bistritzky, Shaya Gordon, Mendy Cohen, Benzion Raskin and his son Shmuly Raskin, and Jack Silberstein, whose company Jack’s Gourmet won Best New Product for their Jamaican style jerk chicken sausage.

Israel’s Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger, who made sure to visit many booths and compliment the merchants, stopped by the booth of the rabbis of the OK Kosher Certification.