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The Food Emporium Launches New "Fine Foods" Concept at BridgeMarket Store
NEW YORK, NY - (November 17, 2006) A new Fine Foods concept is being unveiled at The Food Emporium's landmark Bridgemarket store at First Avenue and 59th Street in Manhattan this week. Grand "reopening" festivities will take place on Friday, November 17th, beginning at 9 AM.
Operated by The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc. (A&P) in Montvale, New Jersey, The Food Emporium is launching this new platform from the solid foundation it has built in Manhattan over the past two decades.
The Fine Foods concept integrates the upscale, urban Food Emporium brand with a remodeled shopping environment that highlights an array of products that reflect imported brands from around the world, as well as select items from domestic markets. At the same time, The Food Emporium retains the feel of a "neighborhood store" to serve the daily and weekly needs of those living and working in Manhattan.
The Bridgemarket location is the first of 18 Food Emporium stores that will be converted to the Fine Foods concept - 16 in New York City and two in Connecticut (New Canaan and Greenwich). The rollout will occur over the next three years.
The architect of the new concept is Hans Heer, Senior Vice President of A&P and General Manager of The Food Emporium. Heer's prior experience includes managerial positions at Kaufhof Warenhaus (Germany) and Harrods in London, where he was in charge of Food Halls Knightsbridge and sourcing products from key export markets throughout Europe and Asia.
Heer explains that the Fine Foods approach provides customers with a sensory shopping experience that incorporates a host of first-time activities at The Food Emporium, such as a juice bar, a coffee bar, an Asian tea shop and a mezzanine area with seating. The store also evokes an international flavor with fixtures from Italy and cross-merchandising displays that reflect global themes.
"Our Fine Foods concept is tailored to the savvy shopper looking for select products in a service-oriented setting," says Heer. He explains that Food Emporium will also maintain its position as an "everyday shopping destination" by continuing to offer customers a core assortment of non-food items like paper towels, pet food and toiletry products.
The items below represent only a sampling of The Food Emporium's signature offerings from here and abroad that will be available at the Bridgemarket store:
- Charcuterie: A world-class collection of specialty meats and sausages are crafted using Old World methods such as curing, smoking and aging that ensure impeccable quality and incredible flavor. Selections include everything from domestic offerings like Vermont hams and bacon to traditional Italian specialties like sopresetta and prosciutto.
- Prime Fresh Meats: Vegetable-fed American Wagyu Beef (known as the "foie gras of beef"), USDA prime and Premium Gold Angus Natural Beef, and 100% Berkshire Pork are only some of the meats available. The department offers a fine selection of lamb, pork and veal, hand-cut to customer's specifications.
- Fresh Seafood: From waters near and far, this selection includes wild and farm-raised seafood that meets the highest qualifications: Kona Kampachi Yellowfin Tuna, Alaskan Chinook Salmon, and Black Pearl Organic Salmon, to name just a few.
- Smoked Fish, Paté and Foie Gras: The offerings under one roof are unrivaled, with hundreds of smoked salmon products, from Nova to organic Irish Salmon. These specialty items are available by the slice or the pound, and hand-sliced or pre-packaged for your convenience.
- Cheese Shop: From soft-ripened to hard, mild to sharp, cheeses are handcrafted from leading U.S. and European producers dedicated to their craft.
- Fresh Pasta: A wide variety of pasta is available, including authentic offerings specially made by a local artisan who works with a variety of three- and four-star chefs in New York. Among his specialties: ravioli with filling that includes fresh, regional ingredients.
- Desserts: This department showcases fresh-baked cakes, pies and pastries using only the highest quality ingredients like Valhronna chocolate and Lurpak butter, as well as distinctive European specialties and the very finest imported chocolates. All desserts reflect a hallmark of decadence that will become a trademark of The Food Emporium.
"We are proud to bring this very special food presentation to Manhattan. New York is one of the world's truly great cities, and it deserves a top-shelf food store that meets its unique tastes and demands," says Heer. "We are excited to introduce this concept at Bridgemarket - a world-class facility now offering a world-class assortment."
About The Food Emporium:
The Food Emporium is operated by The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company. Founded in 1859, A&P is one of the nation's first supermarket chains. The company operates 405 stores in nine states and the District of Columbia under the following trade names: A&P, Waldbaum's, The Food Emporium, Super Foodmart, Super Fresh, Farmer Jack, Sav-A-Center and Food Basics.
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Investor Contact:
William J. Moss
Vice President, Treasurer
(201) 571-4019
Press contact:
Richard P. De Santa
Senior Director, Corporate Affairs
(201) 571-4495
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