Specialty Food Magazine is the leading publication for retailers, manufacturers and foodservice professionals in the specialty food trade. It provides news, trends and business-building insights that help readers keep their businesses competitive.
Issue link: https://specialtyfoodmagazine.epubxp.com/i/139333
profile geon, whitefish, pickled lox, herring in cream sauce, bagels, bialys and cream cheese in flavors like horseradish, goat cheese and caviar. The product mix has remained largely the same. One morerecent entry is a beverage, beet and lemon shrub, made from housepickled beets and fresh lemons. A shrub is an old-style drink dating back to colonial times that contains a small amount of vinegar to bring out the flavor of the juice. Also, in a nod to the younger customer base, Russ & Daughters has added some humorously irreverent menu items such as bagel or bialy sandwiches named Meshugge (sturgeon, sable and smoked salmon with cream cheese), Oy Vey Schmear (chopped liver and sliced pickles from the barrel), Shtetl (smoked sable and goat cream cheese) and the Yum Kippered (baked salmon with cream cheese). Then there's the schmooze factor, as former owner Mark Russ Federman refers to it in his recently released book, Russ & Daughters: Reflections and Recipes from the House that Herring Built (Knopf, 2013). (See sidebar, p. 56.) The fine art of informal but ingratiating small talk is an important part of the Russ & Daughters experience. In the interactive environment, employees tend to develop a loyal customer following, especially those who are store sur pris inglY inge nious Fancy Food Show 2013 New York June 30, 2013 - July 2, 2013 www.advantageaustria.org 54 ❘ SPECIALTY FOOD MAGAZINE specialtyfood.com fixtures, having been on staff for 30-plus years. Two such employees, cousins Herman Vargas and José Reyes, were brought out from the kitchen to work the counter as young adults; today Vargas is general manager and Reyes is regarded as royalty at the fish counter in addition to being a caviar-packing specialist. "We had a customer yesterday who didn't recognize Alina Sheffi, who's worked here for more than 20 years," Josh says. "He only knew the counterperson he dealt with, which happens sometimes. Customers want their person and don't notice anyone else." New staff get no shortage of attention themselves. "Guys who have been here a year develop their own following," because of the relationships they build every day, Josh says. Growth Ambitions The biggest job for the new generation of owners may be acting as a bridge from the past to the future. "We have a challenge to stay relevant but maintain a strong attachment to the store's history and its New York history," Josh says. Both owners agree that the original Russ & Daughters store shouldn't drastically change. "We realize that 100 years of history austrian pavilion Jacob K. Javits convention center, level 3 booth: advantage austria information: 1527 The Austrian Exhibitors 1521 Agrarmarkt Austria Marketing | www.ama.at cheeses and wines from Austria 1424 ALMDUDLER-Limonade | www.almdudler.com carbonated herb soda 1520 Berglandmilch | www.schaerdinger.at Austrian cheese specialities 1533 CONCEPT Fresh | www.concept-fresh.at hard, soft, and semi-hard cheeses 1428 Eat Wholesome Foods | www.eat-wholesome.com high quality Styrian pumpkinseed oil 1426 Feldbacher Fruit Partners | www.feldbacher.at horseradish, hand-picked chilli specialities 1530 Gunz | www.gunz.cc comprehensive range of foods and beverages 1430 KOTÁNYI | www.kotanyi.com innovative spice grinders 1531 Polnizky | www.p-trading.at bread, bread rolls, and patisserie made in Europe 1432 pure Bio Produkte® | www.pure-bio.at pure Bio®: organic drinks 1526 Sulzberger Käserebellen Sennerei | www.kaeserebellen.com semi-hard and hard cheeses 1420 Vita+ Naturprodukte | www.verival.at organic muesli and cereal products 1524 Ölmühle Birnstingl | www.birnstinglgmbh.at Styrian pumpkinseed oil For more information ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA New York T +1 212 421 52 50 F +1 212 421 52 51 E newyork@advantageaustria.org W www.advantageaustria.org/us AUSSENWIRTSCHAFT AUSTRIA