Winn-Dixie launching kosher self-branded line in bakery

By Lee J. Green

There is some sweet news for those seeking kosher products at Winn-Dixie — this month they will launch an extensive corporate brand bakery line including challah loaves and rolls, Black and White cookies, brownies and other favorites available on a regular basis.

Winn-Dixie Marketing Manager and kosher foods expert Deborah Shapiro said the big kosher bakery product launch comes as a result of many customer requests as well as discussions with individual stores that see a larger number of Jewish customers and kosher product purchasers, especially the Birmingham locations on Montevallo Road and Crosshaven, Spring Hill in Mobile and Uptown and Metairie in the New Orleans area.

“We listen to our customers and our policy has always been if there is a product they want but it’s not in the store closest to them, we’ll order it,” said Shapiro. “We’re really excited about the Winn-Dixie brand kosher baked goods launch. We’ve had customers, synagogues and community centers request that we have fresh challah on a regular basis. And we know these new kosher bakery products are very tasty since we got to taste test them.”

She said the Jacksonville, Fla.-based Winn-Dixie offers more than 1,000 self-branded kosher products in its stores. In addition to doing stringent tests to ensure the quality of new Winn-Dixie products, those products are usually less expensive than comparable brands from other companies in the stores.

“The kosher cakes from our bakeries, especially red velvet, chocolate and caramel drizzle already have been among our most popular products,” said Shapiro. More corporate brand kosher product launches are coming soon, especially in the area of kosher meats.

For new product development, availability at stores, the list of all Winn-Dixie brand kosher products and to request a store carry a product, customers can go to the kosher products page on the website.

Other popular Winn-Dixie brand kosher products include cookies and snack chips, she said. In addition to putting a focus on kosher, Winn-Dixie puts emphasis on supporting local. Whenever possible, the stores in each market sell locally-grown produce. They even feature local farmers in some of their promotional materials.

As of press time, Shapiro said they did not have a date for the kosher bakery products launch, but anticipates it will be at least by mid-August.