Kosherfest facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kosherfest |
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| Status | Discontinued |
| Genre | Exhibitions |
| Frequency | Every November |
| Venue | Meadowlands Exposition Center |
| Location(s) | Secaucus, New Jersey |
| Years active | 1989-2022 |
| Inaugurated | 1989 |
| Founder | Menachem Lubinsky |
| Attendance | 6,000 |
| Area | 80,000 square feet (7,400 m2) |
Kosherfest was a big yearly event for the kosher food industry. It was a two-day trade fair held in Secaucus, New Jersey. The event started in 1989 and ran every November until 2022.
Kosherfest was like a huge showcase for new and exciting kosher foods. It had an exhibition hall where companies showed off their products. There were also talks, cooking shows, and even cooking contests with famous chefs. Awards were given for the best new products. This event was not open to the public. Instead, it was for people who worked in the food business, like manufacturers, buyers, and food bloggers. Kosherfest was a joint effort by Lubicom Marketing and Consulting and Diversified Communications.
Contents
History of Kosherfest
Kosherfest began in 1989. Irving Silverman came up with the idea. He hired Menachem Lubinsky to help promote it. The first event was called the International Kosher Food and Food Service Trade Show. It took place at the New York Passenger Ship Terminal. There were 69 companies showing their products and 700 people attended.
By 2001, the show had grown a lot. About 500 companies were exhibiting. Around 12,000 buyers came from all over the United States and 29 other countries. This larger event was held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. In 2014, 330 companies participated. About 6,000 people attended. They filled the entire 80,000 square feet of the Meadowlands Exposition Center.
In 2004, Diversified Communications started working with Lubicom. They helped organize the event together. Kosherfest announced that its 2022 fair would be its last. The event has now stopped.
Where Kosherfest Was Held
In the 1990s, Kosherfest was held at the Meadowlands Exposition Center. It then moved to the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in 1998. It stayed there from 2003 to 2007. In 2008, Kosherfest moved back to the Meadowlands. It was held there until the event was discontinued in 2022.
Who Attended Kosherfest
Only certain people could attend Kosherfest. It was not open to everyone. Manufacturers, suppliers, and buyers were invited. Caterers, retail store owners, and media people also attended. This included photographers and food bloggers. Most attendees were from the United States. However, companies from many countries came to show their products. These included Finland, Argentina, and Japan.
In 2014, many attendees were Orthodox Jews. Kosherfest provided special areas for daily prayer services. There were also stations for ritual hand-washing.
New Food Trends and Ideas
Kosherfest was known for showing off new food trends. It also highlighted new ideas in the kosher food world. At the very first show in 1989, traditional kosher foods were displayed. These included dishes like gefilte fish and kugel.
Between 1992 and 1997, the number of kosher-certified foods grew a lot. It went from 26,000 to about 41,000 products. With this growth came more diverse foods. This showed that kosher food was becoming popular with more people. In 1996, you could find kosher venison and even imitation crab. The 2013 show featured kosher kielbasa and "bacon" cheeseburgers. Some food makers and sellers were not Jewish.
Later, Kosherfest showed other popular food trends. These included gluten-free foods. In 2013, almost 20% of the foods were gluten-free. Other trends were Greek yogurt, organic food, vegan options, and dairy-free products.
The Exhibition Hall
The exhibition hall at Kosherfest was famous for its many free samples. People called it "the world's biggest kiddush". It was like a mix of a business show and a big party buffet. You could try all kinds of samples. There were cheeses, sausages, sauces, and pastries. Ice cream, wine, and liquor were also available.
Non-food samples were also given out. These included kosher breath strips and teeth whiteners. There was even kosher dog food. Each attendee was allowed to take home one bag of free samples. Any leftover food was given to local charities.
Other businesses also participated. They sold food-service equipment and cleaning supplies. Companies offering uniforms, label printing, and credit-card systems were there. Kosher certification agencies also attended. They looked for new clients who wanted their food to be certified kosher.
Awards and Prizes
Kosherfest gave out awards for the best new kosher-certified products. There were 17 different categories. These included the Best in Show award. Other awards were for the best new dessert or packaging design. There were also prizes for the best new snack food and organic product. Awards were given for the best new beverage and food service product.
At the 2013 event, Empire Kosher made a Guinness World Record. They displayed the world's largest chicken nugget.
Other Activities
Besides the main exhibition hall, Kosherfest had other fun events. There were lectures and book signings by kosher cookbook authors. Cooking demonstrations were popular. A culinary competition featured well-known chefs.
During the trade show, there were also social media dinners. A Kosher Food Bloggers Conference was held nearby. Many media people covered Kosherfest. They reported on the latest kosher food trends.
