Oser Communications Group

GOURMET NEWS JUNE 2014 www.gourmetnews.com Retailer News RETAILER NEWS 1 4 BRIEFS Modern Oakville Grocery Brings Napa Valley Visitors Back to a Bygone Era BY LUCAS WITMAN California's Napa Valley is an iconic Amer- ican landscape renowned for its temperate weather, and picturesque natural beauty. Each year, millions of tourists flock to the area, drawn in part by the promise of ex- quisite food and drink. Napa Valley is home to some of the best restaurants and wineries in the country as well as many fine produc- ers of specialty olive oils, vinegars and other locally sourced gourmet foods. Many area visitors spend their vacations hop- scotching from one eatery or vineyard to another, partaking in all that Napa Valley has to offer. However, for those who want to enjoy the best of the region's bounty, all in a single space, historic Oakville Grocery is a go-to spot. In many ways, stepping into Oakville Grocery is like stepping into the past. Founded in 1881, the store is the oldest continually operating grocery in the state of California. "It started out as a mercantile store in Napa Valley selling farm supplies, seeds, that sort of thing. It evolved over the years and slowly became a gourmet food shop in Napa Valley," said Michael Edick, Oakville Grocery's West Coast Director of Operation. Part of Oakville Grocery's charm is in the architectural and design touches that recall the store's historic past. A red tin roof sits atop the building, while mismatched light fixtures and antique wood accents dot the interior. In the center of the store, slip-free glass covers a hand dug well that was re- cently unearthed. The team at Oakville Grocery has done such a good job preserv- ing the history of the space that it is diffi- cult to believe the store recently underwent a mammoth restoration project in 2012. Just two years ago, the owners of Oakville Grocery set about renovating the space in an effort both to make it more cus- tomer-friendly and also to preserve the building's history for future generations. The store was literally remodeled from the bottom up, with contractors installing a new foundation, as well as new sup- ports and roofing. However, it was al- ways important throughout the ren- ovation process to preserve the unique- ness and heritage of the space. "We really tried our best to maintain the kind of original structure and look of the store," said Edick. "We kept the original light fix- tures, ceiling and roof and just solidified the structure and brought it up to code. It's meant to be as true to the original as possible." Today, the newly renovated Oakville Gro- cery is a must-stop spot both for locals and tourists alike. The store opens early at 6:30 am, so hungry locals can stop in for break- fast on their way to work at the region's wineries, farms and resorts. In the sum- mer, the store be- comes a tourist mecca, drawing in hungry visitors from around the globe. When it comes to product selec- tion, one word ties together every item sold within the walls of Oakville Grocery: local. The team works hard to carefully curate a selection of local prod- ucts sourced whenever possible from the Napa Valley, but also from elsewhere in Cal- ifornia. Products offered include jams, jel- lies, mustards, tapenades, wine, coffee, pastries, ice creams, prepared foods and more, much of which is produced within minutes of the store. "We try to stay in northern California as much as we can. We are trying to leverage our store as a place where small [local] mom and pop opera- tions come to sell their goods," said Edick. Working to popularize the tagline "Farm to Picnic," Oakville Grocery is a particular destination for those looking to put to- gether an al fresco meal. "We have a patio in the backyard that makes a great gather- ing spot for guests. We have essentially everything you need to make a picnic: cheese, meat, sandwiches, sides, wine, beer, crackers," said Edick. "Everything you need to throw the perfect picnic is what we pride ourselves on." Striving to serve as a community meeting place where area locals and distant visitors alike come together to celebrate everything the Napa Valley has to offer, Oakville Gro- cery offers a number of special events de- signed to bring people together. Each month, for example, beer or wine and cheese tastings spotlight regionally pro- duced delicacies. And this summer, guests can relax at a picnic table and enjoy a local libation during the daily happy hours at the Farmstand. In many ways, Oakville Grocery serves as a bridge between the 21st century and the past. Products offered by the store are distinctly fresh and modern, but they al- ways have an emotional connection to a simpler time. Many of the items people purchase at Oakville Grocery today are likely the same products purchased in the early 1900s, simply updated for the mod- ern consumer. Even the shop's design seems to evoke a bygone age, while still striving to serve a contemporary clientele. At its heart, Oakville Grocery is a historic small town shop selling goods to a con- nected global customer base. "It's just a small country, roadside store that has become a gourmet mecca," said Edick. GN Wine Chateau Celebrates its 10-Year Anniversary Online wine retailer Wine Chateau recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary. Wine Chateau provides a wide selection of wines and spirits for the online purchaser. Wine Chateau has developed a following as a purveyor of wines at exceptionally good prices. The company guarantees that it will beat lower prices if such prices are found elsewhere. Return customers are rewarded for their loyalty in the 'cash back' Wine Chateau Loyalty Program where each purchase earns points that can be converted into hard cash to spend on subsequent orders. Wine Chateau likes to keep its customers delighted with exceptional customer service. The company believes that communication is key to customer satisfaction. Once a purchase is made, the customer is kept informed at every stage of the process right until it is shipped. For more information on Wine Chateau, visit www.winechateau.com. Wegmans, Trader Joe's Top Consumer Reports Supermarket Ratings In Consumer Reports' latest survey, Wegmans, Trader Joe's, Publix, Costco and Sprouts earned the highest scores overall among 55 of the nation's major grocery stores. The Consumer Reports survey, which reflects 48,076 shopping visits, reveals reader satisfaction with service. One-third of those surveyed told the magazine they had quit shopping at a nearby grocery store in the past year, mostly because of high prices, but also because of long waits, inadequate selection or poor food quality. According to the Consumer Reports survey, Costco and Trader Joe's, along with Publix, Sprouts and Wegmans, offer better quality meat and produce and a cleaner shopping environment. All but Costco also earned the highest possible marks for service, defined as employee courtesy and checkout speed. Service is minimal at warehouse clubs such as Costco, and lengthy lines are a trade-off for everyday deals. Bi-Lo Announces Banner Conversions for 10 Georgia Stores Bi-Lo Holdings, LLC, parent company of BI-LO and Winn-Dixie supermarket chains, recently an- nounced the decision to convert seven existing Har- veys stores to Winn-Dixie stores and three existing Winn-Dixie stores to Harveys stores. These stores are part of the pending acquisition of 134 operating stores from Delhaize Group. "We carefully evaluated the market areas around each store and made conversion decisions that we believe will work best for customers," said R. Randall Onstead, President and CEO of Bi-Lo Holdings. "Customers will not see any change to the level of quality they have come to expect from either banner." Stores set to be converted to the Winn-Dixie banner include those in the Georgia cities of Brunswick, Saint Marys and Valdosta. The three stores set to be converted to the Harveys banner include those in Americus, Albany and Leesburg.

• Cover