South San Francisco-based J. Sosnick & Son, the sole kosher food distributor in Northern California since 1906, has sold its kosher distributing division to Grocers Specialty Co., a subsidiary of Unified Western Grocers.
So far this month-old shift in ownership has gone unnoticed by consumers of kosher products.
“The pricing has stayed the same up and down the aisle,” said David Bennett, an owner of Mollie Stone’s — one of a number of Northern California grocers that carry kosher foods. “Except for sale items coming up for Rosh Hashanah, there’s no change in any prices at all.”
David Bowlby, a spokesperson for Safeway, agreed.
There are also no changes in the Sosnick kosher product line.
“You’ll still be able to have Sosnick’s horseradish on your gefilte fish,” said Robert Sosnick, secretary-treasurer of J. Sosnick & Son. “It just won’t be distributed by us.”
J. Sosnick had been planning to hold a “Matzah Ball” for its 100-year anniversary in 2006, Sosnick said.
Yet, six years short of a century, the company opted to accept a very tempting offer.
It was a decision of pure opportunity and not of declining business, according to Jeffrey Sosnick, general manager of J. Sosnick & Son. He would not disclose the sale price, but he said that Grocers Specialty made an offer his family couldn’t refuse.
“We’ve had inquiries for years, from people wanting to buy our business,” said Jeffrey. “Somebody came in with the right offer this time and we elected to sell.”
J. Sosnick & Son has continued to run its candy division, already increasing the volume “above and beyond expectations,” said Robert.
According to Dennis Gong, a buyer for Grocers Specialty and former J. Sosnick employee, Grocers Specialty was also interested in the candy division, but the Sosnicks “did not want to sell.”
J. Sosnick & Son Inc. was established by Joseph Sosnick at the turn of the 20th century as a wholesaler and retailer of wine, spirits and kosher products in San Francisco. The company shifted its emphasis to a retail and wholesale grocery in 1919, switching to strictly wholesale distribution in 1952.
The long history of family involvement, four generations’ worth, made the decision to sell a portion of the company a tough one, according to Jeffrey Sosnick.
“It was extremely hard — that’s why we never accepted any of the offers over the years,” he said. “All generations [of Sosnicks] have been involved in the business. It’s very dear to us.”
Grocers Specialty spokesperson Tom Schaffner assured that his company — which has distribution points in Southern California, Northern California and Washington — is maintaining J. Sosnick & Son’s familial atmosphere.
The change of hands, he said, is not “a quantum leap.”
“In a way it’s gone from one family to a much bigger family,” said Schaffner. “It’s not exactly apples to apples, but the spirit is there.”
Distribution for the J. Sosnick & Son’s former kosher division is taking place from the Hayward-based, 75,000 square foot warehouse of Gourmet Specialties, another Unified Western Grocers subsidiary.
A growing company, Unified Western Grocers had wanted to expand its role in specialty food distribution, particularly kosher foods.
The company also recently purchased Central Food Sales in Renton, Wash., expanding its distribution market to Oregon, Washington and Alaska.