When it comes to food trends, kosher remains a hot and growing one, to the tune of more than $25 billion a year. This is one of the reasons that St. Louis shoppers will find an expanded kosher food section at their neighborhood Whole Foods.

Recently Kayco Kosher, one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of kosher brands and products in the country, announced it’s partnering with Whole Foods to bring customers seeking kosher certified products more options.

“We are working with Whole Foods to curate a selection of Kayco Kosher products that fit well with the Whole Foods mission of offering ‘better for you’ products together with Whole Foods ‘we have something for everybody,’” said Harold Weiss, chief sales officer at Kayco.

And for St. Louis consumers the move could not come fast enough.

“My level of satisfaction with kosher shopping selections in St. Louis has been minimal,” said local shopper Robin Rickerman. “Over the past 10 years, it has drastically changed. It has been very limited, and the community got creative to get more reasonably cost kosher food available to them. In the past few years, we have had Trader Joe’s, Sam’s, Costco and Whole Foods recognize the need and they have all gotten better.”

Alongside well-established brands like Gefen, Kedem and Manischewitz, new additions at Whole Foods now include Heaven & Earth and Haddar.

“The new collection includes Haddar Sesame Tahini, both plain and seasoned, and Heaven & Earth’s Almond Butter Bites in coconut date and coconut hazelnut,” said Weiss. “We are also providing Whole Foods a comprehensive selection of kosher, gluten-free options including gluten-free matzah, broth, candy, cookies, noodles, cooking wines and condiments.”

While the expansion of kosher selections in St. Louis is growing, Rickerman says there is still room for more improvement.

“I would love to see this community have another kosher deli with catering, food market and bakery to encompass the feel and needs of the community. People are now eating healthier and there are many more options for kosher,” said Rickerman. “We need more new, fresh, friendly, clean, healthy, innovative, personable places to shop, with plenty of variety and cost-effective for all.”

There are three Whole Foods Stores located in the St. Louis area.

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Whole Food Markets
4577 W Pine Blvd., St. Louis, Mo., 63108
1601 S. Brentwood Blvd., St. Louis, Mo., 63144
1160 Town and Country Crossing Dr., St. Louis, Mo.,63017