It will soon be easier and more convenient to get kosher food in the St. Louis area. The Schnucks market at Ladue Crossing will launch an expanded fresh kosher food section this fall. The expansion will involve a number of new items, including grab-and-go fresh salads, deli sandwiches, dairy and pareve sandwiches, sliced deli products and pizza.

Paul Simon, a Schnucks spokesperson, said the expanded kosher section at the 8867 Ladue Road store has been in the works for some time. The store is still working out the details, but some elements will likely include new signage and product labeling.

“The expanded kosher section is an attempt to bring customers the products they want,” Simon said. Customer requests for more kosher foods also entered into the decision. Chris Kline, Schnucks vice president of bakery, and Geoff Wexler, vice president of deli, have been coordinating the effort.

Prior to the expansion, the Ladue Crossing Schnucks store offered the largest kosher food selection in the store’s chain. Other stores with kosher foods include Chesterfield at 141 Hilltown Village, and the Creve Coeur locations at 10650 Olive Blvd. and 12756 Olive Blvd. Those stores, like Ladue Crossing, offer Manischewitz, Streit’s, Gefen, Yehuda, Osem and Kedem products. All four stores also have kosher bakeries with Yisroel ovens installed in 2023.

The Ladue Crossing store offers kosher fresh Atlantic salmon and fresh rainbow trout. Kosher sushi is available on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The store also has a large selection of kosher meat items, including frozen beef, fresh chicken, frozen breaded chicken, frozen turkey and other processed meats. The store offers kosher rotisserie chickens on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Availability of kosher rotisserie chicken will also increase as part of the expansion effort.

The Vaad Hoeir of St. Louis released a statement on July 25 indicating the Ladue Crossing Schnucks would begin a soft launch of the expanded kosher section on Sept. 9. Schnucks Markets confirmed that new kosher options are expected to roll out in the store over the next couple of months.

In addition to the news of the Schnucks expanded kosher food section, on July 25, the Vaad Hoeir announced that Nate’s Kosher Deli would open in the former Kohn’s Kosher Meat and Deli location. The Vaad statement indicated that Nate’s Kosher Deli will be operated by Avi Rosenberg, who has years of experience in food serves management. The Jewish Light has reached out to the Vaad Hoeir and Rosenberg for comment.

Last December was the 28^th year that the Ladue Crossing Schnucks and neighboring merchants have hosted a Hanukkah storytelling event. Steve Turner, who represents the merchants, said the partnership between the merchants and Epstein Hebrew Academy is “a way for the merchants to show support for the Jewish community.”

Simon, the Schnucks spokesperson, confirmed that the expanded kosher section is consistent with the company’s commitment to serve the Jewish community.