East Bay Deli

Grocer checks out Bay State

In the next six months, the Pennsylvania-based chain will determine the number of stores that the Bay State can handle and find a developer to build them, according to president Rocco Fiorentino.

“We’ve identified 20 regions — new markets we’d like to be in up and down the Eastern Seaboard — and the Boston market was one of the 20,” Fiorentino said, noting the region’s demographics and density. “We look for areas that are very similar to our market in Delaware County, Pa., and we look for areas that are friendly to drive-throughs.”

Swiss Farms, which operates 13 stores in Pennsylvania and one in New Jersey, is currently expanding into North Carolina with a new store under way in Charlotte. It’s targeting the East Coast for ease in distribution before it heads to the Midwest or West Coast, according to Fiorentino.

Swiss Farms stocks about 800 items in its stores, including drinks, snacks, dairy and deli products, frozen foods, prepared foods and other grocery items.

“Our niche really is the in-between shop — the bread, milk, butter, eggs, cereal, Pop-Tarts needed in between grocery store shops or when taking the kids to school,” Fiorentino said. “Convenience stores primarily sell immediately consumed items. Most of our items are grocery items, so they’re going to be going home on the counter and in the refrigerator.”

Soccer moms and moms with kids in car seats are a big target audience for Swiss Farms, whose stores have double drive-throughs that can service four cars at a time. Customers don’t need to leave their cars — “concierges” emerge from sliding doors and take customers’ orders from their car windows, bring the items to out and taking payments.

“We can do everything right at the window,” Fiorentino said.

Counting My Cupcakes: East Bay Deli

Greg and I stopped by before going to the aquarium on Sunday . At first I thought I was in the mood to sway from Old Trusty Tessa. But when a line quickly built up behind us and I had to make a quick decision, I stuck with Tessa's Turkey. Even if I was in the mood to try something new, I needed much more time to make sure the change would be worth it. It just wasn't meant to be.  Some of the sandwiches can be big enough for two meals (depending how hungry you are obviously) and with such a wide selection, you really can't go wrong with East Bay Deli. Besides the lunch sandwiches, they have wraps, salads (including a great salad bar), soups, bagels and breakfast sandwiches. Andddd desserts! I have never had one, but they have ginormous cakes behind the counter. One day...

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