Vendor helps Ahold build cake operation

DSN Retailing Today, Feb 28, 2005 by Mike Duff

Specialty perishables products often challenge food retailers, as labor and product trends can quickly complicate programs. In bakery, Ahold U.S.A. has turned to Love & Quiches to help it build a gourmet cake business.

Freeport, N.Y.-based Love & Quiches started as a retail quiche supplier, built its desserts business and gained ground in foodservice, providing chain restaurants and airlines with cakes, brownies and other treats.

About two-and-a-half years ago, Love & Quiches began supplying fancy decorated dome cakes to Stop & Shop, said Steve Blanc, the vendor's vp of sales. Today, the company supplies seven Stop & Shop and Ahold's Giant banners with treats priced between $8.99 and $13.99. Stop & Shop's reason for using Love & Quiches were many, Blanc said.

"Our desserts are equal to, if not better quality than what they were doing in-store.... The supermarket has a big problem if the cake decorator doesn't show up for work. You won't get decorated cakes that day. We're helping them on labor issues, direct labor and allowing them to shift workers to other areas of the department."