Hiller’s Prepares for Pesach

March 19, 2009 – SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Two weeks ago, Hiller’s Markets CEO Jim Hiller sat with Rabbi Herschel Finman and signed legal documents to sell the chametz.

“I’m continuing what my father started – transferring ownership of leavened products for the duration of the Passover holiday so observant Jews can feel comfortable purchasing those items from my stores after the holiday ends,” Hiller explained. Passover begins this year at sundown on April 8 and ends April 15 for Reform and Israeli Jews and April 16 for religious Jews.

Religious practice dictates Jewish business owners must sell off their forbidden-on-Passover products for the duration of the holiday so that Jewish customers may resume shopping in their stores immediately after the holiday ends. If they don’t, rabbis advise shoppers not to patronize a Jewish-owned business until their inventory has turned over, approximately 3-4 weeks.

This little-known but religiously significant obligation has Jewish people the world over selling, via authentic legal documents, any off-limits products in their homes and corporate premises. Passover is one of the most detail-oriented holidays in the Jewish tradition; religious Jews use separate dishes and cookware to prepare foods with special designations as being kosher-for-Passover.

Those items can be purchased at Hiller’s, of course. For two weeks already, all seven Hiller’s Markets have offered paper-covered separate shelving and refrigerated cases for shoppers who have begun the Passover cleaning and shopping process. The West Bloomfield, Commerce and Ann Arbor stores carry the largest selection of Passover goods.

“While I’m not a religious man, I am deeply proud of my Jewish heritage,” says Jim Hiller. “My father sold the chametz to two different rabbis years ago to ensure that he satisfied the religious requirements of an array of our shoppers!”

Hiller’s has long been committed to marketing to niche grocery populations. This weekend’s Michigan Foods Fair will showcase locally-made, grown and produced food items, with the Union Lake store exhibiting more than 30 vendors on Saturday and Sunday. Other specialty populations served by Hiller’s include gluten-free, Japanese, British and kosher foods, among many others.

Hiller’s groceries are located in Ann Arbor, Berkley, West Bloomfield, Northville, Plymouth, Commerce Township and a new 52,000 square-foot store in Union Lake. Many company employees have been at Hiller’s for decades – symbolizing the quality behind the brand. Hiller has always been guided by the societal impact of store activities and corporate decisions.

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