Savours Kosher Market ULC, a US-based corporation that operates kosher supermarkets under a variety of names along the Eastern Seaboard, has acquired the assets of Hartmans Fine Kosher Foods after the longstanding Toronto shopping destination went into bankruptcy, said a news release and Canadian Jewish News .
Savours will continue its activities on Bathurst Street. In addition, Savours will expand into a vacant storefront next door to the north of its Bathurst location and will renovate the building to create a store modeled on its successful U.S. outlets, said Savours founder and chair Henry Kauftheil.
The Kurtz family, which operated Hartmans for the past six years, will be involved in the new enterprise and run the Hartmans Signature meats and deli section of the store, Kauftheil said
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According to the report, Kauftheil is involved in more than 10 glatt kosher supermarkets in the United States. He is founder and chair of Gourmet Glatt in New York and New Jersey. He is also founder and chair of Evergreen Kosher Market, operating in the same two states. And he holds a controlling interest in SuperFresh, an Israeli kosher “super-mini-market chain” consisting of six stores.
Research by the company found 200, 000 Jews in Toronto, which presents a potential venue for expansion.
In their statement, Jeffrey Kurtz said “the Kurtz family is very pleased about the transformation from Hartmans to Savours and our ongoing role in the new company. We are grateful that when Hartmans experienced financial difficulties, Mr. Kauftheil stepped in with financial assistance. The legal process of receivership allowed Savours to acquire Hartmans, which still remains responsible for its own liabilities that we are dealing with in a spirit of fairness to all concerned.”
