Kosher Blog

Sabra vs. Sabra Foods

Recently, I noticed a new line of mediterranean salad products show up in the supermarket. Well, at first, I didn’t know they were new. The labels said “Sabra Foods,” so I figured it was the same Sabra chumus, etc., I’ve been enjoying for several years, distributed by Blue & White Foods of Astoria, NY. Only these labels said “Norwood, MA.” Most peculiar.

Further research lead me to a Globe article profiling Sabra Foods and its owner, Pierre Saroufim. Sabra Foods is the marketing name of International Food Products, Inc.; the similarly named Sabra Restaurant in Newton and Sabra Grille in Cambridge are also Saroufim’s creations. Though the restaurants aren’t kosher, they’ve been providing the Boston area with kosher chumus, tabbouleh, baba ghanouj, and nine other products for 21 years.

I wonder if Saroufim is aware that his “Sabra” name is shared with another mediterranean products brand.

One Additional Note: I saw in Stop & Shop on Tuesday that Dorot Crushed Garlic is now under the Sabra (of Astoria) brand. The package is now red instead of green, and seems only to be available (in this area) at Stop & Shop (not Shaw’s/Star).