july 2009 / the tasting panel / K
O F F - P R E M I S E
A display for Acacia, Sterling and BV wines is
without a single sign at Zupan's. Packaging tells the story—
including an inventive Weber barbecue idea
in the middle.
Peter Kost is the Store Director for Zupan's,
with three locations in Portland.
Growing up on both sides of the business—retail and
restaurants—Peter Kost, store director for Zupan's
Markets in Portland, found each appealing enough to
pursue.
What makes Zupan's a stand-out from other grocery
stores? "Mike Zupan's philosophy melds with mine,"
Kost notes. "We want to be about the people and the
products we choose to sell."
That includes a well-trained and informed staff,
whom Kost refers to as "associates." Everything in the
store is tasted, tested and approved, and displays are
noticeably lacking huge signage.
"In-store displays show off the brands; the labels
and packaging do the selling," Kost affi rms. "We ask
ourselves what would appeal to us when building a
showcase."
Kost and his team won't hesitate to cut fresh
fruit to sample or open a package on the spot
if a customer wants to understand a fl avor
profi le of a new potato chip, granola bar or
soda.
"Again, it comes back to, how would we
want to be treated?"
D
Z u p a n ' s M a r k e t s
