First of Three Portland Stores to Host “World’s Top Cheese Shop”
PORTLAND, Ore. (June 1, 2012) – Fred Meyer will welcome the legendary Murray’s Cheese to its newly remodeled Burlingame store on June 3. It is the first of three Murray’s Cheese shops scheduled to open inside Fred Meyer stores in the Portland area this summer as part an exclusive partnership between Murray’s Cheese and The Kroger Company, parent of Fred Meyer.
Founded in 1940, Murray’s Cheese is the oldest cheese shop in New York City and is known for its expertise in cheese and huge selection of cheese from around the world.
Murray’s will host a public grand opening celebration on June 8 at the Burlingame Fred Meyer (7555 SW Barbur Blvd; Portland; 97219) from 5 to 8 p.m. where the public is invited to taste cheeses paired with wines and talk cheese with Murray’s knowledgeable experts.
As part of Murray’s commitment to educating its customers, the shop will host “Meet Your Local Cheesemaker” events in store so customers can taste local delicacies and interact with local food artisans. All tastings are free and open to the public. Dates and times are:
June 3: Rogue Creamery/Oregon; 11a.m. to 3 p.m.
June 9: Tumalo Farms/Oregon; 11a.m. to 3 p.m.
June 16: Tillamook Loaf Love Tour/Oregon; 11a.m. to 5 p.m.
June 22: River’s Edge Cheese/Oregon; 11a.m. to 7 p.m.
June 23: La Panzanella Crackers/Washington; 11a.m. to 3 p.m.
July 1: Cypress Grove Chevre; 11a.m. to 3 p.m.
“Fred Meyer is always looking for ways to offer our customers more selection and value,” saysMelinda Merrill, director of Fred Meyer Public Affairs. “Since we know our customers love an enticing selection of gourmet items, including cheeses, partnering with Murray’s Cheese shops in select stores will provide our customers with even greater access and education.”
The Murray’s shops will offer more than 175 types of cheese – including dozens of local varieties — plus a wide selection of specialty items including crackers, dried fruit, and an olive and antipasto bar. Murray’s knows that the best way to education a palate is by tasting, so customers can try cheeses before buying them and meet local cheesemakers, who will be featured at in-store events throughout the summer.
“We are thrilled to be opening in Portland, with its reputation as a foodie town,” says Murray’s proprietor Rob Kaufelt. “Murray’s partnership with Fred Meyer is part of our mission to bring great cheese to all of America. We hope that shoppers will discover new cheeses and find even better versions of their favorites at Murray’s.”
Burlingame’s cheesemaster, Amy Pitzer, has more than 17 years of experience in cheese and recently traveled to Murray’s in NYC for extensive cheese training. “Our staff is passionate, educated and ready to help you — and feed you cheese!” she says.
Similar Murray’s shops will open in Fred Meyer’s Hawthorne (3805 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd.;Portland;97214) and Hollywood (3030 N.E. Weidler St.; Portland; 97232) locations in July. These neighborhood stores were selected for a clientele who is eager to learn more about cheese and will appreciate an even bigger cheese selection.
ABOUT MURRAY’S CHEESE
Founded in 1940 in the heart of New York City’s Greenwich Village, Murray’s Cheese began as a neighborhood wholesaler of butter and eggs. The company has since evolved into the country’s leading cheese destination and what Forbes calls “the world’s top cheese shop.” The mission of Murray’s Cheese is to bring the best cheese selection to the United States while educating customers about cheese. Murray’s businesses include two flagship stores in New York City’s Greenwich Village and Grand Central Terminal, a mail-order retail business that ships nationwide, and a wholesale business that supplies fine restaurants with cheese. Murray’s partnership with The Kroger Co. currently includes more than 35 Murray’s shops within Kroger supermarkets in eight states. For more information about Murray’s, please visit www.murrayscheese.com or follow the company at www.facebook.com/murrayscheese.
About Fred Meyer Stores
Fred Meyer Stores, based in Portland, Ore., offers one-stop shopping at its 132 multi-department stores in four western states. Nearly 30,000 Fred Meyer associates help customers fill their food, apparel, and general merchandise needs in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Stores range in size from 65,000 to 200,000 square feet and carry more than 250,000 products under one roof. Additionally, Fred Meyer contributes more than $5 million to communities across the Northwest each year through grants from the Fred Meyer Foundation as well as product donations, cash donations and sponsorships. Fred Meyer Stores is a division of The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR). For more information, please visit our Web site at www.fredmeyer.com.