FreshDirect and Union Square Wines & Spirits Team Up for the Perfect Food and Wine Pairing
LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y., July 29 /PRNewswire/ — Celebrating their 6th year anniversary with food and wine, FreshDirect, one of the nation’s leading online gourmet food purveyors and delivery services, is thrilled to be partnering with Union Square Wines & Spirits as they launch the USQ Wine Store. Bringing the ease of online shopping with convenient home delivery to wine aficionados and FreshDirect customers alike, the new wine store offers a well chosen selection of fine wines and specialty liquors easily browsed with innovative and crowd pleasing new web features.
From international imports to regional gems produced at New York’s top wineries, the New USQ Wine Store encompasses a varied selection of over 200 wines easily identified and searchable by type or region. The online store marries the expertise of FreshDirect’s food experts with the wine savvy of the Union Square Wines & Spirits team to give visitors detailed wine listings and an invaluable Food & Wine guide that will inspire even the most discerning sippers. In addition, the “Perfect Pairings” feature takes the guesswork out of food and wine matchups, offering exact food and wine pairs tested and approved by some of Manhattan’s most renowned chefs such as Artisanal’s Chef Terence Brennan and Tabla’s Chef Floyd Cardoz.
Beyond comprehensive notes for every available wine and spirit, the site also features seasonal content as a resource for those planning a food fete or seeking guidance. Customers taking to their grills this summer can easily consult the Top Ten Summer Picks listing to locate a vintage that best compliments the flame-broiled flavors of the season’s tastiest grilled meats, vegetables and seafood.
“With the launch of the USQ Wine Store, we are proud to partner with Union Square Wines & Spirits as it brings a new and exceptional selection of premium wines right to our customers’ doorsteps in time to celebrate our sixth year of operation,” said FreshDirect’s Vice President of Purchasing, Ken Blanchette. “The great variety of wines available on the site will make it even easier for New Yorkers to complement their meals and dine in style at home. The new collaboration is in keeping with the excellent quality that our customers have come to expect from FreshDirect, now pairing the best of fresh chef-prepared meals and fresh foods with the finest in wines and spirits.”
“We’re thrilled with the new partnership and have already had a great time working with the FreshDirect team on bringing some of our favorite wines together with their unbeatable meals for the launch. As far as food and wine pairing is concerned, the best is yet to come,” said Mitchell Soodak, President of Union Square Wines & Spirits.
By September 2008, the selection available at the USQ Wine Store will grow to 300 bottles, incorporating international wines, spirits, and sakes, all available to the greater metropolitan area for convenient home delivery. With an inventory chosen to complement FreshDirect’s extensive product offering of local and organic produce, mouthwatering 4-Minute Meals and Ready-to-Cook entrees, customers can pick from the exclusive menu that incorporate Manhattan’s top eateries and the carefully curated shelves of Union Square Wines & Spirits.
About FreshDirect
Founded in 1999, FreshDirect is one of the nation’s leading online meals and fresh food manufacturing and delivery services. FreshDirect is setting a new standard for fresh food production and distribution by offering unparalleled quality, product customization, and value pricing from its state-of-the-art kitchen and facility in Long Island City. The company is expanding rapidly and currently serves most of Manhattan and locations in Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island and the Bronx, as well as parts of New Jersey, Westchester, and Nassau County. The company’s vision is to change consumers’ lives by providing the ultimate shopping experience for impossibly fresh food and meal solutions. The company currently has over 250,000 customers and has fulfilled over six million orders since opening for business in September 2002. Additional information can be found at http://www.freshdirect.com/.
About Union Square Wines & Spirits
Union Square Wines & Spirits emerged in NYC’s vibrant Union Square neighborhood in 1995. Mitchell Soodak, president since 1999, continues to set the standard for the retail wine experience by providing consumers with an impressive selection of wine and spirits, and expert knowledge in a relaxed setting. From down-to-earth customer service to warm design, helpful signage, and hundreds of free in-store wine events featured annually, USQ’s personality and environment encourage customers to explore. USQ was the first retailer in Manhattan to invest in the state-of-the-art Eno-machines, easy to use automated wine dispensers that allow customers to sample up to four dozen different wines during store hours. USQ aims to help customers feel comfortable with wine by helping put the bottles into context via tastings, food pairings, and personable sales help – at USQ, wine is just as important at the table as salt and pepper. USQ currently sells its 3000+ selection locally in New York, and to discerning consumers throughout the country.
FreshDirect
CONTACT: Robyn Schweitzer of MWW Group for FreshDirect,+1-212-827-3761, rschweitzer@mww.com; or Jesse Salazar, Wine Director of UnionSquare Wines & Spirits, +1-+1-212-675-8100, arroyo1975@yahoo.com
Web site: http://www.freshdirect.com/