TransMedia Is Retained To Publicize Gourmet Boutique's Success In Helping Supermarkets To Differentiate Themselves With Gourmet Prepared Foods Boca Raton, FL, August 18, 2003/PRNewswire/ --TransMedia Group will publicize why supermarket deli cases across the country are getting a gourmet face-lift. "The story we'll be marketing is that our client, Gourmet Boutique, is single-handedly feeding the supermarket industry's hunger for differentiation with attractively presented, high-quality gourmet prepared foods," said TransMedia Chairman Thomas J. Madden. Supermarket supplier Gourmet Boutique reports rising sales of its gourmet fare to stores across the country. Gourmet Boutique says it's helping supermarkets to differentiate themselves from competitors and effectively compete with restaurant take-out foods. The New York City-based company supplies high-quality, no preservative added specialty foods like Coconut Thai shrimp, Chicken Florentine, Roast Duck with Orange Ginger Sauce, Grilled Lemon Chicken, Cranberry Wild Rice Salad, Nutty Cous Cous, and tempting sides like Yams with Dried Cranberries. It also advises supermarket deli departments how to display their fresh salads and gourmet offerings attractively. "It can be the freshest, most delicious food in the world, but if it doesn't look that way in the display, consumers won't try it," said Jan Sussman, President of Gourmet Boutique. "People are attracted to more wholesome foods and they love the convenience of supermarket home meal replacement. That may explain the surge in demand for our fresh products, which are shipped in modified atmosphere packaging allowing shelf life of 14 to 21 days until placed into the deli case," said Jere Dudley, Gourmet Boutique's Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Gourmet Boutique serves 25 of the largest supermarket chains in the US, and through its Proprietary Recipe Development Program, the company caters to the specific needs of each store. "Our in-house chefs provide custom-made dishes for supermarkets, which is a huge draw for the store's customers," said Dudley. "We also act as 'consultants' to supermarket line personnel who may not capitalize on the huge profits that are available from 'deli real estate.' If our colorful, eye-popping displays get the right placement in deli cases, it's harder for customers to pass them up and that drives up profits," said Dudley. Within the last six years, sales at Gourmet Boutique rose from $2.5 million to $30 million and the number of items made weekly has increased from 15 to 230. # # # CONTACT: Michelle Rosen, +1-561-750-9800, ext. 14, or MRosen@transmediagroup.com