A bite of passion

On Saturday morning my wife and I went food shopping. We spent too much time in line and more money than we had planned, yet left feeling enriched.

That's what Zingerman's Delicatessen is all about.

Their mission statement reads, "We share the Zingerman's experience selling food that makes you happy giving service that makes you smile in passionate pursuit of our mission showing love and care in all our actions to enrich as many lives as we possibly can."

Every aspect of our experience lived up to that promise. From the young man who expertly explained their new holiday roast coffee as he offered me a sample cup to the woman behind the deli who hand-sliced the pancetta and Serrano ham to the woman at the register who upon seeing me purchasing the owner's new book on bacon, told me that Ari was at a table in the restaurant and loved to sign his books.

Zingerman's is what great retailing is all about: founded on a love of the product, offering knowledge-based service, in an environment where you can't help but stumble upon one wonderful thing after another, where the experience adds value way beyond the product sold.