Philadelphia’s Food Scene Serves Up Variety

Philadelphia boasts a wide and growing array of retail and restaurant options.

Greater Philadelphia is one of the largest and most diverse regions in the U.S., with a greater metropolitan population of over 6.5 million people, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. The area’s ethnic diversity continues to expand, with African American, Hispanic, Asian, African and other ethnicities representing over 65% of the population.

This diversity is reflected in Philly’s growing food marketplace.

“We are a very multicultural buying facility,” says George Binck, chief operating officer of Procacci Brothers Sales Corporation. “Produce is the common language. The diverse customer base is increasing all over the tri-state area.”

The rising diversity of the marketplace is reflected in product mix at the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market (PWPM), relates Rick Feighery, vice president of sales for Procacci. “We now bring in all different types of chile peppers and a lot of exotic fruits,” he says. “Though we’re very versed in produce, we all get calls where we’re Googling stuff.”

Marketplace diversity also affects the variety of items offered at retail. “We have a very different type of clientele from when we first opened,” says Tom Sangillo, president and owner of Sangillo’s Farm Fresh Produce in Drexel Hill, PA. “We see people from about 90 different countries come in and ask for products I’ve never heard of. We were originally an Italian market, serving the mostly Italian American demographic of our area. Now, only about 20% of my customers are of Italian descent; the rest are from all over the world.”

RETAIL EXPANSION

Philadelphia’s retail scene has long been competitive and varied. The marketplace boasts large retailers, including Giant Foods, Wegmans, Acme, Walmart, Whole Foods, Target, Aldi, Costco and BJ’s. The market also supports numerous thriving independent chains, including Redner’s, a variety of strong ShopRite stores, Trader Joe’s and dollar stores.

Redner’s Markets in Reading, PA, with 44 stores, continues to expand and remodel stores throughout a 300-mile radius of Philly.

“Redner’s Markets is dedicated to enhancing the Philadelphia area by expanding and renovating its Fresh Market stores,” says Mark Cotê, regional produce supervisor. “These upgrades reflect our commitment to the local community and aim to provide a better shopping experience and support regional growth. We are excited about these improvements and our ongoing dedication to the area.”

Though the presence of large operators is obvious, a multitude of other small chains, corner stores, and ethnic retailers also hold strong in the city and its suburbs. “We serve a wide variety of customers, including a lot of small and medium ethnic stores and chains,” says Todd Penza, salesman with Pinto Brothers. “The entire marketplace benefits from Philly’s mix of stores. The diversity helps boost produce sales.”

“The entire marketplace benefits from Philly’s mix of stores. The diversity helps boost produce sales.”
— Todd Penza, Pinto Brothers, Philadelphia, PA

John DiFeliciantonio, co-owner of North American Produce Company (NAPCO), says store development mirrors the wave of immigration in the last 10 to 15 years in the area.

“There is a wide diversity of demographics, from Indian to Asian to Latin American and more,” he says. “We especially see a growing African community and stores. These customers are committed to buying fresh product and they’re good produce customers. They have pride of ownership in their spots and keep the produce marketplace vibrant and fresh.”

Asian-oriented chains such as HMart and Hung Vuong are expanding, particularly through purchasing closed former stores, renovating and re-opening to serve their specific communities. In just 20 years, Hung Vuong Group, headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, has opened and renovated six stores.

“We are the largest locally-owned, private Asian retailer in the area,” says Chau Huynh, public relations. “For example, our Mayfair area store is where an old Pathmark moved out. We now have a thriving 30,000-square-foot supermarket there.”

Smaller, corner stores are also prospering, explains Sangillo. “Right now, we’re in the midst of people wanting the smaller stores,” he says. “My closest competitor, a large supermarket, just spent a lot of money to remodel. That is a draw for customers because a brand new store attracts shoppers, but they also want the convenience of getting in and out of a small store. So, our business has continued to thrive. Customers appreciate the value and convenience of the small store.”

FLOURISHING FOODSERVICE

For decades, Philadelphia’s dining and drinking establishments have been routinely recognized for outstanding foodservice. In 2021, Baldor Specialty Foods recognized the increasing importance of Philly’s restaurant industry by opening a warehouse in Philadelphia.

“We’ve been serving Philly restaurants for over 15 years,” says Glenn Messinger, senior sales executive in Philadelphia, PA. “We used to service them out of our Bronx location, but we’ve witnessed Philly’s continuous evolution as a vibrant restaurant city, and now it’s just exploded. Philly is booming with a diverse mix of chains, bigger restaurants and smaller chef-owned restaurants.”

While this trend continues, with Philly landing one James Beard finalist and two leadership honorees in 2024, another major trend has been the explosion of small, culturally based restaurants popping up throughout the city and its suburbs.

John Vena, president, John Vena Inc. (JVI), describes Philadelphia’s diverse ethnic restaurant scene. “For years, we have enjoyed so many great Mediterranean cuisines, generally dominated by Italian or Greek themes,” he says. “Recently, we have seen a finer distinction at work, as our restaurants become more specific to certain countries or even regions with countries.”

Vena explains the city has always had a wide variety of African or Asian offerings in the area around University City, but those restaurants tend to be smaller, catering to students and a younger crowd.

“We also see more restaurants offering specialized food from underrepresented regions of Mexico and South America,” he says. “Lately, many of our larger, city-based restaurant groups are moving into more diverse cuisines even as we see a really wide range of smaller startups popping up around the city and throughout the suburbs.”

The wide array is what makes Philly such a great food city, according to Messinger. “Philly’s restaurant scene is expanding with flavors from all over the world,” he says. “From high-end restaurants to local and Jewish-style bakeries, to Mediterranean and Mexican spots, to great pizza places,” he says. “There are so many options, all of them with amazing, delicious food.”