Westchester’s Growing Food and Beverage Industry Key to Economic Recovery
Senator Charles Schumer came to Tarrytown last week and brought with him some ideas to bolster the Westchester economy. It was no surprise to many that one of the areas on which Schumer focused was the Food and Beverage industry — an area that has shown remarkable signs of strength in recent years.
During his appearance at a Business Council of Westchester event last Monday, Schumer said Westchester County has the ability to be a driving engine of the economic recovery if it focuses on developing biotechnology, the food and beverage industries and the Hudson River waterfront.
There are good reasons to focus on each of the areas Schumer mentioned, and in the case of the food and beverage industry, it’s clear that there are already important pieces in place in Westchester and throughout the Hudson Valley that are paying big dividends.
Despite the lagging economy, the food and beverage industry has shown tremendously positive signs over the past several years. But the growth and opportunity present in this exciting industry exist are not accidental. The positive results we’ve seen are the result of a growing list of specific actions taken by members of our community.
Most recently, Westchester enjoyed the second annual Westchester Magazine Wine & Food Weekend, which proved that the interest in the food and beverage industry is stronger than ever. With 5,000 visitors, more than 100 restaurants, 200 world-class wines and 18 events, the four-day extravaganza held May 17-20 was the largest of its kind in Westchester’s history. It featured the region’s most celebrated chefs, critically acclaimed restaurants, the hottest new specialty food products, 200 top wine vintages from around the world and specialty cocktails served in a spectacular spirits lounge.
From tastings to seminars with world-renowned experts, from celebrity chef demonstrations to the spectacular Winemakers’ Dinner, from Burgers, BBQ and Beer Bash and an ArtsWestchester Bash, the Wine & Food Weekend offered foodies and oenophiles alike four days to savor the region’s finest food and the world’s best wines.
The Westchester Magazine Wine & Food Weekend was first held in 2011, and for two years my agency Thompson and Bender has been the event coordinator for this amazing event, which has grown quickly in the short time since its inception. This year The Journal News has joined The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester, as the event’s title sponsors, and Pernod Ricard, whose U.S. headquarters is in White Plains, was the exclusive spirits provider for the event.
And the event did more than provide great wine – it also helped raise money for a pair of worthy not-for-profit organizations: proud that this event raised money for a pair of worthy organizations: ArtsWestchester and Westchester Coalition for The Hungry & Homeless.
Plans are already underway to make the 2013 edition even better.
There have been several other indicators that the area’s food and beverage industry is gaining momentum. The Hudson Valley Restaurant Week was extremely well received by area restaurateurs and fans of fine dining. For a two-week period in March, more than 200 restaurants from seven counties, including more than 100 from Westchester, provided diners with three-course meals, lunches for $20.95 and dinners for $29.95.
Also earlier this year, our agency worked with the Yonkers Business Improvement District to create the first-ever Yonkers Restaurant Week, and the participation and response was strong there as well.
In February, The Hudson Valley Economic Development Corp. (HVEDC) officially launched its Hudson Valley Food and Beverage Alliance, a strategic effort to build the region’s food and beverage industry. The purpose of the alliance is “align needs with opportunities,’’ according to Westchester County Director of Economic Development Larry Gottlieb, who is working with the HVEDC on the project.
The Office of Economic Development and Thompson & Bender recently launched a new marketing campaign promoting Westchester as fertile ground for small to mid-sized businesses to grow. Fittingly, the campaign was kicked off with an event at one of Westchester’s most popular and fastest-growing small businesses, Captain Lawrence Brewing Company of Elmsford.
One great indicator for the future of the Westchester food and beverage industry is the obvious support being shown by a wide variety of groups, organizations and businesses. This support has come from the Office of Economic Development, Westchester County Department of Tourism & Film, corporate and media sponsors of events, and elected officials, area chambers of commerce and the dining public.
There’s reason for optimism as we attempt to solve the economic formula for Westchester, and the food and beverage industry is no small part of the equation.
Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson is Executive Vice President, Creative Director and Principal at Thompson & Bender, the leading full service public relations, advertising and marketing agency in Westchester County, NY. Thompson & Bender has been serving a diverse group of businesses and organizations in the New York metropolitan area for the past 25 years.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.
