Major Shakeup in Kosher Food Industry: S. Bertram Acquires Dependable Foods

In a major development for the kosher food service industry, S. Bertram Foods, which owns familiar brands like B’gan, announced Monday the acquisition of Dependable Foods, also one of the largest and most well-known kosher food distributors in the tri-state area.

The acquisition marks the end of an era for Dependable, owner of the Masbia brand and many others, which has served the community for 30 years. In a letter sent to customers Monday, Dependable management announced that the company will be ceasing operations

The email says that Tuesday, Jan 13, will be the last day to place orders, and that the following day will be the last for deliveries.

“We are deeply grateful for the trust you placed in Dependable Food… Your support has meant a great deal to us,” the Dependable management team wrote, signing off with their motto, “The Joy of Serving.”

Coinciding with this acquisition, Bertram, another major player in the kosher food industry, announced it is relocating its warehouse to a new state-of-the-art facility in Eatontown, NJ.

To facilitate the move and the integration of Dependable’s operations, Bertram announced a brief pause in service; Friday, Jan 16 and Sunday, Jan 18, with full service restored o Monday.

As part of the transition, Bertram intends to keep the popular Masbia line of products previously distributed by Dependable, according to social media reports.

While consolidation in the food industry often raises concerns regarding decreased competition and higher pricing, Bertram emphasized their commitment to maintaining “the same personalized service you’ve come to expect,” now bolstered by the efficiency of their new facility.