Posted by:
Tevai
(
)
Date: November 03, 2019 01:17PM
I have never thought about this before.
In my area of the country (southern California), my experience is the other way around from yours. Every supermarket (especially if it is part of a large chain), plus every Whole Foods [before the handover to Amazon; I don't know about what is going to happen going forward], has a special, seasonal, section for Passover (in particular), and for Hanukkah (to a somewhat lesser extent). Every drug store I know of carries Jewish-oriented greeting cards, both for Jewish holidays, and also those needed throughout the year (condolence cards, for example).
In addition, in most every mainstream supermarket, and regardless of the particular chain involved, Shabbat candles are part of the normal merchandise inventory. (These are also often bought by non-Jews, for future use in case of a bad earthquake, etc. because they each last several hours before burning out).
Although I don't know who the CEO's and members of the Boards of Directors (etc.) of these supermarkets are, I would be very surprised if most of them were Jewish. Carrying the specific supplies your customers need and want is just good product selection, so far as I am aware.
The same goes for Mexican (Central American, etc.) goods. You can get green chile of SOME kind, and ALWAYS tortillas of at least the basic kinds (corn, wheat flour), in any market anywhere in southern California. Frequently the bakery sections of supermarkets will have a selection of "Spanish-speaking" ;) sweets: cakes, cookies, creamy stuff--either for festivities like quincenaneras (15th birthday celebrations for girls), or for just daily eating.
If I owned a grocery store (etc.) in an area where there was a substantial number of customers of Indian subcontinent descent, I would be selling appropriate goods (both around-the-year, and also holiday, types of products), to them.
I don't know what a "Testimony glove" is, but I think this is in an entirely different category of goods: it is not a normal item of "consumption," and it is meant (I think; from the name) to be an elective purchase that is outside of normal consumption patterns. I don't know how to describe what I am feeling, but to me a "Testimony glove" (or any similar type of merchandise) seems to me to be fundamentally different than food items, weekly Shabbat candles, bakery goods, etc.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/03/2019 01:23PM by Tevai.