Page 40 - 2019 Westchester Economic Development Guide

The dining room at Freebird Kitchen in White Plains.
FOOD & BEVERAGE Satisfying Global Appetites
From iconic global brands, to hungry regional upstarts, to a broad range of cuisines and dining experiences, Westchester’s food and beverage sector is thriving.
A New Vision
Legendary Global Brands
Based in Westchester since 1970, PepsiCo is a major county employer and long-time partner.
Heineken recently renewed its commitment to Westchester with an expanded and renovated U.S. head- quarters in White Plains.
Danone likewise renewed its long-standing commitment to the County with its state-of-the-art U.S. headquarters in White Plains.
On Tap: Breweries and Distilleries
From beloved brands, like Elmsford’s Captain Lawrence, to regional suc- cess stories like Yonkers Brewery and Ossining’s Sing Sing Kill Brewery, residents can enjoy distinctive, locally produced beers across the County. Port Chester’s Still the One distillery, makes honey-based vodka, gins, and bourbon whiskey.
‘Epicurean’ Dining
Westchester’s 600 full-service res- taurants offer dynamic cuisines and dining experiences that rival the best Manhattan has to offer. Since late 2017, Freebird Kitchen and Bar in White Plains has been serving up “an epicurean dining experience, in a wel- coming, unpretentious environment,” according to owner Nick Fusco, Jr.
Beyond easy access to the Hud- son Valley’s high quality produce and dairy, Fusco says Westchester is a great restaurant venue because “the possibilities here are endless. The local population is an ethnic tapestry with a socio-economic profile that ranges from blue collar, to post college stu- dents getting their first independence, to millionaire corporate titans.”
2020 Vision: Wegmans
Joining iconic brands like Whole Foods and Fairway, specialty grocer
Wegmans is bringing its unique gro- cery retail concept to Westchester. With a mission of helping people live healthier, better lives through food, the regional, family-owned super- market has been named one of the ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ by FORTUNE magazine for 21 consecu- tive years, ranking #2 in 2018.
“We’ve wanted to build a store in Westchester for a long time. This site offered everything we look for. It’s large enough to accommodate a store our size, and adequate parking. It’s a great regional location that is easy to find and easy to get to. Lastly, it meets our needs for population density. Our business model is predicated on high volume. Therefore, we need a lot of customers to shop in our stores, and we need to hire a lot of employees to serve our customers.”
—Matthew Dailor Store Manager, Wegmans Harrison
The Heineken USA Headquarters in White Plains
38
WESTCHESTER COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE
“The wide stance of the demographic profile allows restaurants in Westchester County to explore new ideas in dining that can cross over age, price points, and cultures.” – Nick Fusco, Jr., Freebird Kitchen and Bar