Stew Leonard’s Launches “Stew’s Tank” For NJ Food Companies

PARAMUS, NJ - Calling all entrepreneurs!

Stew Leonard’s in Paramus is looking for the next big thing for its shelves and wants to hear from you.

The family-owned grocery chain kicked off the launch of "Stew's Tank," a “Shark Tank”-style competition, that aims to give locally-based New Jersey food companies a chance to pitch their products to Stew Leonard’s.

During the contest, vendors will be able to present their products directly to Stew Leonard’s buying team and earn the chance to be sold at the store in Paramus – and then, eventually all seven locations.

Stew Leonard’s held its first ever “Stew’s Tank” competition last year at its stores in New York and added four new products to its inventory as a result. According to the company, the winners were: Bacaro Original Foods Eggplant Meatballs (Massapequa Park), Halesite Habanero Hot Sauce (Halesite), Kitu Super Coffee (New York City) and The Famous Meatballers (Wantaugh).

Sales pitch videos can be posted online through March 15. Vendors should include information about their product’s background, why it’s unique and why Stew Leonard’s shoppers will like it.

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From there, vendors will be selected to advance to the next round - meeting with the buying team for a sales presentation. After that, a select few will be chosen to demo and sell their products at Stew Leonard's in Paramus from April 18 through May 10.

The buying team will track sales throughout the month and the bestselling products will score a spot on the store's shelves in June.

Even prior to the launch of “Stew’s Tank,” President and CEO Stew Leonard, Jr. said the company has had a long history of supporting new and “innovative” food producers.

“Stew Leonard’s launched rock star brands like Newman’s Own, Bear Naked Granola, Rao’s Marinara Sauce, and Long Island’s Butera’s Meatballs,” he said. “My family and I are excited about Stew’s Tank in New Jersey and we can’t wait to taste our next best-selling products from the Garden State!”

According to the chain, "dozens" of food vendors pitch to the buying team each week for a chance to have their products sold at the stores.

"But unlike other grocery stores, Stew Leonard’s doesn’t accept slotting fees– which means that the products on the stores’ shelves are there because customers love them and not because a big brand has paid Stew Leonard’s to put them there," the company said in a press release.

The chain, known for its farm fresh food and interactive animatronic characters opened its first-ever store in New Jersey in September 2019.

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Its opening drew thousands of shoppers eager to check out what has been dubbed as "the Disneyland of Dairy Stores" by the New York Times. The $400 million store took the place of Paramus Park's anchor spot previously held by Sears.

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