Gourmet Food Options on the Internet

The Internet is fast becoming a staple shopping stop for consumers who are looking for convenience, ease and something different. The gourmet food market is one of those areas that is expanding on the Internet at a rapid pace. AppetizersToGo.com, an online purveyor of gourmet appetizers, has seen its business triple in recent years. Forrester Research Group, an independent technology and market research company, estimates that on-line food and beverage sales reached more than $17.4 billion in 2008. And having a niche product line, like appetizers, and doing that product well, helps set some online e-retailers apart from others.

AppetizersToGo.com has been providing gourmet and artisan appetizer products to the wholesale food business for more than 30 years. Its online business, which serves a line of more than 100 appetizers directly to consumers, has been in business five years. While this time frame may seem short in the standard brick and mortar business model, it is a success story in the world of Internet retailers. With more than 10,000 visitors to the site per day in its peak season, AppetizersToGo.com has seen its business grow from one that supplemented its existing wholesale business, to a stand-alone business that is thriving on its own.

"To be able to order unique gourmet appetizers while sitting at your computer at home or in the office, gives our customers remarkable ease and affordability, along with great entertaining options," said Karen Wolf Brown, co-owner of AppetizersToGo.com. "Whether it's a planned or impromptu party, we want to help people impress their guests with exceptional caterer quality food created by famous professional chefs, while keeping our prices close to wholesale."

Working with world-renown chefs has also given AppetizersToGo.com the opportunity to offer signature appetizer products not typically available at brick and mortar stores or even with caterers. The celebrity chef created appetizers are always popular selections at www.AppetizersToGo.com. Superstar chef Michael Schulson, star of the Style Network's "Pantry Raid," former chef of Buddakan NYC, and the talent behind Izakaya-Modern Japanese Pub in Atlantic City's Borgata Hotel & Casino, recently created an appetizer line for AppetizersToGo.com that has his famous signature style of "Asian on the outside and American on the inside." Terrance Brennan, master chef, owner of Picholine and Artisanal Bistro and Wine Bar in New York City, and cheese connoisseur, has created his inimitable French cheese and puff pastry "gougeres" for AppetizersToGo.com. Daniel Mancini offers his grandmother's family recipe in the Mama Mancini Meatballs and Sunday Sauce; and Christopher Styler, chef, cookbook author, PBS culinary producer and personal chef to rock legend Bruce Springsteen, is also one of the featured celebrity chefs that has worked with AppetizersToGo.com.

Offering more than 100 different handmade appetizers, AppetizersToGo.com ships the product frozen overnight directly to the consumer, and is guaranteed to be fresh and delicious. www.AppetizersToGo.com has the answer on what to serve at any occasion - cocktail or dinner party, summer barbecues, birthdays, children's parties, anniversary, engagement and even wedding receptions, holidays, or any special event. While the holiday season is always the busiest time for entertaining, people having a growing appetite for appetizers at any time of year. The hors d'oeuvres also make unique hostess, holiday, "welcome to the neighborhood," or corporate gifts. There's something to fit everyone's tastes and budget with most appetizers priced as low as $0.65 cents per piece, compared to the average of $2.20 per item for catered appetizers.

AppetizersToGo.com is a family owned business and is run by the husband and wife team of Matt Brown and Karen Wolf Brown. The wholesale side of the business has been satisfying the discreet palate of chefs, caterers, hoteliers and country clubs more than 30 years. In 2003, Karen Wolf Brown and Matt Brown realized the appeal to consumers of being able to order their famous hors d'oeuvres via the Internet and created www.AppetizersToGocom, which is serviced out of their wholesale manufacturing and packaging facility in New Jersey. Growing up in families that were successful in the food service industry, Karen and Matt benefit from the expert managerial skills of Karen's father, Carl Wolf, who founded the popular national brand Alpine Lace Cheese, which he sold to Land O'Lakes in 1998. Matt Brown got his MBA at the University of Illinois and spent seven years working in marketing for Kraft Foods. He honed his skills in quality food preparation, presentation and customer service running his own restaurant, The Blue Moon in New Jersey, before he and Karen found their niche in the hors d'oeuvres market. Karen Wolf Brown received her MBA from Northwestern University, marketed Alpine Lace Cheese, and managed Richard Simmons and other notable celebrities' diet and food television programs for GT Entertainment. It was her experience in the entertainment and infomercial industry that inspired her to offer a line of appetizers created by celebrity chefs.

AppetizersToGo.com is the premiere online appetizer site. www.Appetizerstogo.com offers more than 100 hors d'oeuvres shipped directly to the consumer, ready for any occasion whether it is an elegant anniversary, engagement or wedding reception, or a casual backyard barbecue, sophisticated New Year's Eve extravaganza, hip Halloween Party or creative children's party. AppetizersToGo.com can be found on the web at www.Appetizerstogo.com or by calling 1-800-757-0058.