Western Beef begins construction in East New York for new Western Beef Market location
Western Beef launches pilot with Instacart for online grocery delivery in Florida, and the tri-state area, including every borough in New York City
On Thursday, April 4th, Western Beef launched a six month pilot with leading grocery eCommerce service provider Instacart. The pilot will include most of Western Beef’s stores which will include Florida, and the tri-state area, which will cover every borough in New York City. The new service will provide online grocery deliveries from Western Beef store locations. The pilot will be the biggest of its kind for Western Beef which operates in locations where this sort of service is very limited.
A spokesperson from Western Beef had this to say about the launch:
“We are incredibly excited as we are optimistic over the launch of this pilot. Instacart is the market leader in their space and we believe they will bring a much needed service to the communities that we serve as well as bring new jobs.”
The pilot will last six months. For more information on which stores, media, or other inquires, please direct your questions to info@westernbeef.com,
Western Beef expands self-checkout at Prospect Avenue location in the Bronx
Western Beef announced on Friday, March 1st, that they were expanding their roll out of self-checkout technology from Toshiba Global Commerce Services at their Prospect Avenue location in the Bronx. The move comes off a wave of press about the company announcing their commitment to automated technologies to enhance customer experience while not cutting jobs.
A manager at Western Beef had this to say about the new technology:
“It’s really just awesome. The customers are happy and the employees are able to contribute in other areas that also contribute to the overall customer experience. It’s a win-win for everyone and it also is a major win for me as a manager.”
The company expects to announce new store locations in the short-term.
Western Beef set to expand self-checkout
Metropolitan New York grocer Western Beef is bringing self-checkout to more stores.
Following a successful pilot at two locations in New York City, the supermarket chain plans to roll out 20 Toshiba self-service systems at five other stores across New York this year, according to Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions.
The two stores have deployed four of Toshiba’s Self Checkout System 6 units and four of its Xsellrate self-service kiosks. Serving as the stores’ express lanes, the System 6 units are helping customers complete their shopping trips faster by providing them with another checkout option, Toshiba said.
Now, about 45% of the Western Beef stores’ customers are using self-checkout to make their purchases.
“The introduction of Toshiba’s interactive self-checkout lanes and self-service kiosks at Western Beef has reduced customer wait times, resulting in a significantly improved shopping experience for our patrons,” Thierry Sarr, chief technology officer at Ridgewood, N.Y.-based Western Beef, said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Xsellrate kiosks have lifted customer satisfaction and sharpened operational efficiency at the Western Beef test stores, Toshiba reported. The interactive digital units enable customers to place deli orders, resume shopping and then receive a text message alerting them that their order is ready for pickup.
Through the Xsellrate kiosks, Western Beef customers also can locate other groceries, check out the latest store promotions and have access to relevant coupons based on past purchases. A processing station for the kiosk allows store staff to complete a purchase, while a status display updates shoppers on their progress of their order.
“Toshiba’s solutions are increasing customer engagement, while also boosting staff productivity,” Sarr added.
Systems integrators from Toshiba business partner STCR, which facilitated the agreement and technology implementation at Western Beef, are slated to help deploy self-service units at other Western Beef locations and train store personnel to optimize the systems.
“We are thrilled the adoption of our self-service systems is producing definitive results for Western Beef,” stated Bill Campbell, vice president and head of the Americas for Research Triangle Park, N.C.-based Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions. “Beyond offering more intuitive and frictionless transactions, our retail solutions are also enhancing operational efficiency, while freeing store staff to provide customers with a better shopping experience. This trend continues to transform the industry at a rapid pace.”
Western Beef operates 26 high-volume, warehouse-style supermarkets operating in New York, New Jersey and Florida. The retailer also has developed a smaller format called Western Beef Market, which offers a bigger selection of fresh products in a farmers’ market-style setting. In addition, the Western Beef Direct service provides online and mobile grocery shopping and delivery.
The chain is pursuing an aggressive expansion. Its website lists eight new stores in the pipeline for 2019 and 2020 in New York City and four stores remodels due for completion this year, including two in New York City, one in Long Island (N.Y.) and one in Boca Raton, Fla.
Western Beef donate hundreds of turkeys to Bronx communities with help of Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
The Castellana Foundation, Cactus Holdings, subsidiary Western Beef, and Peter Castellana III on behalf of the Castellana family is proud to announce the donation of 350 turkeys to various communities of the Bronx with help of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. This past holiday season, The Castellana Foundation donated thousands of turkeys in the five boroughs. This was also not the first time that The Castellana Foundation has worked with the Borough President in donating turkeys to the communities in need of the Bronx. 
The Bronx is a wonderful borough where Western Beef has many stores. Western Beef is committed to being a positive force for good in the communities we serve. By servicing with local officials and community leaders, we can do our part in the lives of so many by working together and using each other’s strengths.
Western Beef’s charity, The Castellana Foundation, donates 100 turkeys to Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens
The Catellana Foundation, Cactus Holdings, Western Beef, and Peter Castellana III on behalf of the Castellana Foundation is proud to support Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens in their efforts to feed families in need for the 2018 winter holidays. The Castellana Foundation donated 100 turkeys this year alone.
Below is a message the President & CEO of Catholic Charities, Monsignor Alfred P. LoPinto:
The Castellana Foundation is proud to support and stand with Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens in effort to support families within the communities we operate within as a company. For more information on the work Catholic Charities does, please visit their website.
Western Beef supports Calvary Baptist Church of Jamaica, Queens
The Castellana Foundation, Cactus Holdings, subsidiary Western Beef, and Peter Castellana III on behalf of the Castellana family proudly supports Calvary Baptist Church of Jamaica, Queens. The Castellana Foundation supported Calvary Baptist Church’s recent Annual Community Carnival which is a day of games, fun and excitement for children from single parent homes.
Here is a brief overview of the incredible history of Calvary Baptist Church:
Calvary Baptist Church of Jamaica (Queens), New York, Inc. was organized in 1929. During its history, it has been served by ten pastors; most notable among them is the late, Rev. Dr. Walter Stockholm Pinn. During Dr. Pinn’s leadership, the present 30,000 square feet, 1,500-seat facility was erected and the membership grew to more than 3,000. Dr. Pinn founded the Calvary Credit Union which held assets exceeding two million dollars. During its existence, the Calvary Credit Union was the largest church-owned institution of its kind in New York State.
In 1976 Rev. James C. Kelly was called to the pastorate of Calvary Baptist Church. He served as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church from 1976 to 1988.
Pastor Hall came to Calvary in 1990 bringing a vision of community involvement to the church and has led the church through significant development. In 1992, under the leadership of Rev. Victor T. Hall, Sr., Calvary built a 100-apartment, senior citizens’ housing complex, a complex that is fully operational with ten apartments reserved for the handicapped and a waiting list of hundreds.
In 1993, the Imani Youth Ministry began which has served as a beacon of hope and launch pad for thousands of New York area youth. In 1994, the Angelic Children’s Ministry began, training children to be followers of Christ. Calvary’s outreach into the community runs very deep.
The church runs a food pantry, which serves hundreds of New Yorkers every week, a prison ministry that reaches into the lives of the incarcerated and their families, a grandparents’ ministry that serves the needs of grandparents, and supports those raising their grandchildren, a financial growth ministry, to strengthen family financial management, and many other support groups.
Calvary opened its doors to the community for events from weddings and funerals, to political candidate forums and support for community causes to holy hip hop concerts and its annual Harvest Party, which draws hundreds of children from throughout Queens for a safe night on Halloween.
Presently, the Calvary Church has embarked upon a $6 million renovation and extension project and has just completed erecting a grandparents’ housing complex which will become the home to low-income grandparents who have legal custody of their grandchildren. Today, Calvary continues to be a leading church in the Southeast Queens community.
Calvary is a member of the American Baptist Churches, U.S.A. and the Progressive National Baptist Convention. It consistently supports financially: The NAACP, The UNCF, The Urban League, Queens Citizens’ Organization, Queens Federation of Churches, Southeast Queens Clergy for Community Empowerment, the Religious Action Network and other religious and civic organizations. Calvary is a Charter supporter of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the Washington Mall.
As a leading religious institution in Southeast Queens, the Calvary pulpit has been graced by many speakers of national and world renown: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr., Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Mayor David Dinkins, Vice President Al Gore, Governor Mario Cuomo, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Senator Charles Schumer, NYS Comptroller Carl H. McCall, Mayor W. Wilson Goode (Philadelphia), Roy Wilkins (NAACP), Congressman Floyd Flake, Congressman Charles Rangle, Congressman Gregory Meeks, Manhattan Borough President Percy Sutton, Queens Borough President Claire Schulman, Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer, Public Advocate Mark Greene, Congressman Joseph Addabo, Rev. Ralph Abernathy, Rev. Dr. Calvin O Butts, Rev. Dr. Wyatt T. Walker, Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Dr. Garner C. Taylor, Rev. Dr. Samuel Dewitt Proctor, Rev. Dr. William A. Jones, Jr., Rev. Dr. M. William Howard, Catherine (Count ) Basie, Guy R. Brewer, Hazel Dukes, Gil Noble, Nikki Giovanni, Chaplain Barry Black, Dr. Allan Boesak, Rev. Dr. Lance Watson, Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright, and other religious, political and civic leaders.”
The Castellana Foundation is humbled to work with such a great church and community and proud to support the cause of providing joy to children in need. For more information on Calvary Baptist Church please visit their sites and social media pages”
The Castellana Foundation raises $15,000 with Western Beef customers for Red Cross hurricane relief efforts
The Castellana Foundation, Cactus Holdings, subsidiary Western Beef and Peter Castellana III on behalf of the Castellana family is proud to announce the conclusion of a successful fundraising campaign for the Red Cross‘s hurricane relief efforts. This year, The Castellana Foundation, via Western Beef in collaboration with their customers raised $15,000 for the Red Cross’s hurricane relief efforts. For every dollar raised by Western Beef’s customers, The Castellana Foundation–Western Beef’s charity organization–matched it. The collaboration also crossed into the political sphere by partnering with Senator Joe Addabbo of the 15th district. The accumulation of the fundraiser took place at Western Beef’s 22nd Annual BBQ at their headquarters in Ridgewood, Queens.
Western Beef / Cactus Holdings 22nd Annual Employee Appreciation BBQ from Cactus Holdings on Vimeo.
The even was attended by over 1,000 attendees and dozens of vendors ranging from the United States Marines to Pepsi. During the even, with the a Red Cross team in attendance, with an emergency vehicle on full display, took the stage and informed the crowd of the successful campaign they had conducted. All of the proceeds were donated to the Red Cross and will be used for supporting all the communities affected by the 2017 hurricane cycle, many of which share a connection with the customers of Western Beef.
Western Beef is grateful to have the opportunity to work with the Red Cross on a cause that is so important to our customers and Western Beef. For more information please follow the American Red Cross on their various social media channels, blogs and websites:
Facebook: Facebook.com/redcrossny
Instagram: Instagram.com/redcrossny
Twitter: Twitter.com/redcrossny
Website: redcrossny.org/GNY
Westner Beef’s charity, The Castellana Foundation, supports The Obbayo Children’s Foundation
The Castellana Foundation, Cactus Holdings, subsidiary Western Beef, and Peter Castellana III on behalf of the Castellana family proudly supports The Obbayo Children’s Foundation of Hightstown, NJ. The organization’s main mission is to provide the necessary means for young children in Senegal to remain in school where otherwise economic pressures might lead them to a life of panhandling.
Here is a message from the company’s Co-founder, Thierry Starr, whom also serves as the Chief Technology Officer at Cactus Holdings.
“The story (from the co-founder): Over the past 5 years, I have been sending huge boxes at least twice a year with clothes and dry goods to underprivileged children. I’ve also traveled to Senegal once a year, visiting my family but also trying to figure out how I can make a difference. From the airport to my house, I always had mixed feelings, on one hand I consider myself fortunate because I made it and I am able to visit my family but on the other hand I was heartbroken, seeing the number of young children on the streets begging for food and money. I knew I wanted to help but I did not know how at the time, now I came to the conclusion that organizing a charity is the ANSWER.”
The Castellana Foundation is proud of its involvement with this amazing project, which can provide anything from basic dry good to solar panels. For more information on this charity, please visit their website and learn how you can help.
Western Beef Neighborhoods 