NetCost Market opened its first Long Island location Dec. 16 in Hewlett.
The local grocery store, located at 1296 Broadway, features a wide assortment of American goods, as well as Eastern European delicacies like Zapekanka, Syrniki, Cheburek, Heart and Tongue. It also sells items from Belgian chocolates and Baltic spreads, to fresh caviar and varieties of smoked fish.
“I’ve always believed that two things unite people in culture: language and the food that we eat,” Chief Executive Officer Eduard Shnayder said. “We try to bring traditions to people’s homes and the neighborhoods.”
Part of supporting traditions also involves providing alternative healthy options for meals, including healthier condiments like mayonnaise, and meat selections like rabbit legs and duck breast.
“Customers are not as conservative as they were 30 years ago,” Shnayder said in reference to providing alternatives to major brands. “Health is important.”
In an effort to determine community need, NetCost conducted a demographic study. They mapped out the United States to find pockets of Eastern European origins. One of the company’s priorities will be getting to know the desires of the community, and becoming a family-friendly store.
“We want to be a significant part of the community,” Vice President of Marketing Yana Mosina said. “We have strong roots in European cuisine, which makes us a match for what we can offer your community and your needs.”
Despite becoming neighbors with Trader Joe’s, Shnayder explained that the competition would be about self-improvement, not necessarily about being better than its counterpart.
“We love the competition, but we focus on what we do and how to follow the signs of demand,” he said. “We want to get better every day and be better than us, not somebody else.”
Part of that daily improvement requires the assembly of a team:
Angelina Khristichenko, the executive vice president for NetCost, oversees the construction of the 40-person staff at the Hewlett location, as well as others.
“My job starts with the empty box.” She said. “I need to fill it by finding people passionate about food, and give them the training to be successful while upholding the values of our company.”
Trainees undergo comprehensive training through both hands-on experience and virtual interactions geared toward customer service and understanding their roles.
NetCost’s culture values treating employees like family, fostering a positive work environment to maintain high employee morale and satisfaction.
“We try to build a team and surround them with like-minded people who want to work,” Khristichenko said.
Shnayder explained that NetCost’s long-term goal is to provide families with a diverse local grocery experience.
“Our store is a discovery. You are traveling the world in 14,000 square feet,” Shnayder claimed. “We want to be good, provide quality service, and a great experience for our customers. That’s important to us.”
