AKO: Post Pesach 2025 Shopping Info

 AKO Association of Kashrus Organizations post pesach 5785 list of stores for shopping and purchasing chometz products

 Introduction:

The following memo provides important information about חמץ שעבר עליו הפסח  at various establishments and is the 

culmination of several months of research by AKO’s Post Pesach Committee.

In general, it is difficult to make definitive statements about the acceptability of purchasing chametz from specific stores after 

Pesach due to practical and halachic ambiguities. Of course, any certified retail location falls under the responsibility of its 

hashgacha, and they should be contacted for details.

First, it is not easy to establish Jewish or non-Jewish ownership. Nonetheless, in this paper we have assumed that publicly traded companies may be treated as non-Jewish entities since the majority of potential stockholders are not Jewish.

Secondly, even if a product is sold in a non-Jewish store, it may be הפסח עליו שעבר חמץ if the distributor is Jewish. Determining the identity of the distributor is a formidable task because this information is proprietary and is not readily available.

Additionally, some chain stores will use different distributors (and sometimes multiple distributors) based on location, so each 

store would need to be researched individually. Regarding Target, we recommend that each Rav visit their local Target store and speak with the grocery merchandising manager to determine the distributor used for each department (e.g., produce, dairy, frozen, shelf stable items).

Thirdly, while chametz that is delivered after Pesach to a Jewish establishment is not הפסח עליו שעבר חמץ, it is difficult to determine the arrival date of any given product, as the turnaround time is generally unknown. Nonetheless, some Poskim maintain that if there is a safek about when product was delivered, the principle of  ספק דרבנן לקולא   applies, while others hold that ספק דרבנן לקולא  is not applicable in this situation for various reasons.

Lastly, some Jewish companies participate in a mechiras chametz while continuing to operate during Pesach. There are divergent opinions among Poskim about the validity of a sale by a company that remains operational during Pesach. 

Furthermore, the sale does not cover chametz acquired during Pesach because one cannot sell a  דבר שלא בא לעולם . To address these concerns, some Poskim recommend selling the entire company rather than just the chametz. However, there is also a dispute whether this approach is acceptable.

Our goal is not to recommend buying or avoiding chametz from any particular establishment. Additionally, it is beyond the 

scope of our mission to investigate the suitability of any particular mechirah. Rather, each kashrus organization or Rav must 

formulate their own set of standards and guidelines regarding the purchase of chametz. Once that is done, this memo will provide helpful information in determining which stores fall into acceptable or not acceptable categories for post-Pesach chametz purchases.

Finally, in our fast-paced evolving economy, consumers should remember to pause automatic subscriptions through Amazon 

(Subscribe & Save), Instacart (Auto Order) etc. of chametz products.

Categories of Establishments

Below are seven general categories of establishments with lists of stores that fall into each specific category.

A. Non-Jewish Ownership 

Publicly traded company or non-Jewish ownership, and is not known to use a Jewish distributor

Unequivocally acceptable to purchase chametz at these locations after Pesach

Acme

Albertson’s

Aldi

BJ’s Wholesale Club

Costco

CVS

Dollar General

Dollar Tree

Duane Reade

Hannaford

Jewel-Osco

Kmart

Lidl

Pavilions

Publix

Randall’s

Rite Aid

Safeway

Sam’s Club

Shaw’s

Starbucks (Corporate)

Star Markets

Stop and Shop

Target – specific locations

Tom Thumb

Total Wine

Trader Joes

Vons

Walgreens

Walmart

Wawa

Wegmans

Whole Foods

B. May Use Jewish Distributor

Publicly traded company or non-Jewish ownership

May use a Jewish distributor who sells their shares (not only a mechirah on their chametz) before Pesach but continues 

to operate on Pesach

D’Agostino Markets

Food Emporium

Foodway Supermarket

Gristedes Foods

Key Food

Kroger

Target – specific locations (details in 

introduction)

Winn Dixie

C. Franchised Stores

Stores are individually owned and can be assumed to be owned by Non-Jews unless otherwise known

• 7-Eleven, Starbucks (Kiosks), Dunkin Donuts

• Shoprite.......... Many locations are owned by Non-Jews Additionally, see discussion below about Wakefern which supplies all ShopRite stores.

D. Jewish Owned Company – Type 1

Traditional mechiras chametz executed, but store is open on Pesach

Price Chopper

E. Jewish Owned Company – Type 2

Mechiras chametz executed that includes selling of the operating business, but store is open on Pesach

• gopuff.com

• Giant Eagle

• Restaurant Depot/Jetro

• Shoprite.......... Some stores are Jewish owned - the following Jewish owned locations which are located in frum 

neighborhoods had a mechirah. Additionally, see discussion below about Wakefern which supplies all ShopRite stores.

ShopRite of Paramus

24 Route 4 East & Forest Ave.

Paramus, NJ 07652

ShopRite of Englewood

40 Nathaniel Place

Englewood, NJ 07631

ShopRite of Avenue I

1080 McDonald Ave.

Brooklyn, NY 11230

ShopRite of Gateway Center

590 Gateway Drive

Brooklyn, NY 11239

F. Partial Jewish Ownership

Store and distributor are partially owned by Jews (i.e., less than 50%) and business operates on Pesach

The Jewish owners sell their shares (not only a mechirah of the chametz) to a non-Jew before Pesach

Since the majority of the company is owned by non-Jews, the Zecher Yitzchok (#8) and Chemed Moshe (quoted by Mishna Berurah, 

Sha’ar HaTziun 448:4) hold that  חמץ שעבר עליו הפסח  is batel b’rov if there is a majority of non-Jewish ownership, though Sha’ar 

HaTziun and others question this position.

• Wakefern ....... which supplies all ShopRite stores Wakefern Food Corporation is a cooperative - which is owned by the ShopRite store owners, some of whom are 

Jewish - and arranges transfer of Jewish ownership to non-Jewish partners.

G. Online Distributors

Online merchants, such as Amazon, Sam's Club, Target.com and Walmart.com, are not Jewish-owned, but often serve as 

distributors for other businesses, some of whom are Jewish owned. The name of the supplier is sometimes posted on the 

website and consumers should make a reasonable effort to determine if the supplier is Jewish before purchasing chametz after Pesach.