By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host Published Jan 14, 2021 at 2:01 PM

A partnership between Fein Brothers, the restaurant supply dealer at 2023 N. Doctor M.L.K. Jr. Dr., and Outpost Natural Foods means easy access to a variety of kitchen supplies at two of Outpost’s four locations.

Customers at both the Bay View and Mequon Outpost locations will now have access to a variety of everyday kitchen items, pizza accessories, baking and bar supplies. Outpost has been a long-time Fein Brothers commercial customer using the firm’s kitchen design services and purchasing smallwares for its own food prep operations.

“It was a partnership born out of the pandemic,” says Lisa Malmarowski, director of Brand & Store Development for Outpost. “With people spending more time in their kitchens cooking at home, we approached Fein Brothers with the idea to offer customers a quick, convenient and one-stop shopping opportunity to buy the kitchen supplies they need while supporting not one, but two local business.”

The Outpost partnership marks the first time that Fein Brothers has partnered with an outside retailer to sell its products. It also marks the continuation of a series of Outpost partnerships with farms and businesses that have been impacted by the pandemic, whether due to closures or loss of business.

It also means a new opportunity for shoppers to support local.

“We’re both local companies with a connection to our neighborhood and customers,” says Todd Minkin, president of Fein Brothers. “To showcase our products at Outpost where customers can buy quality items from another local business while they shop for groceries just seems like a perfect fit.  And hopefully the Outpost customer will come to Fein Brothers to find more products for their home kitchen or restaurant.”

Despite the pandemic’s effect on restaurants, Fein Brothers, is seeing new or increased sales in sanitation, employee care and take-out and delivery supplies. To assist its restaurant customers that have transitioned to increased take-out and delivery services, Fein Brothers has also loaned thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment to those businesses. 

“The pandemic has forced all of us to find creative solutions to operate during these times,” says Minkin. “When we and business leaders like Outpost invest in our customers and our suppliers’ success, we’re also investing in our own success. Because their livelihood is our livelihood.”

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host

Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.