Gourmet Guru to invest $4.9 million. On May 13, 2008, the New York City Industrial Development Agency awarded public subsidies to Gourmet Guru, a ten-year-old food-related company located at 660 Casanova Street, between Spofford and Randall Avenues, in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx.

Gourmet Guru specializes in the wholesale distribution of organic and specialty foods, development and manufacturing of branded food products, and marketing and brokerage services. The company began its operations in a 1,000-square-foot facility in Hunts Point, but was looking to expand and even considered moving its headquarters to New Jersey to save costs.

IDA awarded the company $123,481 in mortgage recording tax benefits, $54,438 in State and City tax exemptions, $144,505 in a City Land Tax Abatement, and $1,761,854 in City Building Tax Stabilization relief. With the financial assistance from IDA, Gourmet Guru will purchase and renovate a 27,000-squarefoot facility in Hunts Point, expanding the 39-person firm by an additional 26 jobs.

IDA’s announcement comes on the heels of a City-sponsored application to rezone a portion of Hunts Point to encourage food-related businesses alongside existing developments such as the Fulton Fish Market and the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center. 5 CityLand 9 (Feb. 15, 2008), 5 CityLand 57 (May 15, 2008).

IDA: Board of Directors Meeting Press Release (May 13, 2008); Notice of Public Hearing (Apr. 28, 2008).