Specialty Food Pioneer Peter Coe Passes

Peter Coe, founder of Taste Unlimited

Specialty food pioneer Peter Coe, founder of the Taste Unlimited chain of gourmet markets in the Hampton Bay region of Virginia, died on June 29, after a weeks-long bout with cancer. Coe opened the first Taste Unlimited in 1973, when specialty food stores were found only in major cities. There, he filled his shelves with fine wines and specialty food pantry items and cheeses, later adding fresh-baked bread and an upscale menu of takeout soups, sandwiches and salads. The store became known for offering distinctive products such as fresh parmesan, homemade peanut butters and ethnic delicacies, which couldn’t be found elsewhere at the time.

Today, Taste Unlimited has six locations throughout Virginia, and Coe is remembered in the specialty food industry as a leader and ambassador for specialty foods. He worked to bring Virginia-made foods beyond the state borders to markets around the world, helping some small producers who worked out of their homes become flourishing businesses. Coe helped shape the specialty food world, for retailers and producers alike, into the successful industry enjoyed by consumers today. —Eva Meszaros

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