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BD Provisions Roasts Own Coffee Beans, Offers Specialty Foods

Severna Park Voice

Posted Friday, August 11, 2023 11:07 am

By Sharon Mager

BD Provisions, located at 844 Ritchie Highway in Severna Park, offers hundreds of specialty bulk items and on-site coffee roasting.

It’s the latter item that makes BD Provisions unique in the area.

“We’re the only business in Anne Arundel County that has their own roaster and sells coffee,” said Philip Peters, who co-owns the store with Debra Saltz.

On Saturday mornings, Peters roasts various imported coffee beans.

“We have nine different roasts and 13 different coffees,” Peters said.

Peters and Nyla Everett, an assistant manager at BD Provisions, funneled beans into the roaster as Peters pointed out the flame inside and the port to watch the beans rotating. Depending on the roast, they’re done in about 15 minutes. The machine gives off a whistle — somewhere between a teapot and train — alerting shoppers to the opportunity to watch coffee beans tumble down the shoot.

BD Provisions, which is more spacious than the exterior of the business would suggest, offers more than 80 spices, more than 40 tea selections, health and wellness items, nuts, peanut butter machines, pet supplies, oils and vinegars, local raw honey, local fresh eggs and maple syrups.

“We have 240 bins on the floor that have everything from flours, sugars, pasta, dried fruit, trail mixes, chocolates, cookies — you name it,” said Peters, noting there’s also a gluten-free area.

Customers will also find hearty soup mixes with recipes on a QR code. And there are libation mixes.

“If someone you know likes Old Fashioneds, add a fifth of bourbon, wait four or five hours and let the sugars dissolve.”

Peters emphasized that there is no waste at BD.

“Here, everything is sold by weight, so you can buy as much or as little as you want,” Peters said.

There are compostable bags throughout and a jar exchange program. A 64-ounce jar, the largest, is $5. Peters explained that customers buy the jars, fill them, take them home and return them clean to reuse, or bring them back dirty and exchange them for clean ones.

On the right side of the store, visitors can sample various flavors of vinegar and olive oils.

Max Dustin, a senior at Severna Park High School who serves as a sales associate at BD Provisions, demonstrated how to taste and fill decorative jars with vinegar and olive oils. Dustin was offering suggestions of different olive oils, such as the blood orange oil, and vinegars, such as the Cask 10 vinegar, aged 10 years in Moderna, Italy.

Saltz brings specialty bread she buys from the local farmers market for customers to sample the vinegar and oils on most Saturdays.

It was a New England road-trip tradition that inspired Saltz and Peters.

Saltz and her partner, Matthew, would travel to Saltz’s home in Maine with Peters and his wife, Melinda. Saltz and Melinda were longtime friends who bonded after running marathons in all 50 states. On the way to and from Maine, they always stopped at a BD Provisions store in Connecticut, owned by their friends, to stock up. They would stop again on the way home.

The couples were wishing that there was a BD Provisions near their homes in Maryland, and then the idea hit. Why not bring one to Severna Park? Peters was seeking to transition out of the construction business and Saltz, a criminal trial lawyer by day, was looking ahead to a future transition.

Now, Peters oversees sales and engages customers.

“Phil is in his element,” exclaimed Hans Ruppenthal, a colleague from Peters’ previous business, during a visit to BD Provisions.

Saltz, who oversees the administration, staffing and scheduling agrees, adding that Peters is a “natural.”

The owners are both looking forward to the holidays with simmer pots of clover and other spices and gift baskets.

“We’re happy,” Saltz said.

Barrels predominate as BD Provisions provides shoppers with bulk buy and organic options

See full article here: Barrels predominate as BD Provisions provides shoppers with bulk buy and organic options – sharonleestable.com

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

April 20, 2023

The day professional photographer David Blecman wandered into Severna Park’s newest store, BD Provisions at 844 Ritchie Highway, the sight of 200 plus barrels of organic food products astounded him. The abundance spread out before him inspired him to snap a few images. His is the opening photograph.

I was equally impressed when I visited the business Monday. My own camera never stopped clicking from the moment I arrived till the end of an informative tour I was given by owners Debra Saltz and Phil Peters.

Not since Good Life Organic Market closed have Severna Park residents been able to buy bulk foods locally and many look forward to visiting BD Provisions.

Saltz and Peters are franchisees for Connecticut-based BD Provisions – a happy situation that came about over the last few years.

“I knew the founders of the business since I went on a study-abroad in college with one of them,” Saltz said. “My husband and I would stop by BD Provisions’ main store in Newtown, Connecticut on the way to and from our home in Maine. We soon started bringing our friends, Phil and his wife, along on the trips. They loved the store as much as we did.”

By then, BD Provisions had opened a second store – a franchise – in New Milford. The friends really liked the store’s business model of providing bulk buy products that are mostly organic.

“Reasoning that we could do the same thing, Phil and I became the first out-of-state franchisees. We are the third BD Provisions store,” said Saltz.

With 240 dry bulk food items to choose from, not including oils, vinegars, teas and coffees, it was hard to know where to start our impromptu tour. The partners chose the first section of barrels we came to and opened the lids of several barrels filled to the brim with 16 varieties of competitively priced nuts.

Partners Debra Saltz and Phil Peters were welcoming. They said they are always willing to lend a hand when time permits though customers are free to help themselves. The partners are seen here introducing a customer to the wide range of nuts they carry including the scoop of pecans Debra is holding. Photo by Sharon Lee Tegler

There were regular and honey-roasted peanuts, natural roasted and salted pistachios, walnuts, pecans, and Marcona almonds as well as their own blend of Virginia peanuts with a Chesapeake spice blend.

We next approached two whole sections of candy and snacks. There were chocolates – really different things people don’t usually see like Buckeyes, various kinds of clusters like Peanut Chocolate Pretzel Clusters, Pecan Caramel Patties, and Sea Salt candies – plus dried fruits, energy bites, and snacks. All were competitively priced.

Four rows of ten barrels each are dedicated to candy and snacks and is an extremely popular part of the store. Photo by Sharon Lee Tegler

According to Saltz and Peters, snack mixes like Pineapple Habanero Crunch and 19th Hole Golf Mix are especially popular.

The sweet/spicy Pineapple Habanero Crunch mix seen above is greatly in demand with customers seeking snacks.

Heading past the Candy and Snacks section, we ran into store manager Corinne Harris who was arranging a display of nutrition-dense CBD dog treats alongside glass containers of bites and chews with tongs so customers could help themselves.

Store manager Corinne Harris said customers had already heard about the store’s line of nutritious and calming CBD dog treats and came in looking for them. Photo by Sharon Lee Tegler

We moved past Harris toward a wall of metal containers filled with blended olive oils and vinegars that shoppers are invited to taste before buying.

Debra Saltz drawing a sample of an organic basil-infused olive oil. Photo by Sharon Lee Tegler

We sampled a Blood Orange infused olive oil that was pleasantly light and citrusy and a Basil infused olive oil which was more robust. On the upper shelf were flavor-infused vinegars. We sampled a flavorful Pear Champagne Vinegar that somehow managed to have a fizz similar to the fizz in a glass of champagne. We were equally pleased with the Cranberry Balsamic Vinegar.

“Once they’ve tasted our vinegars or oils, shoppers almost always buy a bottle. The bottles come in three different sizes,” Saltz said.

We wandered by displays of three kinds of maple syrup, Eastern Shore honey, bourban flavored honey and an elderberry syrup that was attractively packaged with deep blue elderberries. There were drinks from eco-friendly Wild Bay Beverages in Baltimore too.

Peters, who’d temporarily left us to wait on a customer, popped up behind a display of products from local artists and gift baskets on the checkout counter.

Phil Peters, behind the checkout counter, said customers can buy one of the assembled gift baskets filled with products or can buy a basket separately and fill it with whatever they wish. Photo by Sharon Lee Tegler.

There were also gift boxes with prepackaged mixes like those seen here that can easily be shipped.

Gift boxes that may be shipped include a “Baker’sDelight” box with prepackaged cake, cookie and brownie mixes and a Breakfast In Bed box with prepackaged pancake, muffin and scone mixes plus Midnight Joe Coffee. Photos by Sharon Lee Tegler

There were lots of gluten-free grains and flours for baking plus pre-made mixes and sugar-free sweets. Photos by Sharon Lee Tegler

A Gluten Free section included barrels of grains like millet, buckwheat, rice, farrow and quinoa along with flours and pastas. Sugar-free options included a Milk Chocolate Almond Bark we tasted that was as good as or better than any made with sugar.

Two sections of barrels were devoted to pastas, cereals, oats, granolas, flours and other ingredients for baking including chocolate, cinnamon and other kinds of chips. There were time-saving premade baking mixtures for items like buttermilk pancakes and mixes for tasty party dips.

A stand-alone shelving unit contained pre-made items perfect for gifting. The top shelf included mixes for Hearty Lentil Soup, Vegan Chili, Vindaloo and Mixed Beans. The second shelf featured Rice Krispie Treats in varied flavors. The third shelf boasted hot beverage mixes like Chai Latte Concentrate and Cocoa while the bottom shelf held pre-measured ingredients for Blood Orange or Lemon Lime-flavored cocktails.

The far wall was divided into two sections. The first held a selection of 80 herbs and spices including some that are hard to find. There were also specially blended spice rubs. Shoppers can buy as much or little as they wish.

Both Peters and Saltz tout the fact that customers are able to purchase their products by the spoonful, ounce or pound – a strong selling point.

“If you only need a teaspoon of an ingredient for a recipe, you can buy a tablespoon of it rather than buying a whole bottle that would merely go to waste,” Phil said.

The second section of the wall contained a wide selection of teas and tea accessories that was equally impressive. The fragrances escaping from any one 40 glass tea jars were deep and delightful.

There was quite a collection of teas and tea accessories. Photo by Sharon Lee Tegler

Many of the world’s classic teas like Assam Black, Ceylon, Earl Grey, English Breakfast were represented but there were also blended teas like Citrus Ginger, Berry and Hot Cinnamon Spice.

There was so much more to see including health and beauty products. However, Saltz and Peters saved the best things for last – a coffee roaster and bags and barrels of coffee beans from around the world. BD Provision stores are noted for their on-site coffee roasting.

Like the teas, the aromas of the different coffee beans were unique and amazing. Coffee roasting is Peters specialty. Standing by the 14-pound roaster, he scooped up some coffee beans in their raw state from a burlap sack. They were pure white. Then, for comparison, he held a scoop of beans he’d already roasted that were dark in color. They were the store’s darkest roast called India Monsoon.

Standing by the coffee roaster, Phil Peters held a scoop of Indian Monsoon coffee beans in their raw state. For comparison he held up a scoop of the same beans that had been roasted and transformed to the shop’s darkest roast. Behind the barrels were bags of freshly ground coffees. Photos by Sharon Lee Tegler

For now, the Severna Park store is roasting only on Saturdays (though the Connecticut stores roast three times a week.) Customers tell Saltz and Peters that the air outside the shop smells heavenly whenever they are roasting. The partners hope to make wholesale arrangements with area businesses to supply them coffee, thereby increasing their volume of sales and number of roasting days.

“We’ll generally roast 11 pounds of beans at a time which yields us about 10 pounds,” Peters said. “We use different beans for different blends. We currently have nine different roasts, and we have two flavored coffees – a white mocha and a toasted coconut. Our most popular in-house blend is Midnight Joe – a combination of Columbian, Brazilian and Indian Monsoon beans.”

Peters grinds various blends of coffee each morning and through the day as needed. He also sells quite a few cups of coffee.

Though open only ten days at the time of our visit, both partners said business has been brisk, with Fridays good and Saturdays packed. The shop’s location is advantageous with nearby businesses like Lisa’s Cakepops, American Home Brew, and Severna Park Lanes Bowling that draw well.

BD Provisions is looking to form wholesale partnerships with area restaurateurs or chefs and with other businesses that are eco-friendly and sustainable. They also plan to host classes, events and networking opportunities. A grand opening and ribbon cutting will be held soon by the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber with a Jing Ying Institute Lion Dance. For information visit BD Provisions- zero waste bulk food store or follow them on Facebook at BD Provisions Severna Park | Facebook.

The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. (Jing Ying currently offers a Homeschool Kung Fu Class and again brings Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center.)

and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.

New Taste Awaits You- BD Provisions

New Taste Discovery Awaits You - BD Provisions

New Taste Discovery Awaits You - BD Provisions (subkit.com)

6 days ago by Team Subkit ∙ 3 min read

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with DiPippa Tara, Co-Founder of BD Provisions, located in Westport, CT, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

BD Provisions is a zero and low-waste bulk food store and coffee roasting franchise that was started in 2018. We sell hundreds of products in bulk that customers can pay for by the pound and take home in eco-friendly containers. Our store is an experience like none other, and it's even been called the "Disneyland of Food."

Our customers are people who value quality and freshness in their foods and also love that they can shop more sustainably by buying exactly the amount they need and taking everything home in glass jars or recyclable/compostable packages.

Tell us about yourself

I have over 20 years of experience in Marketing, with a focus on New Product Development. I have worked for huge global brands in the food and beverage as well as health and beauty industries, but I always had an internal fire to start something of my own.

BD, stands for our last names, Boccuzzi and DiPippa, and the business was founded after the Boccuzzi’s told us about this cool bulk store they saw on vacation. They said how the customers loved the store, but when we were talking about how everything was taken home in plastic containers, we felt that the wave of the future would be more sustainable shops like the zero-waste and low-waste bulk food stores we had been reading about in Europe. So, we decided we would be one of the first people to open a sustainable bulk store in the US!

In order to differentiate ourselves and elevate the shopping experience, we added a coffee roaster right in the front of our stores so customers could watch their beans being roasted and take them home still warm out of the oven. Then we added artisanal olive oils and vinegars, maple syrup and local honey on tap, and many other unique and special touches that make BD Provisions a store like none other.

Feeling the consumer response motivates me daily to keep growing the business. Watching a customer's eyes widen the first time they come into the store is such an amazing experience because you know they have never seen anything like it before.

Also, our customers are so amazing that they love talking about us and sharing their experiences on social media. As the social media manager for the franchise, I feel the love every time I go online, which is incredibly rewarding.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Our biggest accomplishment as a business owner was when we signed our first franchisee. We had designed our concept as a franchise from its inception, but there was such a sense of pride amongst the four cofounders of having someone love our concept so much that they were willing to make BD Provisions a part of their life and open their own store-in the middle of Covid!

We are now opening our second franchised location this fall, with many more potential franchisees inquiring about opening locations in their hometowns across America.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Dealing with the unexpected curveballs thrown at you as a business owner is the hardest part. When COVID hit, we had to completely pivot how we operated and fight for our business to stay alive. We closed the store to in-store shopping and had to shift to a curbside pickup model, which was extremely complex and time-consuming given the bulk nature of our store.

We made it through because our amazing employees rolled up their sleeves and rose to the challenge, and our customers rallied around us and supported us through a very difficult time.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Make sure you have a clear plan for growth where everyone is aligned with the end goal.

  2. Understand the strengths and weaknesses of everyone on your team and align tasks accordingly.

  3. Don't be afraid to jump in. Starting a business takes a leap of faith! You may not know everything you need to know at the start, but surround yourself with smart people and figure things out as you go.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.bdprovisions.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bdprovisionsnewtown/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bdprovisions/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bd-provisions/

An Award-Winning, Sustainable Grocery Store, BD Provisions Is A Quaint Shop In Connecticut You Must Visit

Source: Only In Your State, Posted in Connecticut,

Feb 4, 2021

Mary Magoch

Original article can be found here: BD Provisions Is An Award Winning Grocery Store In CT You Must Visit (onlyinyourstate.com)

Sustainability and freshness aren’t modern inventions. The more we move forward into the future, the more we are aware of our need to get back to basics. This is especially true when it comes to the food we put onto our tables. BD Provisions is an award-winning grocery store that brings simplicity to your weekly grocery list while helping you get back to the basics of good food and nutrition without waste.

We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life. While we continue to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, please take proper precautions or add them to your bucket list to see at a later date. If you know of a local business that could use some extra support during these times, please nominate them here: onlyinyourstate.com/nominate

Stepping into a BD Provisions store is like going back in time to a dry goods store, but with a modern twist.

Owners John and Cynthia Boccuzzi and Tony and Tara DiPippas were friends who discussed starting a business together. While the Boccuzzis were on vacation they fell in love with the idea of starting up a bulk food store. Only they wanted to do something a little different by eliminating the standard plastic waste.

This gourmet grocery store has all the essentials and luxuries you need to stock up your pantry. The goal was not only to making the store sustainable and easily accessible, but also about keeping prices affordable for families of all sizes.

The store offers a large variety of pantry items that include beans, candy, baking items, oils, teas, spices, and even natural beauty products.

One of the first scents you will notice when you walk into the store is the freshly roasted coffee. That's because the coffee beans are roasted right in the shop. Watch your beans get roasted, then enjoy your own fresh cup or bring your warm beans home with you. Now, that's freshness at its best!

New items and ideas are popping up all the time at BD Provisions. Each week you can be sure to find new items and new treats. Every visit is like finding new gifts on Christmas morning.

BP Provisions has three incredible locations you can check out for yourself in Newtown, Fairfield, and New Milford. Take a look at this video for a sample tour.