By Kate Day

joe hu/town crier Amy Wright and Elayna Parkhurst, 5, help themselves to a free serving of chocolate cake at Andronico’s Market at Rancho Shopping Center. Andronico’s celebrates their 10th anniversary Saturday with a community barbecue to benefit local schools.

It’s not just intoxicating aromas of fresh produce and flowers but balloons and birthday celebrations that hit unsuspecting shoppers who’ve wandered into Andronico’s Market in the Los Altos Rancho Shopping Center recently. Andronico’s is celebrating 10 years in Los Altos with two weeks of festivities ending Tuesday - and plenty of cake.

Coffee and cake is available 8-10 a.m. through Tuesday and daily contests give shoppers the chance to win prizes such as gift certificates and baskets. Of course, no birthday party would be complete without plenty of balloons for the kids.

Celebrations will culminate with a barbecue 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Proceeds support Loyola Elementary and Mountain View High schools.

Assistant Los Altos store director Michelle Menjivar said Andronico’s staff is key to the store’s longevity. “Most of us are foodies,” she said. “We have a passion for every ingredient and our mix of products is unique.

“Every Andronico’s store is slightly different,” she added. “We cater to each neighborhood.”

“The style of the store hasn’t changed much in the last 10 years, but our product lines have,” said store director Peter Kavanagh. “We’ve responded to the trends in the ways people shop now with more gluten-free and organic products.

‘You might pay a little more, but the quality is so much better,” he said. “People enjoy coming here.”