kitchenware news july 2011

Whether it ’s a summer “staycation” or anevening of “cocooning” in the winter, the bottomline is that people are using their homes forentertaining with family and friends.

A 2009 Technomics report called “POP: PartiesOff Premise” revealed that 40 percent ofconsumers said they were expecting to entertainat home more often during 2010. Whilerestaurants had previously served as the socialvenue for entertaining, now consumers wereswitching to using their homes as the site ofchoice. And even though those surveyed saidthey were likely to source their food fromrestaurants and retail stores to serve at home,they would still need all complementarytabletop, serveware, barware and cookingsupplies to bring the party to fruition.

A new and fascinating way to track what’s instore at the New York International Gift Fair(NYIGF), which is incorporating the GourmetHousewares Show for the first time this year,is to follow events on Twitter (@NYIGF) andFacebook (www.facebook.com/nyigf ).

Social media networking “allows us to extendour customer service orientation. Social mediahas created an additional outlet for us to supportour customers—we can promote exhibitor news,respond to customer inquiries and interact withretailers with greater efficiency, in real-time,”said Cate Salvatore, Communications Directorfor GLM, which produces NYIGF. “It alsopromotes information sharing and communityacross our various constituencies.”

The show, which takes place at the Jacob K.Javits Convention Center Sunday, Aug. 14through Thursday, Aug. 17, has more than 3,000

w w w . k i t c h e n w a r e n e w s . c o m

NYIGF Embraces SocialMedia to PromoteShow, Exhibitors

by Theresa Grant

VOLUME 17, NUMBER 7 JULY 2011

Home EntertainingCalls for theProper Tools

by Joanne Friedrick

Continued on 6

H o u s e w a r e s R e v i e w&KITCHENWARE NEWSS E R V I N G K I T C H E N W A R E , H O U S E W A R E S A N D T A B L E T O P M A R K E T S

MARKET WATCH:HOME ENTERTAINING

SEE PAGE 1

BUYERS GUIDE:GRATERSSEE PAGE 20

SPECIAL FEATURE:NYIGF/GOURMET HOUSEWARES

SEE PAGE 1

INSIDE:BAKEWARE

Continued on Page 8

www.kitchenwarenews.com Kitchenware News & Housewares Review • JULY 2011 3

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6 GUEST COLUMN

10 RETAILER PROFILE

15 PRODUCT REVIEW

20 BUYERS GUIDE

22 AD INDEX

Macy’s Plans New Stores in Chicago, Milwaukeeretailers. The building will undergo asignificant remodeling before re-openingas Macy’s as part of a renovated SouthridgeMall.

Both Macy’s stores will offer a full rangeof housewares and home textiles as well asapparel and accessories for women, menand children. The Gurnee Mills andSouthridge stores are expected to employabout 200 and 160 associates, respectively.

“Chicago and Milwaukee are both veryimportant Macy’s markets where webelieve we have untapped potential forgrowth. With new stores in GurneeMills and Southridge, we can serve alarger number of customers with thelocalized assortments, distinctive fashion,

obvious value and exciting shoppingexperience for which Macy’s is known,”said Ron Klein, Macy’s Chief StoresOfficer. “We look forward to getting toknow the communities and customersserved by these two well-positionedshopping centers.”

Macy’s, with corporate offices inCincinnati and New York, is one of thenation’s premier retailers, with fiscal 2010sales of $25 billion. The company operatesabout 850 department stores in 45 states,the District of Columbia, Guam andPuerto Rico under the names Macy’s andBloomingdale’s, as well as the macys.comand bloomingdales.com websites. Thecompany also operates four Bloomingdale’sOutlet stores.

Macy’s Inc. will open two new Macy’sstores in the Chicago and Milwaukeemarkets in shopping centers beingredeveloped by Simon Property Group,the company announced in late May.

A one-level, 140,000-square foot Macy’sin Gurnee Mills in Gurnee, Ill., willopen in spring 2013. A former CircuitCity store in this center will be razed,with a new Macy’s built in its place aspart of an updating and upgrading ofGurnee Mills.

A two-level, 150,000-square-foot Macy’sin Southridge Mall in Greendale, Wis.,will open in spring 2012. This is a formerYonker’s location that has been subdividedin recent years for various specialty

Kohl’s Extends Relationship With Bobby Flayexpand the Bobby Flay collection,”said Don Brennan, Kohl’s ChiefMerchandising Officer. “The line hasbeen a strong performer in the homecategory and continues to deliver onour commitment to offer world-classbrands at an incredible value anddifferentiate Kohl’s in the marketplace.”

“People stop me all over the country andalways ask for my kitchen secrets outsideof the restaurant, so having a product lineavailable at Kohl’s that I stand behindallows me to share those helpful tips andtechniques with the home cook,” says Flay.

The Bobby Flay collection, which initiallylaunched in 2008, will continue to carry thesame product categories as before but willincrease the volume of merchandise

available under the brand, including avariety of housewares, such as dinnerwareand serveware; flatware; drinkware; kitchengadgets and utensils; grilling tools andcutlery; cookware and bakeware; foodstorage; kitchen textiles and table linens.

A critically acclaimed chef, restaurateur,best-selling cookbook author and Emmyaward-winning TV personality, Flay hasbeen a staple on Food Network for 15years.

Based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., Kohl’sis a value-oriented specialty departmentstore offering moderately priced, exclusiveand national brands in the home goods,apparel, shoes, beauty and accessoriescategories. Kohl’s operates 1,097 storesin 49 states.

Kohl’s Department Stores has renewed itsexclusive Bobby Flay partnership of homeand grill products under a long-termlicense agreement with Bobby Flay. Thecurrent merchandise assortment willexpand to include more product offerings,which will be available in Kohl’s storesnationwide and Kohls.com beginningFebruary 2012.

The renewal of the Bobby Flay partnershipcontinues to build on Kohl’s successfulexclusive and private brand strategy,which accounted for 48 percent oftotal sales in 2010 and has demonstratedstrong, consistent growth over the lastseveral years.

“We are pleased to announce the renewalof our partnership with Bobby Flay and

july 2011contents

AMERICAN FEITIANGlass Vase[tel] 858.675.2000www.aft-c.com

FUSIONBRANDSTastingcradles[tel] 877.279.2002www.fusionbrands.com

PREMIER KITCHEN PRODUCTSSharper Image Ergonomic Grater[tel] 212.279.2466www.wpiny.com

BOELTER BRANDSLicensed Sculpted Mugs[tel] 877.233.7287www.boelterbrands.com

PARRISH’S CAKE DECORATING SUPPLIESMagic Line Tiny-Tier Cake Pans[tel] 310.324.2253www.parrishmagicline.com

CUISIPROCuisipro Fine Rasp[tel] 866.849.4715www.cuisipro.com

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AUGUSTKitchen Accessories

Holiday DécorNYIGF & Gourmet Housewares Show

Thermometers & Scales

futurefeature

Peter Braley, Browne & Co.

4 Kitchenware News & Housewares Review • JULY 2011 www.kitchenwarenews.com

&H o u s e w a r e s R e v i e wKITCHENWARE NEWS

w w w . k i t c h e n w a r e n e w s . c o m

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PRESIDENT Lee M. Oser

We’re not long back from the Dairy-Deli-Bake, the annual trade show produced by the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association, where IDDBA Executive Director Carol Christison offered some thoughts on trendsthat she’s seeing that have serious implications for kitchenware and housewares retailers as well as for food retailers.

One of the most important is the increasing influence of Internet technology on what consumers buy, where they buy it and at whatprice, and on who’s shaping the reputations of companies and products in the marketplace. Christison compiled an impressive listof the resources that consumers have available to them on the Internet to help them make all of those decisions and to share thosedecisions with their immediate universe. As Christison pointed out, we’ve reached a time when consumers’ opinions can do moreto shape the reputation of a product than its manufacturer’s marketing department can overcome and the information they haveavailable to them on the Internet destroys a retailing model that relies on obsolete marketing methods.

What that all means is that it behooves retailers of all products to increase their awareness of the Internet resources shaping consumerbehavior and to learn how to tap into them. For instance, Christison noted ShopSavvy, a mobile application that allows users to scanbar codes on products they see in stores to read product reviews and even to find out where else they might be able to get the sameor similar products at a better price. The app is available for both the Apple and Android markets. Yowza!! is another mobile applicationthat merchants are using to deliver coupons directly to local shoppers on their smartphones. Yowza!! claims that over 15,000 smalland large merchants are already using its service, which is currently available only to merchants who have a physical store.

FastMall is an iPhone and Android application that directs users to shopping malls and to products and facilities inside them. Mapsof over 1,100 malls in 25 countries are now offered. Users can use the app to get special offers at stores they’ve named as favorites.TheFind is an online resource and mobile app that guides shoppers with product reviews, coupons, and information about whattheir Facebook friends are buying. Merchants can use the app to offer deals on their products to potential customers even whilethey’re actively shopping for that product in another store.

According to the Wall Street Journal, shoppers with smartphones and shopping applications now account for a small but rapidlygrowing number of shoppers. The newspaper cited research showing that on Black Friday of 2009, consumers using mobile devicesaccounted for just 0.1 percent of visits to retail websites, but by Black Friday of last year, they accounted for 5.6 percent. After justfour weeks on the iPhone market, TheFind had already been downloaded 400,000 times, and RedLaser, an app that allows shoppersto scan bar codes to get information about products and prices, was downloaded 6 million times in the first year and a half after itwas introduced by eBay Inc.

Lee M. Oser, Publisher

publisher’snote

editor’snoteWhen I read this month’s guest editorial on Quick Response Codes, it immediately made me think back to thetime when the debate among retailers was over scanning bar codes vs. using price stickers.

Upgrading point-of-sale equipment (they called them cash registers then) so stores could scan products seemed to be so cuttingedge at the time. Now, of course, most retailers would view that as the minimum they would offer. Today they employ lots of otherdevices and technologies that allow people to use debit and frequent shopper cards, price check items throughout the store andplace an order on online while still in the store when an item isn’t available.

The advent of the QR Code means customers have the opportunity to get additional information on a product just by using theirsmart phone. This technology, which originated in Japan to track automotive parts, is showing up everywhere and does allowmanufacturers and retailers some cool options for sharing product demo videos, offering coupons or recipes, or providing instantfeedback through links to online surveys.

What QR Codes shouldn’t do, however, is allow specialty retailers to think they can cut back on customer service. Mass retailers,who don’t typically have a lot of staff members walking the aisles, can get by with relying on this as the main way to communicatehow a product works. In those scenarios, where it’s difficult to find someone to answer a question, it may be a real benefit. Butconsumers head to their local kitchenware shop or specialty department store for one-on-one interaction they know they can’t findelsewhere.

As our featured retailer, John Jerome of The Butler Pantry pointed out, his store is all about customer service and providing an atmospherein which shoppers can relax, enjoy and learn about what they are buying from his knowledge, trained staff.

I love the idea of scanning a QR Code to see a product in action, but having someone demonstrate it for me or let me try it inperson is an even better experience. I know these days it’s hard to imagine being without a phone to connect us to the electronicworld around us, but there’s also a lot to be said for being face-to-face with someone and having an exchange of ideas and opinions.

So yes, let’s use QR Codes, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter for all they can provide us, but let’s also keep some room in our dayfor some old-fashioned conversation between retailer and customer.

Joanne Friedrick, [email protected]


http://www.nyigf.com


Smart Phone Use ShiftsMarketing, Advertisingto Point of SaleThe biggest and newest revolution inmarketing is not in print advertising, webadvertising, Facebook sharing, blogging ortweeting. That’s old. The new outreach ismuch more direct, personal and immediateand it uses the smart phone. It’s called aQuick Response Code, or QRCode for short.

Most people have seen a QR Code—thoseodd, blocky, black-and-white grids that arepopping up everywhere from bus shelters tobillboards to product packaging. AQRCodeis really a trigger—scan the QR Code withany number of free apps available for thesmart phone and the code triggers an actionon the phone, such as opening a website.

TheQRCode is changing the way consumerslearn about products and services.Traditionally,consumers read about the products innewspapers,magazines or online before goingshopping. Now that information is availableat the time and place of purchase as well.

This in-store experience is a critical aspect tooverall purchasing behavior. The potentialreach of this tool is expanding daily asthe number of smart phone users expandsand crosses age and income barriers,putting messaging and relevantdata in the hands of consumerswhile shopping.

The QR Code, seen first ontechnology products, has arrived indepartment stores, clothing storesand even kitchen stores. Cuisipro,one of the first housewares brands

to adopt this form of marketing, launched itsfirst QR campaign in March 2011 on itsSurface GlideTechnology Graters.This code,when scanned by a smart phone, linksconsumers to an informational video onYouTube.

For the retailer, QR Codes help sell productsin a several ways. The code acts as a pseudosales associate by offering consumers usefulinformation and incentives to buy whilegiving a sales associate up-to-date technicalinformation to share with the consumer.

A QR Code also helps close a sale bysupplying smart phone users with the datathey need to purchase on the spot. This isimportant because sales are frequently lostwhen a consumer is considering a purchasebut leaves a store in pursuit of moreinformation elsewhere.

As we all know, once the consumer walks outthe door, there is certainly no guarantee thathe or she will come back. QR Codes giveconsumers the info they need to make a quickdecision, arming themwith research on the go.

It’s remarkable how a small, two-dimensionalcode that looks like a randompattern of black blocks arranged ina square could be the portal to thenewest form of advertising.

Peter Braley is COO-RetailDivision of Browne & Co., whichproduces the Cuisipro, Kitchen Gripsand Berard brands.

columnguest

By Peter Braley

ZAK DESIGNS CONFETTI MIX,SERVE AND STORE BOWLSTheConfetti lineof dinnerware,servewareand kitchenprepproducts has beenoneof the most popular offerings in Zak’s 35-year history. This year, Zak is launchingredesigned Confetti serving bowls thatwill make mixing, serving and storing abreeze. These bowls are available in1.5-,2-,and 3-quart sizes and feature highsides to make mixing and serving easier.Andwhether users are storingextrabatterfor later or simply puttingchips awayafterthe party,the newConfetti bowls featurelids that havebeen reinforcedwithartisticridges to help keep them sturdy andretain their shapeevenafter they’vebeenput in the dishwasher.Available in eitherblue bell or assorted bright colors, thebowls have also been created so theynest neatly inside eachotherwith the lids

on. And, like all Confetti products, thesenew bowls are made with recycledmelamine, so not only do they makemixing, serving and storing easier, theyalso they do it in amore environmentallyfriendly way.Try keeping a lid on that.Suggested Retail Price:$12.99, $15.99, $18.99

Zak Designs[tel] 800.331.1089www.zak.com

http://www.picnictime.com

http://www.vinarozcookware.com

FRESH AIR ODOR-FREEKITCHEN COMPOST COLLECTORFull Circle’s Fresh Air Kitchen CompostCollector helps users say goodbye toodors and flies and makes compostingclean and easy for everyone. Othersealed compost containers’ filters dolittle to manage bacteria and smell.The Fresh Air, on the other hand, isdesigned with unique wind flumes thatallow oxygen to easily flow throughorganic kitchen waste, preventingbacteria build-up and off-gassing. Nomess, no smell and no flies. Now, theFresh Air comes in two exciting colors tomatch every kitchen. The Green Slate(FC11301-GS) features a sleek dark graybody,with a bright green lid and base.It is a fun, young color palette for amodern kitchen. The Cool Earth(FC11301-CE) has a soft gray body witha white lid and base,designed to blendinto the kitchen,similar to an appliance.

It looks great in any kitchen. The bodyis sleek and stylish and made frompartially recycled plastic.The 1.3-galloncollector has plenty of capacity, but isdesigned to fit perfectly on mostcounters. The collector disassembleseasily and is dishwasher safe. Full Circlewill also soon be releasing its line ofcompostable bags so stay tuned.Suggested Retail Price: $29.99

Full Circle[tel] 718.305.1754www.fullcirclehome.com

BOELTER BRANDSLICENSED SCULPTED MUGSBoelter Brands has added sculptedmugs for NFL, MLB, NHL and collegeteams to its extensive line of licensedsports products. The Sculpted Mugline consists of a variety of styles froma 2-ounce Mini Mug to a 16-ounceTravel Mug.Suggested Retail Prices: $7-20

Boelter Brands/Sternberg & Co.[tel] 877.233.7287www.boelterbrands.com

FISSLER BLUE POINTPRESSURE PAN SETGrill, sear, fry, sauté,braise,and pressurecook with the Blue Point Pressure PanSet. The extra-large, 4.2-quart skillet isequipped with the Novogrill fryingsurface for low-oil grilling, the energy-saving CookStar all-stove base andcomes with a pressure lid,glass lid,andsteamer basket for maximum versatility.With all of Fissler’s safety systems,including the Euromatic safety valve,the Pressure Pan is completely silentunder pressure, dishwasher safe andworks on any stove, including induction.Made in Germany with a lifetimewarranty.Suggested Retail Price: $270

Fissler USA[tel] 888.347.7537www.fissler.com

AMERICAN FEITIAN GLASSAmerica FeiTian (AFT) is the Americandivision of Liao Yang FeiTian, China’slargest manufacturer of handcraftedglass gifts and decorative accessories.The company has been distributingglassware in the United States since2002. AFT produces a wide range ofitems, including glass flowers, vases,plates, bowls, candleholders and glassfigurines.All of the company’s items areproudly blown by highly skilledcraftsmen with years of glass-makingexperience. Roosters are extremelypopular now in housewares tabletop.This lovely bowl is completely handblown and fused with colorful barnyardhues. It provides the perfect place fornapkins, sweeteners, utensils or otherkitchen-related items.Suggested Retail Price: $29.95

American FeiTian[tel] 858.675.2000www.aft-c.com

nyigf/gourmet housewares

http://www.wilshireindustries.com


NYIGF (Cont. from p.1)followers on Twitter, many getting kudosand retweets for press mentions and newsabout new products set to debut at theshow. NYIGF’s Facebook page hasgarnered almost as many “likes,”representing exhibitors from19 countriesposting product blurbs and photos.

On an adjoining “discussions” Facebookpage, exhibitors ask questions andget answers, many of which turn out tobe relevant to other exhibitors, suchas what buyers should bring withthem to place orders at the fair.NYIGF also invites exhibitors to joindiscussions on the Retailer Forum’s

Facebook discussion page, where insightsare shared on subjects such as how tohandle store staffing while off attrade shows.

In addition, fans can subscribe toNYIGF’s dedicated channel onYouTube, which features interviews withexhibitors and fair-goers, announcementsabout award winners, product demon-strations and general updates aboutwhat’s new and exciting on the exhibitfloor. By subscribing, participants get ane-mail alert when new videos are added.

“We are receiving a very positive responseand seeing a sharp uptick in activity,” saidSalvatore. “Retailers are using the site tocommunicate about shopping habits,market interests, best-sellers, social mediause and business practices, and exhibitorsuse the space to highlight new products,special offers and to promote theirparticipation in the fair.”

Salvatore said Facebook has surpassedboth Twitter and YouTube for referralsto www.nyigf, and has created severalcross-marketing opportunities betweenthe fair and its online retailer community.“That said, when used in combination,all three tools have helped us give theNYIGF a face, voice and year-roundintimacy with our customers that was notpossible years ago,” said Salvatore.

In other NYIGF news, there will be fivedays of special events, includingeducational sessions, industry socialgatherings, product awards, featureddisplays and buyer promotions.

“During NYIGF, attendees and exhibitorscan maximize their market participationwith a full slate of educational sessionsand special events,” said Dorothy Belshaw,NYIGF Director and GLM SeniorVice President. “The seminars offerinvaluable information about consumerand color trends and myriad retailstrategies, and the after-hours eventsprovide opportunities to network and buildindustry relationships.”

The educational component of thespecial events calendar includes about 30programs covering topics such assustainability and Fair Trade, social media,consumer and color trends, marketing andother retail strategies.

Among highlights is the first-everpre-show NYIGF Orientation webinarfor first-time attendees, presented byChristian Falkenberg, NYIGF Managerand Helen Overly, NYIGF BuyerServices Representative. The webinar,which will take place at 2 p.m. on Aug. 4,walks attendees through planning,organizing and managing time at theshow. It also includes an overview ofthe fair’s layout and categorization andillustrates how to use the online cataloggallery as tool to source productsand schedule appointments. Advanceregistration, which is required, can becompleted through the NYIGF websiteat www.nyigf.com.

On Monday, Aug. 15, from 5:30 to 6:30p.m., the gourmet industry is invited tocelebrate Gourmet Housewares Show’sNew York debut at a “Manhattan Mixer”in the Javits Center North Concourse.Attendees can enjoy a cash bar—servingspecialty “Big Apple-tinis” and otherlibations—compliments of NYIGF whilenetworking with industry colleagues. Theevent is free for retailers with no pre-registration required.

For those looking to expand theirNew York experience beyond the JavitsCenter, a series of “Only in New York”special events are available. On Tuesday,Aug. 16, NYIGF’s “Night on Broadway”will feature specially priced ticketsfor the 7 p.m. performance of “SisterAct.” Tickets are available online atwww.nyigf.com/programs.

Kitchenware News & HousewaresReview and Gourmet News are providingan exclusive “Gourmet Giveaway”buyer promotion, for which retailers canregister to win a package of productsdonated by Gourmet Housewares Showexhibitors. Entry forms will be distributedat all onsite registration locations duringthe market, so be on the lookout andmake sure to enter.


http://www.haroldimport.com

http://www.lsarts.com



VINAROZ DIE-CAST ALUMINUMNON-STICK COOKWAREVinaroz is one of the leadingmanufacturers of non-stick, die-castaluminum cookware with ceramiccoating in the United States, and usestop-notch materials and years ofexperience to produce high-qualitycookware. The ceramic coating is a100 percent natural ceramic powderthat has non-stick properties similar toTeflon®. Ceramic can withstandtemperatures up to 850º degrees.Asidefrom the Ceramic-Eco coating, othercomponents of the cookware areequally earth friendly. The cookwareexteriors are sprayedwith colorful siliconpaint. They offer such effective heatdistribution that food cooks muchmorequickly (with less energy).The ceramic-coated pan is one pan you will useevery day for everything from eggs tobrowning your favorite chop. The die-cast aluminum cookware is CertifiedPTFE and PFOA-Free, which meanshealthy for you and the environment.

Vinaroz Cookware[tel] 323.585.3090www.vinarozcookware.com

BUTTER BABY CORN PICKSButter Baby™ corn picks are sturdycorn-on-the-cob holders.They are cuteand are made from plastic and thickstainless steel picks that will not break offor rust.The picks interlock between usesso that fingers are not poked in thedrawer and they will not get lost in thedishwasher.Keep hands clean and thefamily happy with Butter Baby.They area great addition to any family event orsummer gathering. The Butter Baby isalso dishwasher safe. Butter Baby cornpicks come as a set of four pairs (green,yellow,pink and blue) in fun and giftablepackaging. Match them with ButterBoy™ and Butter Girl™ for a completebutter family the kids will love.Suggested Retail Price: $6.99

Talisman Designs[tel] 877.546.7995[email] [email protected]

ROLAND PRODUCTSKITCHEN SCRAPERNeed to ice a cake or tackle a bakingdish with burnt-on food? This handy littlekitchen scraper can do double duty:scrape batter from your mixing bowl orice a cake, then use it to scrape offburnt-on food before doing dishes. TheGoodbye Detergent! kitchen scraperhelps save water and detergent bymaking easy work of doing dishes—simply scrape off excess food beforewashing.Made from saturated polyesterresin, this kitchen scraper is stiff enoughto tackle heavy-duty scraping jobs,yetflexible enough to bend when scrapinga bowl or casserole.When not in use,thekitchen scraper has a convenienthanging hook for easy storage.Suggested Retail Price: $5.99

Roland Products Inc.[tel] 800.321.2226www.goodbyedetergent.com

TEA TRAVELER ZITAFinum’s® latest product, Tea TravelerZITA, is a tea-to-go tumbler that avoidsweak tea and the waste of tea bagpaper. The design is based on thepatented Tea Control mechanism anda few more pending patents.By simplyscrewing the lid on the tumbler, thetea is cornered and thereby containsthe brewing of the tea,keeping its tasteuncompromised. ZITA’s exceptionaland appealing look is largely owed toits lid, which resembles a tea cup witha leak-proof cork mechanism at itsspout.This durable Tea Traveler is madefrom BPA-free Tritan®.Suggested Retail Price: $24.95

Finum by Riensch & Held GmbH[tel] 49.40.73424.161www.finum.com

http://www.aft-c.com

http://www.fullcirclehome.com


For most specialty retailers, it is the fourthquarter and the holiday entertaining and gift-giving season that spurs their sales. But forThe Butler Pantry, a kitchenware andspecialty food emporium in the summerresort town of Saugatuck, Mich., salesblossom in the summer like a patch ofcolorful daylilies.

“Summer is our busiest season,” said JohnJerome, Co-Owner. “This is a big boatingand cottage community.” The rush beginswith Memorial Day weekend and continuessteadily through Labor Day, he said.Additionally, fall has been improving andthen there are the local holiday shoppers,who contribute to a “decent fourth quarter.”

Jerome and his business partner, MikeUsher, purchased The Butler Pantry in2000 as a retirement investment. The storefirst opened in 1977 and is housed in anhistoric building that has served as adepartment store, Masonic lodge, furniturestore, shoe repair shop, tea room, tobaccoshop and bowling alley.

Currently The Butler Pantry occupies2,000 square feet, says Jerome, which isabout half of the first floor. For the firstfew years that they owned it, Jerome said,they hired a manager to run the businesswhile he continued to work at a full-time

job in Detroit.

But in 2003, when Jerome became moreinvolved in the day-to-day operation, theyalso decided to revamp the store, giving itsome needed updates.

“I used to work for Spartan Stores (asupermarket company) as a merchandiserand store planner,” noted Jerome, makinghim familiar with good retail design. In theremodeling, the store’s hard goodsdepartments were moved to the front of thestore, while the specialty food section wasexpanded and placed at the back.

Jerome said it took about six to sevenmonths to repaint and reconfigure thestore, doing all the work while also keepingthe business open. Now, he said, “we lookat the layout every year and change a fewthings,” but mostly it’s bringing in newproducts and new lines and updatingdisplays.

Although business is slower throughoutthe winter, Jerome said they stay openseven days a week, in part to encourageother businesses to think of the town as ayear-round shopping destination. “Peoplelook to us to set the trend,” noted Jerome.

To encourage shoppers in any season, The

Butler Pantry offers in-store demonstrationson the weekends, sampling gourmet foodsand using gadgets, cookware, bakeware andsmall appliances at the back of the store.

The Butler Pantry used to offer cookingclasses offsite at a local restaurant, and Jeromesaid he would like to add a small kitchen inthe store so they could begin classes again.

The store’s space is split about evenlybetween specialty food and kitchenwareproducts, he said. When they bought TheButler Pantry, the previous owners offeredseveral tabletop lines, but Jerome said hephased them out over the years afterfinding “we just never seemed to haveexactly what the customer was looking for.So we narrowed it to strictly kitchenware,”also eliminating some gift items andChristmas ornaments.

The store does especially well with severallines, said Jerome, such as its Cuisinartand Lodge cookware, OXO gadgets andCharcoal Companion barbecue-relateditems. A recent addition, the Chef ’n line,has also been popular, he said.

On the food side, The Butler Pantry has itsown line of condiments and its Vidalia OnionPeppercorn Dressing is the store’s overallbestseller. “And we do well with any foodproduct when we sample it,” he noted.

In addition to its proprietary food line, TheButler Pantry also has some exclusivessuch as the Nora Fleming line of servewareand Blueberry Haven blueberry-based

jams, baking mixes and sweets.

“Because we’re in a small town, we’re theonly kitchenware store,” said Jerome, whopointed to area big box stores such as Wal-Mart and Meijer, a regional hypermarket, asthe competition. Jerome acknowledged thatsome customers are price shoppers, but mostare drawn to his shop because of its customerservice and pleasant atmosphere.

In the off-season, the store operates withfour full-time employees, he said, and thenadds staff for the summer rush. Jerome doesinformal training for his staff and seeksassociates “who like to do this kind of work.”

Both Jerome and his manager took part ina ZingTrain business seminar a few yearsago, he said. ZingTrain, which is operatedby the owners of Zingerman’s in AnnArbor, Mich., focuses on all aspects ofbusiness from merchandising and customerservice to financials. “I would like to sendother members of my staff one of thesedays,” said Jerome, who noted he still refersto his ZingTrain handbook for ideas.

Stocking The Butler Pantry involves visitsto major trade shows such as theInternational Home + Housewares Showin Chicago and the Fancy Food Shows aswell as time spent with sales reps. “Theprevious owner didn’t care for reps, butwe’ve developed a good rapport withthem,” he said. He also looks to trademagazines for ideas, he added.

Jerome said he relies on his inventory controlsystem to give clues on what has worked andwhat hasn’t. “We do bring in seasonal itemsfor spring through fall,” he said, such aspicnic items from Picnic at Ascot and cherrypitters during Michigan’s cherry season.

If a product isn’t performing, “we swap itout as we see fit,” he said. “You’ve got tokeep it (the inventory) fresh,” Jeromepointed out. Right now, he said, color isimportant to shoppers, so he has focusedon lines that fit that criteria, such as KuhnRikon knives in a rainbow of shades.

The growth of the Internet and socialmedia has Jerome looking foropportunities there to expand his businessand marketing. “We just revamped ourwebsite,” he said, and he is getting readyto put The Butler Pantry on Facebook.

“I’m a bricks-and-mortar guy,” acknowledgedJerome, so adding Facebook or tweetingabout the store hasn’t been a priority. ButJerome said it is in the plans as is thepossibility of selling some of their privatelabel lines on eBay.

Being a successful retailer, said Jerome, isa combination of having the right productsfor the clientele and making them feelwelcomed. “People say our store feelsgood,” he said, which he attributes in partto the careful selection of colors when theyupdated the store several years ago.

“A store needs to have personality as well,”said Jerome, and providing some invitingsmells doesn’t hurt either. We do a lot ofbaking just for the aroma,” he said. “Scentis important, especially for a kitchen store.”

by Joanne Friedrick

Retailer ProfileThe Butler Pantry

http://www.tribest.com

H o u s e w a r e s R e v i e w&KITCHENWARE NEWSS E R V I N G K I T C H E N W A R E , H O U S E W A R E S A N D T A B L E T O P M A R K E T S

VOLUME 17, NUMBER 7 JULY 2011

bakewareproducts


b a k e w a r e

PRE-SEASONED CAST IRON PANSSCI introduces its reinvented lineof cast iron pans. Pre-seasonedto save you a step, with its evenheating and long-lasting heatretention, it easily provides consistentresults. Not only are these pans easyto use, but cleaning them is eveneasier. These new styles and shapesare available now.

SCI Cuisine Internationale[tel] 800.966.5489www.scandicrafts.com

WAHAUS COLLECTIONBY VITA CRAFTThe Wahaus Collection by Vita Craft isa true gem. This six-piece set ofcookware is not only beautiful andclassic, but also versatile. This stainlesssteel Deep Chef Set can go from rangetop to tabletop in minutes.TheWahausCollection is made up of a set of threeDeepChef Pans: an 8" DeepChef,a 10"Deep Chef and a 13" Deep Chef. Theseries comes with stainless steel coverswith optional stainless steel knobs andflame guards. Glass covers are alsoavailable. The Wahaus Collectionfeatures waterless, greaseless cookingand carries a true Vita Craft lifetimewarranty. This fine cookware is made inthe United States.

Vita Craft[tel] 913.631.6265www.vitacraft.com

DOUGHMAKERS MUFFIN PANSDoughmakers® bakeware providesthe most consistent bakingexperience every time. The patentedpebbled surface allows air tocirculate underneath each bakedgood for even browning and an easyquick release. The unique surface isnot a coating, so it won’t wear awayor scratch off. The environmentallyfriendly Doughmakers products aremade of recycled aluminum thatprovides perfect results time and timeagain. Doughmakers muffin pans areavailable in a 6-cup jumbo size, aswell as a 12-cup size.Suggested Retail Price: $24.99

Fox Run Brands[tel] 800.372.0700www.foxrunbrands.com

SIGNATURE HOUSEWARESSORRENTO BAKEWARESorrento bakeware is available in classic,full-size bakers including 16" and 13"rectangular bakers, an 8.5" coveredsoufflé and an 11-ounce ramekin,as wellas mini bakers for individual baking andserving needs. All bakeware is 500° Fcertified,and is composed of a high-firedstoneware body for durability and chipresistance.It is available in ivory,gold,sagegreen and ruby red.Suggested Retail Price: Mini bakeware$14.99, full size $29.99-39.99

Signature Housewares[tel] 805.484.6666www.sighouse.com

http://www.vitacraft.com

http://www.pillivuytus.com


b a k e w a r e

3-INCH LOOSE-BOTTOMCHEESECAKE PANKnowing how popular individualdesserts are, Parrish now offers anunusual 3" cheesecake pan. Insteadof the spring-form type cheesecakepan, it has a removable plate anda hole in the bottom of the panso you can push it out along withthe cheesecake.

Parrish’s Cake Decorating Supplies[tel] 310.324.2253 or 800.736.8443www.parrishsmagicline.com

EVRIHOLDER CUPCAKE 2 GOWhether they’re homemade orstore-bought, the cupcake trend isever growing and always popular.Whether it’s for birthday parties, orjust everyday fun, cupcakes are agrowing expression of love andaffection,and a great way to add funand flavor, too.And now, there’s a wayto protect cupcakes wherever you go.Evriholder Products LLC introduces itsnew Cupcakes 2 Go—an adorablecupcake holder that not only is cuteand whimsical, but will also keepcupcake and frosting in perfect

condition when on the go. With aunique dome lid and prongs designedto hold the cupcake securely in place,the Cupcake 2 Go looks like acupcake and has ample room tokeep that delicious frosting in placeand looking good. No more squishedcupcakes with frosting everywhere buton the cupcake. This is the ultimatecupcake on-the-go solution.Suggest Retail Price: $2.99

Evriholder[tel] 800.975.0335www.evriholder.com

WESTON PRODUCTS’AUTOFRESH VACUUM DOMEKeep baked goods fresher longerwith Weston’s AutoFresh VacuumDome storage container. Place freshbakery under the dome and,with thepush of a button, remove the air fromthe dome to preserve the freshnessand flavor of foods.One minute later,the air is removed, reducing wasteand saving money. The vacuummotor’s restart feature automaticallyreseals the dome, ensuring freshness.The 7-quart capacity dome hasample room for pies, cakes, cookies,breads and most bakery items. At 9¼” wide, the reversible tray ensureseven the moistest, gooiest creationswon’t leak. This attractive clear plasticdome will not only keep homemadeitems fresher, but also serves as a“showcase” for the latest culinarytriumphs. The dome also seals to anysmooth surface, making it easy topreserve bakery already on a servingtray. And as if this innovative domewasn’t easy enough to use, it’sdishwasher safe as well. The vacuummotor is powered by two ‘C’batteriesthat will last for more than180 sealsand is easily removed for cleaning.Suggested Retail Price: $34.99

Weston Products[tel] 800.814.4895www.westonproducts.com

http://www.sighouse.com


b a k e w a r eKEEP CALM AND CARRY ONFROM CREATIVE TOPSCreative Tops is delighted to announcethe launch of a new tablewarecollection, currently not shown in ourbrochure, which was unveiled atExclusively Housewares in June. OurKeep Calm and Carry On Collectionfor 2011 has been inspired by this long-running and intensely Cool Britanniatheme. The phrase itself is a fantasticmantra for anyone seeking solace andreassurance when times are particularlyhard. The Keep Calm and Carry Onslogan was originally drawn up by theU.K.Ministry of Information to boost the

morale of the British people during theWorld War II. Although printed, theposter was never actually distributed,asit was only intended to be released ifthere was an invasion. The productrange includes a gorgeous brightred, full-length apron and gauntlettextile set, set of three brightly coloredtea towels, lap tray with comfy beanbag, a tea cosy, tea bag tidy, set ofsix assorted fine china mugs andan extremely useful, double-walledceramic travel mug with funky coloredsilicon lid.Also soon to be added will bea six-cup teapot, glass worktop saverand retro-style memo board.

Creative Tops Ltd.www.creative-tops.com

PÂTISSERIE LINE OF BAKERSIn 1818 Jean Louis RichardPillivuyt (rhymeswith really sweet) recognized theimmenseadvantagesporcelain hadoverearthenware and other more porousproducts.He set about inventing his ownunique combination of raw materialsto create the highest-quality culinaryporcelain. Artisans and craftspeoplehave continued for nearly two centuriesto work toward fulfilling Pillivuyt’s vision.That vision continues with the brandnew, right-out-of-the-box Pâtisserie lineof bakers: brioche, deep cake baker,muffinmold and largeand individual tartpan. Pâtisserie is made with the new

Pillenium porcelain compound whichuses a special proprietary strengtheningingredient that inspires more delicateculinary designs. Pâtisserie also has allthe same great properties of all PillivuytPorcelain Products—freezer to oven,microwaveable, grill-able. Professionaland home chefs alike should beexcited to create all manner of elegantgourmet creations with this versatileline of bakeware.Suggested Retail Price: $13-55

Pillivuyt USA[tel] 952.938.1672www.pillivuytusa.com

http://www.lccpinc.com

http://www.westonsupply.com


Easy Grab Bakeware, a new addition to thePyrex glass bakeware line, features extendedhandles designed to make it easier tomaneuver pieces in and out of the oven, aswell as making them more convenient forusing on the go.

I admit, when I first looked at the coveredcasserole, I wasn’t convinced its extendedglass handles would add much value overPyrex Portables (with their amazing insulatedcarriers), which were staples in my previouslife as a caterer. But I have become a convert.

As my first product test, I used the 3-quart,9" by 13" casserole (with lid) to make a redvelvet cake for the staff at the office.

First, I had to undergo some retraining.Having worked in a professional kitchenwhere cooling racks and marble counterswere facts of life, it was a challenge for meto heed Pyrex’s rules for safe baking withglass, developed after the bakeware’s “formula”switched from borosilicate to soda lime glass.The new strategy, dubbed “Cook with Care—Follow the Four Simple Rules,” stresses thefollowing:

1. Always place hot glass bakeware on a dry,cloth potholder or towel.

Never place hot glass bakeware on top of thestove, on a metal trivet, on a damp towel,directly on a counter or in a sink.2. Never put glass bakeware directly on aburner or under a broiler.3. Always allow the oven to fully preheatbefore placing glass bakeware in the oven.4. Always cover the bottom of the dish withliquid before cooking meat or vegetables.

Wait! Give up my cooling racks? Abandonmy habit of removing bakeware from theoven and setting it ever so briefly on top ofthe stove? I was willing to give it a try, andreadied my kitchen island with two pristine(and dry) terrycloth dishtowels.

While the gripper handles didn’t reallyimprove my ability to put the cake into theoven, they certainly made removing thefinished product and transporting it to thewaiting dishtowels a breeze. Although I wasconcerned my potholders would be slipperyon the glass handles, it was not an issue. Infact, the Easy Grab design was far moremanageable than wrangling potholdersaround either end of the older version.

As always, my cake baked evenly and myoffice mates were pleased with the end result(although I believe some credit goes to my

cream cheese frosting).

For my next round of testing, usingthe same size dish, I baked my favoriteteriyaki chicken breasts using halvedbreasts, bone in, skin on. Thisconcerned me a bit because I find thatbaking meat with liquid, as required byPyrex’s simple rules, tends to braise orboil them and can net a less-than-tender piece of meat, especially withchicken. Clearly, this is not the desiredresult for teriyaki chicken.

I marinated the breasts overnight in myregular, homemade teriyaki marinade, thenmixed 1/4 cup of olive oil with 3/4 cup ofthe marinade and poured it over the breastsbefore sticking them in the oven. I didworry that my cup of liquid was fairly scantin the bottom of the casserole, and asignificant amount did evaporate whilebaking. About halfway through I brushedthe tops of the chicken with more marinadeand added about 1/2 cup more of the sameto the bottom of the pan.

I was fairly pleased with the result. BecauseI cooked the breasts with bones in, theywere elevated out of the liquid, so the resultwas crisp skin and tender, moist, flavorfulmeat. However, if I were going to useboneless, skinless breasts, I’d start with alayer of partially cooked rice, pour a full twocups of liquid over that, and set the breastsatop the rice for baking. For this version, Iwouldn’t add the olive oil to the marinade.

I have always been a fan of Pyrex bakeware

because it seamlessly becomes serveware. Nomatter how lovely your casserole, you can’tdress up a metal pan. One extra notch in theplus column for Pyrex Easy Grab Bakewareis that it fits into my Pyrex Portables carriers.Admittedly, it’s a tight fit, but I will make do.

The only drawback to the new design that Ican cite is that to accommodate the extendedhandles, the lid doesn’t create a very tight seal.This isn’t much of a problem for transportinga cake, but could be an issue whenrefrigerating or transporting a casserole.

The 3-quart casserole retails for $11.99without lid, $15.99 with.

To make sure that consumers are aware ofhow to use glass bakeware safely, Pyrex hasteamed up with Food Network Chef andEditor in Chief of Semi-HomemadeMagazine, Sandra Lee, to promote the FourSimple Rules. There’s a web site that offerssafety tips, a video and recipes athttp://4simplerules.amssupport.net

by Theresa Grant

Product ReviewPyrex Easy Grab Bakeware

http://www.creative-tops.com

http://www.scandicrafts.com


HOME ENTERTAINING (Cont. from p.1)The type of entertaining that goes on athome is also being tracked, and accordingto The NPD Group study, “OutdoorEntertaining Trends 2010: ConsumersBring the Indoors Out,” the watchword inhome entertaining is casual.

More than 75 percent of home entertainerspreferred a more laid-back approach, whichincluded entertaining outside. Additionally,about 80 percent of consumers said theyentertain at their home, indoors or outdoorsand 12 percent said they entertained athome more than in past years.

As a result of this casual entertaining trend,the report noted dollar sales ofacrylic/plastic beverageware rose threepercent in the 12 months ended April2011. It also pointed to higher sales incasual dinnerware, flatware and placemats.

Tiffany Hoffine, CEO of The SundanceCo., which makes the Chill Out and Aboutstay-cool food serving and storage system,said with the economy continuing to recoveryslowly, “people are entertaining at homemore” or taking advantage of close-to-homeoptions such as parks, pools and beaches.

Because people are making food and diningoutdoors at home or transporting to nearbyvenues, there is a heightened concern aboutfood safety and maintaining a “safe zone”for several hours, she said.

Hoffine said her creation, which allowsusers to fill the bottom section with waterand freeze it before adding salads,condiments or desserts, addresses this foodsafety issue by keeping food colder longer.And its style and materials fits with thecasual dining look and feel, she added.

“We do well with tailgaters, pool parties,people who are looking for a less stressfulway to entertain,” she said. “With theeconomy, people are doing more potluckevents, and this way they can bring the dishand leave it behind as a hostess gift.”

“One of the biggest trends in homeentertaining has been a stronger focus onbasics, though maybe with a twist,” saidRoy Chung, Senior Marketing Associatefor Gibson Overseas Inc.

Retailers are still looking for strongproduct stories and things like color, hesaid. “But the foundations of those stories,the nuts and bolts like the right dinnerwareset compositions, are more importantthan ever.”

Chung said Gibson’s 12 + 4 Dinnerware,sold under the Elite Couture brand, takesa traditional 16-piece set of dinner plate,salad plate and bowl and comes at it froma new angle by separating the mugs fromthe rest of the traditional dinnerware pieces.

“Consumers…have the flexibility to forego

the mugs entirely when shoppingfor dinnerware, mix and matchcolors according to their tastes orsimply opt for the mugs alone,which more and more (people)are doing,” he said, noting themugs outsell the dinnerware atmany retailers.

The dinnerware and mug materialsare also part of the casual feel,offered in a reactive glaze finish.

Additionally, said Chung, while convenienceand ease are important to the homeentertaining segment, it all comes down topersonal style. “And merchants who can helpconsumers discover that style will capture thelargest share of the market,” he noted.

Richard Murphy, Director-Sales andMarketing for OGGI Corp., said he hascertainly seen a trend toward more homeentertaining over the past two to threeyears, and many of OGGI’s products fitright in.

“We cover lots of the (home entertaining)categories,” he said, such as beverageware,barware and cheese-serving products.Among the newest introductions is a lineof stainless red or black striped barware,including cocktail shakers, ice bucket andwine cooler.

Murphy said in addition to following

consumer trends, the company’s sales stafflistens to retail buyers and looks to homeand apparel fashion trends in Europe andthe United States for ideas on colors,materials and shapes.

“We’re not cutesy or gifty,” said Murphy, butrather focused on functional housewares.“We’ve had to come up with new things andreinvent ourselves,” he said, to mesh withthe growing entertain-at-home trend.

“We listen carefully to our customers andwe can act quickly to develop newproducts,” he added.

While the trend has been toward casualentertaining and away from high-endtabletop items, Murphy said, “that doesn’tmean you can’t still have good design.”

Another part of the entertaining at hometrend that has contributed new products forretailers and consumers is in the wine andspirits arena.

Rio Sabadicci, Founder and CEO ofVinturi, said as wine sales have risen, so hasthe need for wine accessories for homeuse. Vinturi’s wine aerators allow homeentertainers to offer the same experienceas fine dining by letting the wine breatheas it is poured.

“We have seen wine sales go up, and themore people drink, the more sophisticatedthey get,” he said. “It used to be you wouldthink of wine just with dinner, but nowpeople can enjoy a glass of wine by itself.”

Wine-tasting parties have been a trend fora while, being both easy to plan andrequiring less preparation than a sit-downdinner. Sabadicci said Vinturi’s travelversion can be taken to a party, andoften becomes the subject of conversationas guests try different wines using theaeration tool.

Kitchen stores have been and continue tobe the sales leaders for Vinturi’s products,he said, but they also sell well indepartment stores and specialty homeretailers. Brookstone, he said, is currentlythe exclusive retailer for company’s latestintroduction, Vinturi Spirit, which is usedin the same manner as the wine aerator, butfor spirits.

When using any of these tools, saidSabadicci, the idea is to make theexperience memorable. “You want to giveyour guests the best time it can be,” he said.

home entertaining

http://www.firewiregrilling.com


home entertaining

BT-4601 BELLA TAVOLA FONDUE& CHAFING BURNERThe easy to use, automatic ignitionFondue & Chafing Burner is perfect forprofessional chefs or just entertaining athome. This compact, butane-poweredburner features an adjustable flamecontrol lever, safety mechanism turn-offstopper, built-in pressure release valve,non-tip wide base and refillable reservoir.The small, lightweight burner can last upto 90 minutes on the low setting. It isideal for use with fondue pots, chafers,stone grills, raclette sets, soup tureens,and coffee and beverage urns. It canalso be used as a cooktop with theoptional Cooking Platform (BT-46). TheFondue & Chafing Burner is part of theBella Tavola line, a butane-poweredculinary tool line byWall Lenk Corp.TheBella Tavola line is the only completeprogram that includes butane.Suggested Retail Price: $39.99

Wall Lenk Corp.[tel] 252.527.4186www.wlenk.comwww.bellatavolatools.com

VITACLAY CHEFWant to celebrate the summer with thespirit of freedom? Get ready to enjoythe convenience of cooking at yourown pace with VitaClay® Chef. Thissummer, impress friends with finger-licking, fall-off-the-bone,baby back ribsprepared in only 90 minutes. Also, tryour 30-minute hot spinach cheese dipfor a quick party fix.Enjoy your gatheringwhile VitaClay Chef does the work.Thesecret is in the centuries-old, slow-cooking organic clay pot, combinedwith a perfectly computerized balanceof temperature, fused to bring out thetextures and flavors that will please thehealth-conscious first-timer or pro.Offerthe family the ancient secrets of thenatural tastes of delectable food withwell-balanced, delicious dishes and fillthe kitchen with fragrant aromas.Withthe focus on enhancing natural health,users can give the family a healthy dietthat is both flavorsome and nutritious.Suggested Retail Price: $129.99

VitaClay Chef[tel] 877.877.9121.www.vitaclaychef.com

MAGIC LINE TINY-TIER CAKE PANSMagic Line® tiny-tier cake pans fromParrish’s Cake Decorating Suppliesare available in aluminum or oven-safe silicone. These three-tier formsare great for baking unique mini-ature wedding cakes or for specialoccasion cakes. It’s easy to removechocolate,which is molded inside thesilicone pans or to make chilleddesserts such as ice cream or gelatin.Fill the 1" by 1", 2" by 1" and 3" by1" tiers for a single-serving dessert orfill just two tiers for a smaller portion.The silicone forms are designed foruse in the oven,microwave or freezer,and are dishwasher safe.

Parrish’s Cake Decorating Supplies[tel] 310.324.2253 or 800.736.8443www.parrishsmagicline.com

CORE BAMBOO UTENSILSCore Bamboo’s new collection ofbamboo utensils is great for summerentertaining. Made from 100 percentorganically grown bamboo, theseutensils are packaged in a set of three,featuring a spoon, fork and knife, eachwith a colored handle. They areavailable in a large assortment of colors,giving users the artistic license to mixand match to their heart’s content.Perfect for children andadults of all ages,these bamboo utensils have eye appealandare functional,too.Enjoy eatingwithorganically made utensils that are eco-friendly, lightweight, strong and longlasting.Great for indoor and outdoor usealike,take these easy-to-pack sets alongfor a family picnic or to the office forlunch at your desk.Users will be delightedby the top quality and fun design ofthese fabulous bamboo utensils.Suggested Retail Price: $9

Core Bamboo[tel] 646.845.6000www.corebamboo.com

DECANTUS AERO WINEAERATING POURERThe Decantus Aero™ Wine AeratingPourer enhances wine’s flavor andbouquet like no other pourer on themarket. It is all in the taste. A newbreakthrough in wine aerating pourerslets users experience softer tannins, amore aromatic bouquet and greatflavor. Decantus Aero is the only winepourer on the market to have beenscientifically proven to reduce sulfitesan average of 56 percent. TheDecantus Aero utilizes the Bernoullieffect, wherein the reduced pressureof a stream of wine draws an air flowthrough diagonal thin tubes inside theDecantus Aero, making it the mosteffective decanting pourer available.The Decantus Aero is a driplesspourer and includes a removabletop for covering contents betweenpours, which helps preserve the wine.Restaurant owner Bill S. of Sunbury, Pa.,recently stated the following: “TheDecantus Aero does an unbelievablejob in improving the taste of wine. Weare using it every day in our operation.”The Decantus Aero comes in clear orblack and is beautifully gift boxed,12 each to a counter display.Suggested Retail Price: $16.99

Franmara[tel] 831.442.4000www.franmara.com

RABBIT CREEK BUCKET BREADSOut this spring are Rabbit CreekProducts’new Bucket Breads.Offered inthree different pails—silver, red, andholiday—each Bucket Bread can beordered with any one of Rabbit Creek’sbreads.Able to bake right in the bucket,these breads offer an enticing take onan entirely self-contained product. Inaddition to the pails being safe to bakein, they are dishwasher safe and offer amyriad of uses after baking.Suggested Retail Price: $13

Rabbit Creek Products[tel] 800.837.3073www.rabbitcreekgourmet.com

http://www.talimandesigns.com

18 Kitchenware News & Housewares Review • JULY 2011www.kitchenwarenews.com

home entertaining

MICHAEL SYMON ‘LIVE TO COOK’LINE BY WESTON PRODUCTSWeston Products has partnered withcelebrity Chef Michael Symon to bringout the“Live to Cook” line of products.For those who take cooking seriously, thiscollection offers products for processing,preparing and preserving fresh foods.Locavores, foodies, and homeharvesters alike will delight in theeffortless ways these tools enhance thecooking experience. Whether it’sburgers,brats, fries or salads, the Live toCook line will enable users to mastereven the most sophisticated dishes inthe home kitchen.Because Symon says,“Live to Cook.” The star of this line is aMulti-Function Grinder to transform freshmeat into burgers, sausages and otherdishes. With a 1/2 horsepowermotor,thisworkhorse is an essential addition to

any kitchen. Its brushed stainless steelfinish makes it an attractive applianceto grace any countertop.Suggested Retail Price: $299.99

Weston Products[tel] 800.814.4895www.westonproducts.com

ZAK DESIGNS TABLE ARTBy creating individual serve trays thatcan be combined to create a uniqueartistic expression, Zak Designs’ newTable Art collection promises tobecome the new standard in innovativeserveware. Available in four differentsets that all complement each other,Table Art allows hosts to create anunlimited number of personalizedserveware displays. The two flower setsin the line include six petal-shaped traysand a small floral Bloom Bowl. One setincludes white petals and a yellow bowland the other features a green bowlwith purple and pink petals. Anotherset features seven petal dishes in arainbow of colors, and the final set isGeo,which includes four green trianglesand four blue half-circle trays.All of thetrays are made from melamine sothey’re durable enough for any outdooroccasion, and they’re dishwasher safeto make clean up after the party abreeze.Although each set can be usedindividually to create fun and uniqueserveware options, the Table Art linewas designed so that each of the setscan be used in conjunction to createthe kind of party spreads that are trulyone of a kind.Suggested Retail Price: $29.99

Zak Designs[tel] 800.331.1089www.zak.com

TALISMAN MARTINI PICKSThese Martini Picks will enhance thepresentation of cocktails, garnishes,appetizers and food. Martini Picksmake a great hostess gift and add thatfinal detail to a party. The six-countMartini Picks are 4¾" long and areconstructed of sturdy plastic. TheMartini Picks are available in two stylesthat complement Talisman’s existingentertainment product line.Suggested Retail Price: $9.99

Talisman Designs[tel] 877.546.7995[email] [email protected]

BORDEAUX IIWINE DECANTER/AERATORBordeaux II aerators, the secondgeneration of LSArts’ wine aeratorproduct line, attach directly onto anopened wine bottle. A small amountof wine is gently poured into thebowl/decanter section of the aerator,and then poured directly into thewine glass. In essence, one glass ofwine is decanted at a time, allowingthe wine to expand and breathe.Each aerator is made of hand-craftedglassware and fits all standard bottles.The Bordeaux II aerator is available intwo different shapes and comesindividually gift boxed. LSArts is adesigner and importer of quality artglass products in the wine andhousewares industry. It has more than100 different wine stopper designsavailable as well as the affordably

priced Bordeaux wine aerators.Suggested Retail Price: $15

LSArts[tel] 877.929.1414www.lsarts.com

HUROM SLOW JUICERJoin the Slow Juice revolution andchange theway to get vitamins with thisone-of-a-kind,new and improved juiceextractor. Recently featured on “TheMartha Stewart Show”and by numerousconsumermagazines,the original HuromSlow Juicer is a versatile machine thatcan be used for everyday juicing or forproducing unique food recipes, glazesand marinades. Users can even maketheir own homemade soy milk,wheatgrass juice, almond milk or tofu.Hurom provides more antioxidants,better flavor, and freshness without thecommon problems of heating, foamingor separation. The original, patentedHurom Slow Juicer preserves the integrityof vitamins, minerals and enzymes withits revolutionary Low Speed TechnologySystem and stands apart fromconventional juice extractors with itsmany unique features. It is practicallysilent with its quiet, slow-rotatinginduction motor. It has all of theperformance of a masticating, single-auger juicer, but with much less spacerequired and lighter in weight thantypical centrifuge-style juicers. It alsoonly uses 150 watts, making it the mostenergy-efficient juice extractor on themarket. The screwlike auger and thejuice strainer are both now made fromthe ultra-strong GE Ultem material andare BPA-free. The Hurom’s self-cleaningfeature allows for continuous juicing andhassle-free care. Themotor comes witha 10-year warranty.Made in Korea.Suggested Retail Price: $359

Roland Products Inc.[tel] 800.321.2226www.slowjuicer.com

http://www.jewelstik.com


home entertaining

SORRENTO TIEREDTHREE-TRAY SERVERSorrento’s tiered three-tray server isavailable with one each ivory,gold andsage trays or all ruby (as pictured). Therustic glaze, raised dot-and-olive-leafmotif, and rich, earthy color palettecompliment a wide variety of decorstyles. Three removable trays arepresented in a hand-crafted,wrought-iron tiered caddy, perfect for servingappetizers and side dishes. Trays aremicrowave and dishwasher safe lead-free stoneware, in stock now.Suggested Retail Price: $69.99

Signature Housewares[tel] 805.484.6666www.sighouse.com

EDEN BAKERS BY PILLIVUYTFor the past several years Europeanshave experienced the real benefits ofusing Pillivuyt roasters and bakers righton the grill. Because the juices andseasonings are collected in the bakerinstead of burning up in the coals,morecomplex and highly flavored dishes canbe cooked on the grill just as they wouldin the oven. Developed by the Pillivuytdesign team to take the place ofexpensive disposable single-use foilpans, the versatile Eden bakers canbe presented directly from the grill,making them not only friendly to theenvironment but to the table as well.And because they’re made of Pillivuytporcelain they will keep food warmerlonger.Clean up is easy.Put them in thedishwasher or simply soak them in warmsoapy water and after a few minuteswipe them clean with a sponge. Also,SOS pads and other steel woolscrubbers will not harm the toughPillivuyt glaze. The bakers are availablein both black and white.Suggested Retail Price: $38-69

Pillivuyt USA[tel] 952.938.1672www.pillivuytusa.com

FUSIONBRANDS TASTINGCRADLESDeviled eggs, a comfort food, at-homeentertaining and picnicking staple, aremaking a grand resurgence on menusthis year.Wearing a new look and tasteas the latest trendy appetizer served atrestaurants and chic cocktail parties,deviled eggs are a savory,self-contained,flexible food no guest should gowithout.NYC’s famed gastropub, The SpottedPig, incorporates malt vinegar andpeperoncino red chili flakes in its recipe,while Seattle’s Seastar reclaims the retroappetizer with a salmon- or tuna-toppeddeviled egg.Moremodern adaptationsfeaturing everything from traditionalversions to adding ingredients like curry,spinach,hot sauce,caviar,blue cheese,

hollandaise, garam masala, wasabi,cream cheese, blue cheese, choppedham,Old Bay seasoning and more, aretantalizing taste buds from coast tocoast.Join the deviled egg revitalizationand add some spice to servingthese appetizers. It’s officially time—tosstraditional deviled egg trays and flaunttheir new look in fashion. Experiment,recreate, perfectly position and servecontemporary deviled eggs on theFusionbrands® Tastingcradles®, makingthem both easy to eatand visually striking whether resting ona paper plate or silver platter.Tastingcradles are a dishwasher safe,reusablemodern appetizer holders thatkeep fingers clean and are perfect fora buffet,picnic,holiday or luncheon.Witha built-in toothpick holder, they candisplay and pick-up saucy meatballs,shrimp, sushi, caviar, stuffed-mushroomsandmore small bites.Sold in sets of six inwhite or warm citrus colors.Suggested Retail Price:$6 white, $7 colors

fusionbrands[tel] 877.279.2002www.fusionbrands.com

OUTSET® SMALL AND LARGEHEX ICE CUBE MOLDSMake an icy impression straight from thetap. With six lines of symmetry, thesecubes offer ultimate chill in less space.The cells of a beehive honeycomb arehexagonal and offer the most efficientuse of space.The 100 percent pure food-grade-silicone trays are available in twosizes,small and large,and are both ovenand dishwasher safe. This new sassyentertainment tool is great for moldingicy treats, chocolate or candies.Suggested Retail Price: $8.99

Fox Run Brands[tel] 800.372.0700[email] [email protected]

http://www.corebamboo.com

http://www.wusthof.com


BUYERS GUIDEgraters

STAINLESS STEEL GRATERSDesigned to extract the best flavorfrom the food, these high-qualitystainless steel grating surfaces stayrazor sharp. Excellent for hardcheeses, onions, citrus fruits, ginger,chocolate and more. The blademeasures 8" long and the totallength, including the handle, is 13".All stainless steel and dishwashersaf, these graters are made in Italy.

SCI Cuisine Internationale[tel] 800.966.5489www.scandicrafts.com

JONAS OF SWEDEN’SCHEESE PLANESThe Swedes love their cheese andknow what tools are best. LindenSweden, Inc. offers the Jonas® ofSweden Cheese Planes.Presentedin the Prep It Up product line,the cheese planes are availablein three different styles. Anycheese, whether soft or hard, issliced effortlessly with one of thesecheese planes. All feature thefinest 18/10 stainless steel bladethat will stay sharp for years. Thesoft cheese plane is designed sothe cheese does not stick to theplane. The shredder is great for asmall amount of grated cheeseto top a salad, dish or pizza. Allare light and durable for ease ofuse. These dishwasher-safe planesare made in Sweden.Suggested Retail Price: $8.25 each

Linden Sweden Inc.[tel] 952.465.0052www.lindensweden.com

GRATE AND MEASURESharper than traditional stampedgrater blades, the etched blades onthe Grate and Measure keep foodtracking down the grater surface in asmooth, straight line,making the actionof grating safer for the consumer. Theclear, easy-to-grip container catchesand holds up to two cups and has atranslucent lid for storage. Both fineand medium-sized grater surfaces areincluded, and all the pieces snaptogether for convenient storage.Suggested Retail Price: $19.99

Progressive[tel] 253.850.6111www.progressiveintl.com

EVRIHOLDER‘NANA SLICER™Evriholder Products’ latestinnovation in its kitchen tools andgadgets category is the ‘NanaSlicer™—a unique device designedto make healthy breakfast quick,easy and convenient.The patentedslicer consists of two parts: a basethat the banana sits on and abladed lever that lowers onto thebanana, slicing it. Designed to cuthalf a banana at a time, the‘NanaSlicer creates the perfect toppingfor cereal or yogurt. The product ismade from BPA-free, food-safeplastics. And there are no sharpblades, so it’s kid-friendly, too.The ‘Nana Slicer is available intwo fresh colors: green and pinkassorted.And what’s even better isthe ‘Nana Slicer is top-rackdishwasher safe so clean up issimple.Perfect for cross promotionsin high-traffic adjacencies like thecereal aisle, the ‘Nana Slicer hashuge potential not only as aneveryday item,but also for seasonalpromotion during summer andJanuary NewYear’s resolution time.At an affordable price, the ‘NanaSlicer™ is sure to be a hit at retail.Suggested Retail Price: $3.99

Evriholder[tel] 800.975.0335www.evriholder.com

PEDRINI 3 IN 1 TWIST GRATERThe Pedrini 3-in-1 Twist Grater featuresa space-saving design with threestainless steel blades, eliminating theneed for separate hand graters. Userscan easily switch the grating surfaceswith a twist and the grater comesapart for easy cleaning.The fine bladeis for zesting, the medium blade is forcheese and the coarse blade is forvegetables and cheese.Suggested Retail Price: $14.99

Lifetime Brands[tel] 800.252.3390www.lifetimebrands.com

CUCINA PRO MOUNTABLECHEESE GRATERThis counter-mountable gratercomes with a smooth, whitepowder-coated aluminum bodyand two interchangeable drumsmade from durable and attractivestainless steel.Simply insert the druminside of the machine, turn thehandle bar, and grate away. Thestrong suction mount keeps the unitsteady on table or countertop.Thegrater includes two drum sizes: afine drum for hard cheeses, nutsand chocolate and a coarse drumfor soft cheeses and vegetables.Suggested Retail Price: $24.99

CucinaPro[tel] 216.342.1415www.cucinapro.com

GRATER PLATE SETThe well-designed grating teeth in thegrater plate puree garlic quickly andeasily. The grater may also be used forgrating ginger, shallots, nutmeg, nuts,chocolate, hard cheese, fruits andvegetables. The grater plate isbeautifully designed and is bothcadmium and lead free, non-porousand dishwasher safe.The set includesa ceramic grater plate, available infour different patterns; silicone garlicpeeler; and gathering brush.Suggested Retail Price: $14.99

IMCG Inc.[tel] 877.381.7259www.imcg.com


RÖSLE FINE GRATERThe Rösle Fine Grater combines surfacegrooves at the top of the grater,etchedblades and a concave shape to offerextremely quick and smooth grating.The wire frame and grating plate aremade from a superior quality 18/10stainless steel and are laser-welded,leaving no seams or corners to trapfood. The unit is dishwasher safe. Asheath clips onto the grating surfacefor safe storage.Suggested Retail Price: $29

Rösle[tel] 302.326.4801www.rosleusa.com

MICROPLANE ARTISANSERIES GRATERMicroplane’s new grater features awide blade design that is sturdilyframed on all sides in a highly durable,soft-touch rubber material. Stainlesssteel blades effortlessly cut throughhard and soft foods without tearing.Available in various colors, the soft-touch handle in black has theMicroplane logo etched in the samecolor as the frame hue. A black non-slip base provides stability and easewhen grating. The grater is dishwashersafe and made in the United States.Suggested Retail Price: $9.95

Microplane[tel] 800.555.2767www.microplane.com

SHARPER IMAGE3 IN 1 ERGONOMIC GRATERThis grater has three interchangeableblades for grating, fine grating andslicing.All the blades nest inside for easystorage. It has an ergonomic soft-griphandle for comfortable prepping, andalso features a generously sized foodcompartment for less mess. A non-slipbasemakes for safe grating and slicing.Suggested Retail Price: $19.95

Premier Kitchen Products[tel] 212.279.2466, ext. 347www.wpiny.com

SLICE CERAMIC GRATERThe slice™ ceramic hard cheesegrater designed by Karim Rashid hasrows of long-lasting sharp teeth—perfect for handling hard cheese.Non-allergenic and chemicallyneutral, ceramic is impervious to acid,fat and salt, plus it never rusts andstays sharp. And no holes means it’seasy to clean.Suggested Retail Price: $29.99

Slice Inc.[tel] 408.370.6050, ext. 1www.sliceproducts.com

MDC HOUSEWARES GRATERSThe MDC graters come in fourpractical sizes for every use. Theblades are made of heavy-gradestainless steel and graters come withnon-skid rubber bottoms and handles.The packaging consists of full wrap-around printed acetate to avoidharmful scrapes at store level. Thehand-held graters are produced withetched blades and come withprotective blade covers.Suggested Retail Prices: $5.99-14.99

MDC Housewares Inc.[tel] 514.315.4053www.mdchousewares.com

FOLD FLAT GRATERThis grater designed by GoodwinHartshorn not only looks great,but alsofolds completely flat for easy storagewhen not in use. When required, userssimply unclip the locking catch andopen it to create a traditional boxgrater. The side-grip handle makesgrating over food easy and the fine andcoarse stainless steel blades are perfectfor preparing cheese, vegetables andnuts. The grater also is dishwasher safe.Suggested Retail Price: $20

Joseph Joseph[tel] 516.248.1875www.josephjoseph.com

CUISIPRO FINE RASPCuisipro’s surface glide technologytakes the etched blade a step furtherand makes the grater moreproductive, grating more with lesseffort. A protective cover on the raspdoubles as a measuring device. TheQR code on the packaging links to aninstructional video.Suggested Retail Price: $13

Cuisipro[tel] 866.849.4715www.cuisipro.com

HELEN’S ASIAN KITCHENPORCELAIN GINGER GRATERThe Porcelain Ginger Grater by Helen’sAsian Kitchen® won’t stain, rust orabsorb odors and it is resistant to acids,juices, oils, salts and other elements.Designed with a wider body for easy-action grating, users simply peel theginger and rub it over the raised teethin a circular motion to extract a finelygrated pulp, leaving behind unwantedfibers. It can also be used for apples,carrots cheese, chocolate, citrus zestand onions. The grater is dishwashersafe for quick and easy clean up.(Helen’s Asian Kitchen is not affiliatedwith Joyce Chen Products.)Suggested Retail Price: $9.99

HIC—Harold Import Co. Inc.[tel] 800.526.2163www.haroldimport.com

GRIP EZ SLIM GRATERWITH CATCHERThe Grip EZ Grater comes with threesurfaces: fine,medium and coarse.TheGrip EZ handle allows for a stronger gripand prevents hand fatigue andcramping, while the slim style easily fitsin drawers and tight spaces. The graterfeatures stainless steel, razor-sharpblades and a removable base to catch,store and release food.Suggested Retail Price $17

Norpro[tel] 425.261.1000www.norpro.com


American FeiTian ................................................9

Core Bamboo .....................................................19

Creative Tops ......................................................15

FireWire..............................................................16

Fox Run................................................................24

Full Circle ..............................................................9

GLM.......................................................................5

Hewlett Manufacturing....................................18

Howard Naturals..................................................8

Lancaster Colony...............................................14

LS Arts....................................................................8

NYIGF.................................................................23

Parrish.....................................................................2

Picnic Time ...........................................................6

Pillivuyt USA/Marlux ......................................12

Pragotrade/Weston ...........................................14

Prodyne................................................................22

SCI Scandicrafts ................................................15

Signature Housewares.......................................13

Talisman Designs ...............................................17

Tribest ..................................................................10

Vinaroz...................................................................6

Vita Craft ............................................................12

Wilshire Industries...............................................7

Wüsthof-Trident of America ...........................19

ADVERTISER INDEX

{ n e w s i n b r i e f }Lynns Concepts Inc., a Los Angeles-basedmanufacturer and distributor to the stainlesssteel cookware and ceramics industries,named Michael Byrne as its new president.Byrne will work with Lynns’ partnersoverseas and will be the driver of all LynnsConcepts Inc. North American operations.Byrne brings 30 years of extensive productdevelopment, sales and sourcing experienceto Lynns. With the addition of a 100-acreindustrial park in southern China in 2005and a newly launched production facility innorthern China earlier this year, thecompany’s manufacturing capabilitiesprovide for customer involvement in design,production, quality assurance and timelydelivery. In previous roles, Byrne hastraveled the world as Executive VicePresident at Mesa Home Products andDirector of Sales and Product Developmentat both Waterford-Wedgwood andChurchill Tableware. Lynns Concepts hasexpertise in ceramics and developsdinnerware, bakeware, hotel ware, servewareand giftware for markets worldwide.

Alfred M. Rankin Jr., Chairman, Presidentand Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland-basedNACCO Industries Inc., was namedthe new Chairman of the UniversityHospitals Board of Directors. Rankin hasserved on the UH board in Cleveland formore than 25 years. For nearly two decades,Rankin has been head of NACCO. One ofNACCO’s three businesses is NACCOHousewares Group, which consists of

Hamilton Beach Proctor-Silex Inc., aleading designer, manufacturer, importerand marketer of small electric kitchen andhousehold appliances, as well as commercialproducts; and The Kitchen Collection Inc.,a national specialty retailer of brand-namekitchenware, small electrical appliances andrelated accessories.

David Kaplan has joined HearthwareHome Products, Libertyville, Ill., in thenewly created position of Director ofOnline Marketing. He reports to GeneH. Kim, Vice President, and Jay S. Moon,President. Kaplan will manage HearthwareHome Products’ online marketingprograms and campaigns to support thecontinued growth of the NuWave ProInfrared Oven and other companyproducts. He is also responsible forplanning and executing the company’s e-marketing strategy and budget. Kaplanimplemented new marketing programs forPeapod Online Shopping and Delivery asan Electronic Marketing Consultant,served as Online and Search MarketingConsultant for Discover Financial Servicesand was the Director of SEO & SEMfor TicketsNow.

Tramontina USA has unveiled thecompany’s 100th anniversary logo,celebrating the Tramontina Group’s 100years of quality products since it wasfounded in 1911. The company is namedafter Valentin Tramontina, an Italian

entrepreneur who founded TheTramontina Group in Brazil in 1911.Headquartered in Rio Grande do Sul, thesouthernmost state of Brazil, the companyoperates a network of 13 factories as wellas many distribution centers andrepresentative offices in key regionsworldwide, providing products to nationaland international retailers and itsconsumers. Tramontina USA is now oneof the largest corporate affiliates ofThe Tramontina Group. “Our 100thanniversary is a time to introduce newproducts and to thank our retail partnersfor their part in our continuing success. Itis also a time to focus on our commitmentto being a powerhouse for retailersby offering unsurpassed service andresponsiveness,” said Antonio Galafassi,President and CEO of Tramontina USA.

Irv Zakheim, President and CEO ofZak Designs, was one of three graduatesto be honored by California StateUniversity Northridge at the 13th AnnualDistinguished Alumni Awards ceremony.Zakheim joined Don Hahn, an Oscar-nominated producer and Carol Vaness, asinger with the Metropolitan Opera, asthe 2011 recipients of the CSUNDistinguished Alumni Award. “It ’sdefinitely an amazing honor, and I’mincredibly flattered to receive it,” Zakheimsaid. “I imagine that most of us hold ouralma mater in pretty high esteem. And tohave your school tell you that they’re proud

of what you’ve accomplished with yourcareer is extremely humbling.” In additionto founding Zak Designs 35 years ago andguiding the company to its currentstanding as a leading manufacturer oflicensed children’s dinnerware and trend-focused tableware, Zakheim has alsoestablished the Zak!Charity Open, whichhas raised more than $2.5 million for localchildren’s charities. Zakheim is also ownerof the Spokane (Wash.) RiverHawks, asummer collegiate baseball team heestablished as a non-profit organizationas a way to help increase and improve theopportunities for youth baseball in theInland Northwest.

Dave and Karen West, Owners of RollingPin Kitchen Emporium in Brandon, Fla.,were named Entrepreneurs of the Year atthe 2011 Cordon d’Or Gold RibbonCulinary Academy Awards at The DonCeSar Beach Resort and Spa. The awardsrecognize chefs, cookbook authors andculinary teachers internationally and inFlorida. Noreen Kinney, Founder of theCordon d’Or, developed the awards toelevate interest in good food and raise theprofile of food as a culinary art. Rolling Pinhas been a culinary resource for the TampaBay area and offers more than12,000products, including cookware, professionalcutlery and kitchen tools. Rolling Pin alsoboasts a 1,000-square-foot CulinaryCenter where eight to10 cooking classesare conducted weekly.

http://www.prodyne.com


Trade Show Buzz

{ t r a d e s h o w b u z z }

JULY 201110-12 NASFT Summer Fancy Food ShowWalter E. Washington Convention Center

Washington, DC 212.482.6440www.specialtyfood.com

13-20 Atlanta International Gift& Home Furnishings Market

AmericasMart AtlantaAtlanta, GA, 800.ATL.MARTwww.americasmart.com

19-25 California Gift ShowLA Mart Showrooms/

Los Angeles Convention CenterLos Angeles, CA 800.677.6278www.californiagiftshow.com

24-27 Philadelphia Gift ShowGreater Philadelphia Expo Center

Oaks, PA 678.285.3976www.urban-expo.com

28-Aug 3 The Chicago Market:Living and GivingMerchandise Mart

Chicago, IL 800.677.6278www.shopchicagomarket.com

AUGUST 20115-9Minneapolis Gift, Home & Accessory Show

Minneapolis MartMinneapolis, MN 800.626.1298

www.mplsmart.com

6-9 Orlando Gift ShowOrange County Convention Center

Orlando, FL 678.285.3976www.orlandogiftshow.com

6-9 San Francisco International Gift FairMoscone Center

San Francisco, CA 678.285.3976www.sfigf.com

10-16 Summer Gift andHome Accessories ShowPacific Market Center

Seattle, WA 800.433.1014www.pacificmarketcenter.com

13-16 The Seattle Gift ShowWashington State Convention

& Trade CenterSeattle, WA 678.285.3976www.seattlegiftshow.com

14-18 New York International Gift Fair/Gourmet Housewares Show at NYIGFJacob K. Javits Convention CenterNew York, NY, 800.272.SHOW

www.nyigf.comwww.thegourmetshow.com

26-30 Tendence Lifestyle, CollectionFrankfurt Fair & Exhibition CenterFrankfurt, Germany, +49 69 75 75 0

www.messefrankfurt.com

At the Atlanta International Gift & HomeFurnishing Show, July 13 to 20, a series ofchef demonstrations feature earthenware,pizza-making techniques and baking withhealthy grains.

On July 14 from 1 to 2 p.m., Chef JohnPisto will present “The Whole Enchiladas,Cooking with Earthenware,” sponsored byCeraSpain. On July 15, from 11 a.m. to12:30 p.m., regional cuisine will be thedemonstration, sponsored by All-CladMetalcrafters, proffered by Chef LintonHopkins, who will prepare an all-inclusivemeal in one pan. To celebrate All-Clad’s40th Anniversary, special anniversarycasserole pans will be raffled off at the endof the presentation.

Mary Moore, owner of Atlanta’sCooks Warehouse, will provide severaldemonstrations. On July 15 from 3:30 to4:30 p.m., her heart-healthy focus,sponsored by L’Equip, will include wholegrain bread making with the BoschUniversal Plus Kitchen Machine and theL’Equip Nutrimill, including tips onintroducing these products for sale instores. Then, on July 17 from 11 a.m. tonoon, she will present the first U.S.demonstration of Revol’s new Revolution

Launching new businesses, chefdemonstrations and presidential insightsare among the highlights of upcomingsummer trade shows.

The Washington, D.C., Fancy Food Show,July 8 to 12, is featuring about 20 sessionsand special events, with two separatepackages available for start-up businesses,and a two-day Super Retailer Summit forspecialty and natural food retailers andsupermarket food buyers. Sessions will bepresented by experts such as Paco Underhill,author of “Why We Buy,” and AriWeinzweig of Ann Arbor’s Zingerman’sDeli. The course list for the main show isfull of subjects for the new-to-marketretailer, including Taking Your Products tothe Marketplace, Understanding Pricingfor Beginning Manufacturer, and Learningthe Lingo of Specialty Foods.

For veterans, there’s Coming Soon toa Shelf Near You: Restaurant-to-Retail Product Trends, Guided Tasting:Reviving the Relish Tray, and GuidedTasting of Kosher Cuisine: The Classicand The Contemporary. Exhibitorsare creating some advance buzz aboutthe show on the event’s Facebook page(www.facebook.com/fancyfoodshows).

of trends in the foodservice and restaurantworld. Nearly 1,800 exhibitors from morethan 100 countries showed everythingfrom hardcore pro kitchen equipment tofluffy lifestyle fads. The show hostedthousands of registered guests and plentyof hungry locals.

Celebrity and bona fide Chef TomColicchio turned up, as did Chef MarcusSamuelsson; Wylie Dufresne was spottedlooking at stoves. Other TV chefs drewcrowds as well, as did less typicalappearances by golfer Greg Norman—forhis own-named line of premium Australianmeats—and reality show sea captainSig Hansen.

So what was on the show floor? VeteranNRA attendees noted a rise in Asianexhibitors, reflecting both ever-more price-driven sourcing and America’s increasinglyglobal palate. An area at the show hostedsix different vendors pitching for food truckbusiness, from fabricators to marketingconsultants and even a complete franchisedtruck concept—a sign the trend is about toeither go mass or go bust. Gluten-free andnatural/alternative foods were strong aswell, continuing their push from homekitchens to main street menu availability.

cookware, which works with virtually anycooking surface from induction to flame-top. There will be a drawing for oneRevolution item at the end of thepresentation.

Closing out the demonstrations on July17, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Chef MarkBello, sponsored by Kasperzak andAssociates and Emile Henry, will teachmastering the home-baked perfect pizzausing the Emile Henry Pizza Stone andRectangle Baking Stone.

The inaugural GIFT + HOME at LasVegas Market, Aug. 1 to 5, features formerPresident Bill Clinton as the keynotespeaker, sharing his unique insights andsolutions on the most pressing economicand social issues in the United States andabroad. Clinton will focus on the challengeof globalization, emphasize our growinginterdependence, and illustrate a commonfuture based on shared goals and values.Following his keynote address, Clintonwill participate in a moderated question-and-answer session.

The National Restaurant Association(NRA) 2011 show was held May 20 to 23in Chicago, and provided a good snapshot

by Theresa Grant & Rocelle Aragon

C A L E N D A R2011TRADE SHOW

http://www.thegourmetshow.com

http://www.foxrunbrands.com

kitchenware news july 2011

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