Gourmet Business April 2015

With longer daily hours of sunlight and the winter thaw upon us, it’s hard not to get excited about spring and all the wonderful activities that await us, especially those that will take us out of doors. The thought of picnics, barbecues and tailgating events are most likely dancing in all of our heads, as gourmet retailers are certainly preparing to creatively merchandise their stores accordingly. 

While barbecuing is becoming a near all-year- round affair, spring, summer and early fall remain the core outdoor entertaining seasons. And having just returned at press time from the International Home + Housewares Show, there are a multitude of exciting new products for retailers to expand their outdoor gadgets and tools, as well as tabletop and serveware inventories to tantalize customers with. Our feature, “Outdoor Entertaining Goes High- End, Hassle-Free,” on page 10, explores the “glamping” (short for glamorous camping) trend and how it is driving a slew of new product introductions. 

Of course, convenience and functionality rule for outdoor entertaining just as they do for indoor kitchenware products. According to one manufacturer, it’s all about “[outdoor] accessories that pull double duty, are easy to understand and use, and made of materials that will withstand the punishment strewn at them by the consumer.” Interest in global cuisines also influences outdoor dining, and housewares manufacturers are rising to the occasion with products that support Latino, Asian and Italian grilling from pizza and stir-fries to quesadillas and fajitas. 

And what would outdoor grilling be without the right marinades, rubs and sauces? For more on this, turn to page 15 for “Feelin’ Saucy.” Some of the more unique flavors and sauces I look forward to sampling include Purry-Purry Sauce by Fat Cat Gourmet Foods (their take on the classic South African condiment Piri-Piri), and Boozy Bacon Barbecue by Stonewall Kitchen. How can you go wrong with the three B’s – bacon, bourbon and barbecue? I’m there! 

Maureen Azzato
Managing Editor, Gourmet Business 

mazzato@gourmetbusiness.com