Gourmet Business March 2014

The first quarter is a busy trade show month, kicking off with the Winter Fancy Food Show in January and culminating with the International Home + Housewares Show (IH+HS) this month, to which we have dedicated a large portion of this issue.

Turn to page 62 to explore our IH+HS preview, where we open with an analysis on the economic indicators and forecast for
the segment, as well as the top new product trends. All signs point to an uptick in the housewares market due to rising housing sales and lower unemployment levels. To make it easy for readers to peruse a selection of the many new products to be showcased at the show, we’ve organized the preview section into four main categories – bakeware and cookware, kitchen gadgets, small electrics, and tabletop – beginning on page 69.

And be sure to stop by the Gourmet Business booth S2086 featuring special events and displays that focus on discovery, education, merchandising and design. Come experience our Digital Discovery Zone, Knowledge & Tasting Center, Inspired Merchandising Display, New Products Discovery Corner and the introduction of Mulange, a new consumer digital publication from Gourmet Business.

Also in this issue is an in-depth category report on cookware, page 53, which highlights how healthy lifestyles are influencing new product introductions, as well as a look at how kitchen electrics are going high-end and hassle-free, page 16.

We’ve also featured an exclusive retailer profile on Whisk – operator of two charming kitchenware stores in foodie neighborhoods of New York City – which highlights how these stores have carved strong niches for themselves with carefully curated assortments offered at fair prices (page 35).

And not to give short shrift to fine foods given the heavy emphasis on housewares this month, we’ve included a piece on free-from foods, page 28, a growing and important segment on which many gourmet retailers are focused.

We hope you find this issue helpful in charting your course at the Housewares Show!

Maureen Azzato
Managing Editor
Gourmet Business 

mazzato@gourmetbusiness.com