Gourmet Business - May 2015

It’s impossible to capture all the new products that flooded the halls of the International Home + Housewares Show (IH+HS) in March, but there are certainly overarching trends that the editors of Gourmet Business observed across categories, from kitchen gadgets and barware to cookware, serveware, small electrics and tabletop. 

Without question, the influence of the fashion industry on design, color and texture – particularly in tabletop – continues. Lifetime Brands’ partnership with renowned fashion designer Elie Tahari on a new tableware collection is just one example of the rising influence of fashion on the kitchen and home. The collection debuts with six dinnerware and three glassware patterns reflecting the design details in Tahari’s spring apparel collection. 

While for years copper has been shunned in favor of other metal accents such as silver and stainless steel, copper was visible in many categories at the show, from tabletop to housewares, including Bodum’s Chambord Classic French Press coffee pot and RJ Brand’s Chefmans copper stand mixer, as well as copper-accented coffee cups and mugs, dinnerware and accent pieces from various tabletop manufacturers. 

And certainly one could not help but notice the multitude of popcorn makers at the show geared to making one of America’s favorite snacks in the microwave with less fat than stovetop preparation. For this reason, we dedicated a few pages in this issue to popcorn makers, which, by the way, were mostly designed in bright red. (Turn to page 27 for our complete IH+HS coverage.) Speaking of bright reds, primary colors made an impression all over as many designers brought forth strong color palettes, replacing the softer muted pastels and hues most popular in recent years. 

Technology-enabled tools for the kitchen also made their presence felt at the show, from smartphone-enabled housewares and apps for managing recipes to scales, timers and other temperature-control devices and appliances that can be monitored remotely from smartphones. With the Internet of Things gaining ground, we are certain to see even more smart kitchen appliances and tools coming down the pike. 

Maureen Azzato
Managing Editor, Gourmet Business 

mazzato@gourmetbusiness.com