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News
Global Housewares Sales Increased 2.6 Percent
Global housewares market data show an overall retail sales increase of 2.6 percent in 2013, slightly lower than the 2.9 percent increase posted in 2012, according to the International Housewares Association’s (IHA) newly released 2014 State of the Industry Report.In the United States, total housewares sales increased 5.9 percent in 2013. Meanwhile, average U.S. household expenditures declined 2.5 percent, according to the IHA. The mass merchants/super centers channel was the sales leader in all housewares categories for the second consecutive year. Retail channels where percentages of total housewares sales versus prior year increased include: Internet retailers, supermarkets, warehouse clubs, variety/one ... |
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Quarterly Market Trackers for Key Housewares Categories Released
Riedel Marketing Group (RMG) is releasing the first ever Market Tracker, an in-depth quarterly report providing essential insight into the what, where, why and how of Americans’ housewares buying decisions.Conducted quarterly, the survey’s U.S. sample targets consumers who purchased cookware, bakeware, and/or kitchen gadgets and tools in the previous quarter. Market Tracker collects data on consumer purchases from all retail and online channels of distribution and retailers.“We are excited to release this in-depth groundbreaking Market Tracker to the housewares industry. For the first time, companies who manufacture, market and sell cookware, bakeware, and/or kitchen gadgets and tools will be able ... |
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Chefs Forecast Top Menu Trends for 2015
Local sourcing, environmental sustainability and healthful kids’ meals continue to gain steam as the top trends on restaurant menus in 2015, according to the National Restaurant Association’s (NRA) annual What’s Hot culinary forecast. The NRA surveyed nearly 1,300 professional chefs – members of the American Culinary Federation (ACF) – to find which foods, cuisines, beverages and culinary themes will be hot trends on restaurant menus in 2015.“As consumers today increasingly incorporate restaurants into their daily lives, they want to be able to follow their personal preferences and philosophies no matter where or how they choose to dine,” said Hudson Riehle, ... |
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Indulgence and Health Top 2015 Bakery Trends
While seemingly contradictory at first blush, indulgence, health and portion sizes are the top trends that will drive in-store bakery purchases next year, according to the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association (IDDBA).“We’re seeing greater use of ‘superfoods’ in bakery products such as pomegranate and chia seeds, especially in breakfast bakery,” Lynn Brotzman, associate client manager for Nielsen Perishables Group, noted in a new IDDBA research report. “Gluten-free breads, rolls and muffins are also generating interest.”Millennials are particularly drawn to these types of ingredients in bakery products, according to an IDDBA research report, Engaging the Evolving Shopper: Serving the New American Appetite. “As millennials ... |
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IRI: Hispanic Shopper Spending Up 200 Percent Since 2000
Hispanic shoppers account for one-sixth of the U.S. population (53 million people), and they’ve increased their spending by more than 200 percent since 2000, according to Information Resources Inc.’s (IRI) new HispanicLinkWith purchasing power projected to surpass $1.7 trillion by 2017, this is a critically important segment for retailers of all types to attract and serve better, according to IRI’s HispanicLink 2014 segmentation, which links shopper attitudes directly to their purchase behaviors.Like other shopper groups, Hispanics vary tremendously in terms of such demographics as income, age, country of origin, lifestyle, and the use of digital, social and mobile communication platforms ... |
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Textile Brand Chilewich Opens NYC Store
Chilewich, the well-known textile design brand, opened its first retail store in New York’s Flatiron District. Sandy Chilewich, creative director and founder, said, “For quite some time, we knew that we needed to improve how our products were displayed in stores around the world. We needed designers who would be genuinely respectful and inspired by our products and our unique brand voice. We were looking for originality and a concept that would become a signature for our brand at retail.” Chilewich said while she and her husband and business partner, Joe Sultan, were walking around SoHo, they noticed the artisanal ... |
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North American Tea Championship Recognizes 11 Single-Serve Teas
The North American Tea Championship (NATC) named 11 first-place winners in key categories of its Packaged Single-Service evaluation. The Championship is the only independent competition, judged by professional cuppers, to distinguish the highest-quality and best-tasting teas that are commercially available in the North American marketplace. The evaluation took place Nov. 6 and 7 in Las Vegas. Some of the winning teas will be featured at the upcoming World Tea Expo at the Long Beach Convention Center, May 6-8. “The North American Tea Championship evaluations are the only competitions in North America that fairly rank tea products available in the ... |
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Love With Food Acquires G-Free Foodie
Love With Food, an all-natural and organic subscription snack service, acquired G-Free Foodie Box Club to cater specifically to a growing community of gluten-free and gluten-intolerant consumers. G-Free Foodie’s KC Pomering will curate a monthly box offered through Love With Food. According to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA), an estimated 18 million Americans are gluten-sensitive, but gluten-free food options are limited. Love With Food’s G-Free Foodie curated boxes will deliver a variety of hard-to-find offerings to consumers’ homes each month. Favorites can be purchased off the Love With Food website. In addition, surveys are available to customers after ... |
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Woodblock Chocolate Teams With Cocoa Research Center
Woodblock Chocolate, a bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturer in Portland, Ore., has collaborated with the Cocoa Research Center at the University of the West Indies in St. Augustine, Trinidad, to create a chocolate bar made from more than 2,400 types of cacao representing the efforts of the International Cocoa Genebank. There are only 65 pounds of this chocolate in existence and the bar, called Trinidad Fundare, will sell for $100 with all proceeds going to the maintenance of the Genebank’s living library of cacao, representing one of the most diverse collections of cacao varietals in the world. Established in 2010 by husband ... |
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Tetley Insures Tea Blender’s Taste Buds
British tea company Tetley has taken out a $1.58 million insurance policy on the taste buds of one of the company’s master blenders. The company said it purchased the policy to protect the delicate palate of Sebastian Michaelis, a master blender who spent nine years studying at tea gardens in Africa and India. “Our master blenders have over 900 years of tea-tasting experience between them and taste 40,000 cups of tea every week,” said Alex Snowden, senior brand manager at Tetley. “This is essential to achieving the best blends. So, their taste buds are extremely important to our business.” Michaelis ... |
