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NPD: Housewares Sales Grew 3 Percent Last Year
Sales of home-related products – including small appliances, non-electric housewares and home fashions – increased 3 percent in 2013, reaching $46 billion in sales, according to The NPD Group.The majority of the sales growth came from small appliance categories, which grew 7 percent in 2013, while non-electric housewares increased 1 percent.“Consumers are spending more on their homes, from adding items to spruce up the appearance, to upgrading with better quality, performance or convenience in mind,” said Debra Mednick, executive director and home industry analyst for Port Washington, N.Y.-based NPD.All three major segments within the small appliance industry experienced dollar growth ... |
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Fresh Thyme Farmers Market Enters Agreement With KeHE Distributors
Fresh Thyme Farmers Market, a new natural grocer with an aggressive market development plan for the Midwest region, has entered into an agreement with KeHE Distributors. Fresh Thyme plans to open its first store in April in Mt. Prospect, Ill., and anticipates opening 59 additional stores over the next five years. The agreement covers all of the planned locations and involves a wide variety of product categories, according to a statement issued by KeHE.The stores’ signature offering will be an extensive produce department with organic and local fruits and vegetables. Full-service offerings will also include a natural meat department, healthy ... |
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Study: Retailers Must Deliver a "Total Retail” Experience
Shifting consumer expectations and behaviors demand a new approach from retailers who have historically relied on a multichannel approach.An increasing focus on the consumer and integrated customer-focused technology have paved the way for a “Total Retail” experience, according to a new study by PwC, titled “Achieving Total Retail: Consumer Expectations Driving the Next Retail Business Model.”Based on a survey of more than 15,000 online shoppers globally, the research identifies eight key consumer expectations that support the move to a Total Retail approach. “Consumers now view multichannel shopping as a given, and the costs and complexities of managing a multichannel model ... |
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Leading Housewares Brands Collaborate to Battle Pediatric Cancer
Leading housewares brands OXO, Bormioli Rocco and Breville joined forces with more than 40 of New York’s top chefs and celebrities to raise $900,000 for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer.The nonprofit organization – committed to finding a cure for pediatric cancer, the No. 1 killer of children in the U.S. – held its first ever Chefs for Kids’ Cancer benefit gala at The Altman Building in New York last week. Celebrities Paul Rudd, Karlie Kloss and the Barenaked Ladies joined the housewares companies to raise funds. OXO has been involved with Cookies for Kids’ Cancer since the beginning, when co-founders Gretchen ... |
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NY NOW Partners With Museum Store Association on Educational Program
A first-time partnership between NY NOW, the Market for Home + Lifestyle, and the Museum Store Association (MSA) will bring a new half-day educational program to the summer 2014 market.MSA’s Certificate Learning Program addressing merchandise planning and financial management will be presented both at MSA’s annual conference and exposition, as well as at key U.S. gift and home markets across the nation. The forthcoming session at NY NOW will be hosted Aug. 16 in New York. MSA is a nonprofit, international association organized to advance the success of nonprofit retail and the professionals engaged in it. “NY NOW attracts a ... |
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Fresh Thyme Farmers Markets Plans Aggressive Midwest Rollout
Fresh Thyme Farmers Markets, a new specialty grocer featuring healthy and organic value-priced offerings, announced that the Midwest chain will open more than 60 new stores and create approximately 5,000 new jobs throughout the Midwest over the next five years. The company’s first market will open in Mt. Prospect, Ill., this spring, followed by eight more grand openings throughout the remainder of 2014. “Fresh Thyme Farmers Markets will be a completely new grocery format for the Midwest,” stated Chris Sherrell, president and CEO, Fresh Thyme Farmers Markets. “We’ve taken the experience of an outdoor farmers market and combined it with ... |
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Renfro Foods Honored With Texas Treasure Business Award
The Texas Historical Commission (THC) recognized Renfro Foods, maker of the Mrs. Renfro’s brand of specialty salsas, sauces and other products, with the Texas Treasure Business Award, making it one of only 129 businesses in Texas that have been awarded this honor. Created in 2005, the award recognizes well-established Texas businesses for their exceptional historical contributions to the state’s economic growth and prosperity for 50 years or more. “This is quite an honor and privilege to be recognized with this award,” said Doug Renfro, president of Renfro Foods. “Our longevity as a company and the longevity of our employees, some ... |
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IACP Names Cookbook Award Finalists
The International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) announced the finalists for its Cookbook Awards, Bert Greene Awards and Digital Media Awards. IACP’s awards program, which has been in place for 28 years, honors the innovative work of food and culinary thought leaders throughout the world. “This year’s finalists represent some of the brightest and most forward-thinking leaders whose work will have a lasting impression, influencing from what we eat and drink to how we cook and connect through food,” said Meredith Deeds, chief executive officer of IACP. The gold standard among cookbook awards, IACP’s Cookbook Awards have been presented for ... |
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New Jura Hospitality Center Opens
Jura, the Swiss pioneer in automatic espresso/coffee machines with U.S. offices based in Closter, N.J., opened its new Jura Hospitality Center in Manheim, Pa. The 25,000-square-foot facility includes a new 2,000-square-foot showroom, plus an expert service department that provides 24- to 48-hour turnaround for servicing Jura machines. Retailers who carry the Jura brand, as well as consumers, can visit the Jura Hospitality Center for a bean-to-cup experience, sampling espresso-based beverages from the 11 different Jura models on display. “The Jura brand has always been identified with our commitment to the utmost in quality and our highly trained U.S.-based customer ... |
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IH+HS Cooking Theater to Host Celebrity Chefs
Celebrity chefs, including “Top Chef Masters” host Curtis Stone and “Cake Boss” Buddy Valastro, will top the lineup appearing in the Cooking Theater at the 2014 International Home + Housewares Show (IH+HS) March 15-18 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. The Cooking Theater is the focal point of Savor Home, the revitalized Gourmet Food + Specialty Products category in the Dine + Design Expo in the South Building. On hand will be exhibitors of specialty and gourmet treats, and the tools used to prepare them. The chef demonstrations will begin at 11:30 a.m. March 15 and continue through March 18. Other celebrity ... |
