The September edition of Kitchenware International delivers a number of category features that are currently seeing sales boosts. In the top nine of categories seeing an increase this year, portable beverageware is spotlighted this month, including the latest launches, as is coffee and teaware and bakeware. There's lots of retail this month - we focus on technology with our retail feature, where insider experts discuss the use of technological and digital solutions in retail, while our resident columnist Ben Salmon of Kitchen a la Mode advises how best independents can compete in the ecommerce space. We talk ecommerce and category sales with UK independent retailer La Cookshop and profile award-winning kitchenware retail multiple Lords in London. BHETA discusses the opportunities for housewares manufacturers in garden centres; and we talk to three award-winning global retailers to find out why they stand out.