Kitchenware News • July 2021

THE PANTRY:

FOODIES FOCUS:

FEATURED PRODUCTS:

Harvest Snaps

Social Responsibility

Franmara

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Vol. 27 • Issue 4 July 2021 • $7.00

Barbecue Season Heats Up as Industry Enjoys Sizzling Sales

BY A.J. FLICK

Americans do love their barbecue, with millions firing up their grills this month.

The Fourth of July is the most popular American holiday for grilling, according to a 2020 survey of grill owners by Statista, a top market and consumer data researcher. Nearly 70 percent of those surveyed say Independence Day is a great excuse for a backyard barbecue.

Cont. on page 12

Advertiser Index . . . . . . . . . . .22

Knowles Brings Voice Control to Smart Home Appliances

Old Salt Merchants Spice Kit Benefits No Kid Hungry

Linen Beach Towels Evoke Vacation Fun

SEE PAGE 10

SEE PAGE 12

SEE PAGE 14

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KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW • JULY 2021 • www.kitchenwarenews.com

from the

PUBLISHER

editor We are seeing the aftermath of the historic pandemic, with industries taking stock of the disastrous year of 2020. Although business boomed for some, many companies staggered under the weight of collapsing economies. As we all know, doors closed – some for good.

Thankfully, things are opening up now, though it’s anybody’s guess how long the recovery will take. As trade shows gear up (in person!) and consumers return to stores, we’d like to know what is going on with your company or group. Do you have plans for the pandemic “after times”? What measures did you take during the pandemic to survive, and will they continue? What’s on your mind? Feel free to drop us an email at editor@oser.com.

This is a bittersweet homecoming for me, to be the editor here.

I’m glad to be back, but I’m missing Lorrie Baumann. I enjoyed working with her. Perhaps our journalism backgrounds helped us form a bond. We had spirited conversations on geeky, word nerd stuff that would bore most people. She was one of the best editors I’ve known. An editor risked the wrath of Lorrie by letting too many typos slip past, or God forbid, allow double spaces between sentences. One time, we discussed the meaning of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” and how most people misunderstand the message.

Kimberly Oser VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES Anthony Socci

That’s when I learned Lorrie had a wonderful voice, as she belted out the entire song. Her version beat many of the numerous “Hallelujah” covers I’ve heard. Lorrie’s wealth of knowledge about trade shows and the industries that our publications span is sorely missed.

But there was a time when trade publishing was new to her, too. I know she was forever grateful to Mr. Oser for taking a chance and hiring her. Nobody can replace Lorrie. When I think “What would Lorrie do?” I swear I can hear her answer, “Doesn’t matter what I’d do. Just do what you think is right.” Back in the old days of journalism, when reporters used typewriters and their words were set in hot type to be printed, reporters would end their stories with the number 30 enclosed by dashes, centered on the page. It signaled the typesetter that there were no more words to follow. It was famously used to eulogize legendary war correspondent Ernie Pyle. So, in memoriam: Lorrie Baumann -30— AJ Flick Senior Editor

anthony_s@oser.com PRODUCTION MANAGER/ART DIRECTOR Yasmine Brown SENIOR EDITOR AJ Flick aj_f@oser.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jeanie Catron jeanie_c@oser.com CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER Susan Stein customerservice@oser.com CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Tara Neal CIRCULATION MANAGER Jamie Green jamie_g@oser.com ADVERTISING SALES Alisha Dicochea EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Heather Albrecht heather_a@oser.com

Kitchenware News & Housewares Review is a publication of Oser Communications Group Inc. 1877 N. Kolb Road • Tucson, AZ 85715 520.721.1300 www.kitchenwarenews.com

FOUNDER Lee M. Oser Periodicals postage paid at Tucson, AZ and additional mailing office. Kitchenware News & Housewares Review (USPS012-625) is published 7 times per year (Jan., March, May, July, Sept., Nov. and Dec.) by Oser Communications Group, 1877 N. Kolb Road, Tucson, AZ, 85715 520.721.1300.

Publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material or prices quoted in newspaper. Contributors are responsible for proper release of proprietary classified information. ©2021 by Oser Communications Group. All rights reserved Reproduction, in whole or in part, without written permission of the publisher, is expressly prohibited. Back issues, when available, cost $8 each within the past 12 months. Back issue orders must be paid in advance by check. Kitchenware News & Housewares Review is distributed without charge in North America to qualified professionals in the retail and distribution channels of the upscale kitchenware and tabletop trade. For subscriber services, including subscription information, call 520.721.1300. Printed in the USA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Kitchenware News & Housewares Review, 1877 N. Kolb Road, Tucson, AZ 85715.

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KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW • JULY 2021 • www.kitchenwarenews.com

ROLF GLA SS

SIGNS KAY DEE DE

PAMPA BAY

housewares

DISPLAY on

at Atl anta & Las Vegas Markets

As the pandemic in America begins to wane and the number of vaccinated individuals continues to rise, retailers and consumers alike are beginning to resume a semblance of normalcy. A welcome part of this returning normalcy is the return of in-person trade shows, where companies can promote their products and connect with others in the industry.

International Market Centers (IMC) is eager to facilitate this connection.

“Buyers and sellers are preparing for a strong market as industry recovery continues and business approaches pre-pandemic levels,” said Bob Maricich, IMC chief executive officer.

Atlanta Market, held in July, and Las Vegas Market, held in August, will both follow Together Safely, IMC’s COVID-19 operating protocols. Safety procedures include social distancing, the use of PPE as indicated, handsanitation stations and enhanced housekeeping measures.

More information about IMC’s safety protocols can be found at www.togethersafely.com.

Both markets will feature housewares products in showrooms and temporary exhibits.

July’s Atlanta Market will present its most expansive product offerings since the beginning of the pandemic, including the reopening of trade show destinations to accommodate resource growth, with nearly 800 lines presented in socially distant temporary booth

configurations on nine floors across the three-building AmericasMart campus.

AmericasMart features more than 300 home décor showrooms presenting lighting, accent furniture, rugs, wall décor, casual furniture and linens on 12 floors; more than 700 gift and lifestyle showrooms are located on 19 floors showcasing gift and specialty categories including children’s, gourmet foods and housewares, garden and outdoor living, lifestyle, tabletop, seasonal and more.

Las Vegas Market is expecting a surge of interest in its August show stemming from consumer demand for home products, expectation of a strong fourth quarter and laterthan-normal summer show dates. Organizers have mustered a robust assortment of gift, home decor and furniture products to fill retailers’ holiday inventory needs.

More than 4,300 furniture, gift and home decor resources are expected to cover three showroom buildings and temporary exhibits in the Expo at World Market Center.

The temporary gift and home presentation presents six destinations: gift, design, handmade, home, immediate delivery and luxe. New this year is the Gourmet Housewares Collection, a comprehensive and focused collection of some 100 new resources, including kitchen gadgets, cookware, small electrics, grilling tools, kitchen textiles, bar accessories, cookbooks, gourmet food and more.

These new resources will complement the Market’s more than 350 existing gift-oriented housewares and specialty food resources presented in permanent showrooms. Within the showrooms, the market will feature more than 2,000 furniture lines on 31 floors, more than 2,000 gift resources on seven floors and more than 500 home décor resources on 13 floors.

Exhibitors Carmel Ceramica will be exhibiting in both Atlanta and Las Vegas, showcasing its products including the Dappled collection of stoneware. Reminiscent of a leisurely stroll along a tree-lined path on a sunny afternoon, the collection now includes an 11-inch dinner plate along with salad plate for a full dinnerware set. Suggested retail is $33.

Visit www.carmelceramica.com for more information.

Inspired by Hoffman’s tale and Tchaikovsky’s subsequent ballet, Casafina raises the curtain to reveal a stunning selection of must-have items for the festive season. Both Atlanta and Las Vegas markets will see The Nutcracker collection, which reproduces beautiful scenes from the much-loved classical ballet, bringing music, dance and magic to the table. The same spirit of The Nutcracker that has captivated generations as a beloved holiday tradition is effortlessly brought to this enchanting collection by Casafina.

It’s easy to fall in love with this magical stoneware

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www.kitchenwarenews.com • JULY 2021 • KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW

collection. Consisting of several dinnerware, serveware and decorative pieces, The Nutcracker showcases original illustrations that capture the ethereal images from the beloved ballet. With its gentle flowing edges and handbrushed rims, the collection features a classic exuberance through different patterns of dancing figures, sweets and fairies, pine forests, toy soldiers, the Mouse King, Clara and the Nutcracker, posing like a childhood memory over a romantic white glaze. This complete collection will delight both adults and children and make the holiday season more meaningful and memorable. Suggested retail for the dinner plate is $35. For more information, go to www.casafinagifts.com.

Creative Co-op will bring its array of products to both Las Vegas and Atlanta, including 8-inch stoneware fruit baskets. Sold in sets of two, they’re perfect for serving fruit atop a saucer or tray and can also be used to contain dish towels and other kitchen accessories. There are two styles of 4.25-inch stoneware bowls sold with matching spoons, which look great when filled with olives, salt, or any other appetizer essential. Creative Co-op’s 8-inch round marble trivet has a simple, modern design and comes in a set of two. Decorative trivets can become part of the table decoration and already be in place when time to set out the food. Visit www.creativecoop.com for more information.

Pourtions will bring its whimsical, portion-control (but who’s counting?) products to the both Atlanta and Las Vegas markets, including the Book Club Wine Collection of “Hungover” and “Non-Diction” 15-ounce glasses. The only thing worse than showing up at a book club without having read the book? Drinking like you’re a Hemingway character on a Parisian bender (“beuverie” to the locals).

Everything really does sound better in French! So, mind the fine, colored line on your glass—and don’t let the best of wines become the worst of times. Suggested retail is $12.95 each or $23.95 set.

Other Pourtions products include the 10-ounce “Frisky” (MSRP $12.95) because what’s tasty and satisfying one minute can turn quickly if you’re not mindful, so keep your head; the “Bridezilla” and “I DID?!?!” ($18.95) 16-ounce flutes from the Wedding Collection to get the reception going; and “Basta” bowls ($18) so your go-to pasta dish doesn’t all “go to” your hips. For more information (and laughs), visit www.pourtionsjustright.com.

POURTIONS

Rolf Glass will put some Mad Men-inspired swank into the Atlanta Market with its Nick & Nora Coupe glassware, each with its own whimsical mid-century flair.

Then, to bring a touch of the outdoors inside, the Icy Pine glassware collection easily goes from the holiday table to a picnic table. Contrasting pine needles are diamond-wheel engraved and brilliantly polished to add dimension and sparkle. For more inspiration, visit www.rolfglass.com.

The fiesta is in Atlanta — Fiesta Dinnerware, that is.

Twilight is Fiesta Dinnerware’s new color for 2021. It’s a luminescent medium shade of blue that fits beautifully in the rainbow of Fiesta’s 16 signature colors. Last year, Fiesta’s 10¾-inch luncheon/salad bowl plates sold as fast as they were made. This year, Fiesta introduces a smaller 8½-inch version (suggested retail $21). Building on the popularity of the Coastal collection introduced in 2020, Fiesta has added a Seahorse intertwined with coral, a

starfish and sand dollar. Pieces include luncheon plate, tapered mug and appetizer plate (suggested retail $19.99-$46.99). For your Fiesta, go to www.fiestatableware.com.

Next Step Reps will exhibit in Las Vegas at their showroom with a variety of products such as Abbott’s Natura Collection Planter, which adds a natural aesthetic to a home with simple, minimalistic design (MSRP $30); Abbott’s Versa Chain collection, which offers a fashionable and convenient solution for keeping a mask or glasses accessible ($24); Regal’s Cabo Frog Decor, “Hands Up,” for a fun addition to the garden ($26); and Rega’s Unicorn, the newest of its mythical decor series ($150).

For gifting options, Next Step Reps will exhibit Kay Dee Designs’ Witty Wine collection, featuring towels that are funny and perfect for the times and girlfriend gifts ($10.99 each); Papersalt’s Encouragement Cards that features “There is only one of you in the world” greeting on the front and blank space to personalize a message ($4.95); and Brownlow’s Journal, Simple Inspirations softcover journals with 128 lined pages and affirming quotes ($9.99). For more information, go to www.nextstepreps.com.

AMEICO will exhibit at both the Atlanta and Las Vegas shows, showcasing such products at Tat-Tat’s Sacco Storage Pouch, a soft-weighted storage pouch in nine colors for personal accessories (MSRP $36); Izipizi’s reading glasses, which break the mold for their range of colorful and fashionable glasses ($40-$50); and Subu Product’s fall and winter slippers, inspired by centuries-old Japanese tradition but fully functional for today’s needs ($55-$65). For more information, go to www.ameico.com.

CARMEL CERAMICA

KALALOU

Atlanta Market Atlanta Market is the industry’s premier gift, décor and lifestyle market. Housing the nation’s largest gift product mix complemented by a broad selection of home décor, it features more than 8,000 brands across all categories. Held semi-annually at AmericasMart Atlanta, Atlanta Market attracts retailers and designers from every U.S. state and more than 60 countries.

The Summer 2021 Atlanta Market showrooms will be open July 13-19.

Temporaries are open July 14-18.

More information on the Summer 2021 Atlanta Market can be found at www.atlantamarket.com.

Las Vegas Market Las Vegas Market is the leading home furnishings and gift market in the western U.S., presenting more than 4,300 furniture, home décor and gift resources in an unrivaled market destination. Las Vegas Market features thousands of product lines, allowing for crosscategory commerce among these industries.

The Summer 2021 Las Vegas Market will be held August 22-26. A new highlight at this summer’s show is the brand-new Gourmet Housewares Collection, which includes kitchen gadgets, cookware, small electrics, grilling tools, kitchen textiles, bar accessories, cookbooks, gourmet food and more. These new resources will complement the existing gift-oriented housewares and specialty food resources presented in permanent showrooms.

More information on the Summer 2021 Las Vegas Market can be found at www.lasvegasmarket.com. KN

FIESTA DINNERWARE

CREATIVE CO-OP

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KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW • JULY 2021 • www.kitchenwarenews.com

Voice Control

Knowles brings

to

Knowles Corp. recently announced the release of its AISonic White Goods Standard Solution, which allows for fast and easy voice recognition in smart home appliances. The development kit enables building voiceactivated control and far-field speech recognition capabilities into smart appliances such as refrigerators, ovens, microwaves, washers and dryers for clothes, vacuums and dishwashers.

Samsung uses the Knowles White Goods Standard Solution in its FamilyHub for smart appliances.

Knowles provides advanced microacoustic microphones and speakers, audio processing and precision device solutions worldwide.

The White Goods Standard Solution lets consumers talk to the service of their choice, securely, simply by saying its name. That allows the Solution entrance into a broader ecosystem of smart appliance devices, which fosters greater product development freedom and innovation, according to Knowles.

Voice control is a driver in the growing smart appliance market. According to research by SAR Insight, more than 66

Smart

Home

Appliances

million voice processors for smart appliances are expected to ship by 2024.

“As the smart home appliance market matures and continues to expand, support

at Knowles. “The ability to ask your refrigerator to read aloud your grocery inventory, play a recipe video while cooking, or ask your oven to preheat while you prepare

for voice interfaces is expected to become a highly requested feature that consumers look for in new appliances,” said Vikram Shrivastava, senior director of IoT marketing

dinner, all contribute to the user experience.”

However, adding voice capabilities in the manufacturing process often leads to reduced power and memory constraints, Shrivastava

said in a press release.

“These constraints can have an impact on usability,” he said. “The AISonic Audio Edge Processor removes this friction by providing high performance in a small size, with high efficiency, privacy and compute power enabling customers to design modern products with far-field voice processing functionality for accurate listening. We also have an ecosystem of hardware system integrators that have developed modules to integrate with legacy appliance control boards.”

The AISonic White Goods Standard Solution is compatible with Amazon Alexa and other cloud-based automatic speech recognition software platforms.

The White Goods Standard Solution is part of Knowles’ new line of products for voice activation, control and contextual audio processing for TVs, portable speakers, soundbars, whitegoods and other interconnected electronics called Knowles Industry Standard Solutions.

For more information and availability, go to www.knowles.com. KN

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KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW • JULY 2021 • www.kitchenwarenews.com

benefits Old Salt Merchants Spice Kit

No Kid Hungry

Old Salt Merchants and No Kid Hungry have teamed up to launch an exclusive spice blend gift set, with $10 from each sale being donated to fight childhood hunger.

Our company’s mission is to enhance the food and cooking experience for all families, but we are also a small business that has made giving back to the community a top priority,” says Founder and CEO Monique Rodriguez. “We’re very proud to partner with No Kid Hungry to help fight childhood hunger

and to ensure that 1 in 6 kids facing a food shortage are fed–both during the

BARBECUE SEASON

attended a barbecue, with 88 percent saying they chose meat or steak at the barbecue and half saying they love grilled vegetables.

In the two weeks before the 2016 Fourth of July, beef sales topped $800 million in the United States, according to Statista.

Continued from page 1 Labor Day and Memorial Day are also popular holidays for grilling, according to the survey, with 56 percent of grill owners each. Father’s Day ranks next, at 42 percent, with Mother’s Day at 29 percent.

Not surprisingly, the barbecue industry is big business. In 2019, the barbecue grill market in the United States was valued at approximately $2.54 billion, according to Statista, which predicts the market will continue to grow through 2025.

Sales of barbecue sauces reached nearly $790 million in supermarkets in 2017.

Most barbecue enthusiasts prefer gas grills with electric grills being least popular, according to Statista. But the consumer data researcher says pellet grills and smokers are increasingly more popular.

Most grillers say they prefer the taste of barbecued foods. So, what’s on the grill?

Statista surveyed those who recently

Most experts agree that one of 2021’s biggest barbecue trends is grilled vegetables.

“2021 will be the year of the grilled vegetable,” says James Beard awardwinning author and barbecue expert Steven Raichlen, who just happens to have a new cookbook out called “How to Grill Vegetables.”

“Of course, we’ll continue to grill veggie standbys, like peppers, corn, and zucchini,” Raichlen blogged. “But we’ll also start grilling vegetables we would never have imagined, such as okra, snap peas and brussels sprouts on the stalk.

“We’ll use edgy grilling techniques once reserved for animal proteins, from emberroasting to salt-slab grilling to haysmoking. We’ll spit-roast whole cauliflowers as we do chickens and ‘cheesesteaks’ made with grilled mushrooms and rutabaga ‘cheese whiz,’” he wrote.

“Hardcore carnivores will grill veggies for their health benefits and as killer accompaniments for our favorite grilled meats. Vegetarians and vegans will grill vegetables for the smokiness and

pandemic and in the recovery to follow.”

The box contains 1.2-ounce jars of: • Soleil Red Clay Salt, a high-mineral salt found in red volcanic clay in deep shades of red and bold in flavor.

• Espresso Bean Sugar, made with Italian espresso beans and African cane sugar, ideal for baking, in tea or on the rim of a cocktail.

• Tokyo Togarashi, also known as Japanese 7 spice, made with brown sugar, Ichimi Togarashi chili, sesame seeds, ginger, black sesame seeds, roasted seaweed, chili, kosher salt and orange peel.

• Confetti Pepper Blend, a mix of white peppercorn, black peppercorn, whole allspice,

green peppercorn and pink peppercorn.

• Capri Blend, made with garlic, sea salt, sun-dried tomatoes, rosemary, fennel seed, lemon peel, black pepper, chili and citric acid. This is the perfect seasoning for vegetables, salads, pork, steak, lamb, fish and even tofu.

• Extra Bold Smoked Salt, an all-natural sea salt smoked with pecan, red oak, cherry, alder, maple, mesquite and apricot wood.

supernatural sweetness (that) live fire imparts to plant and dairy foods.”

Raichlen said grillers will build on 2020’s potato trend by upgrading to heirloom varieties such as Baby Dutch Yellow, Ruby Golds and French Rattes. Shishito and padron peppers, slender Chinese eggplants, exotic mushrooms, chayotes, Romanesco (a broccoli/cauliflower cross) and calcots, a Spanish leek.

In keeping with one of the hottest gourmet food trends, plant-based foods will also be grilled, Raichlen wrote.

“Move over prosciutto and speck. Make way for watermelon ham, smoked carrots and burdock root ‘meat sticks,’” he blogged.

“Plant-based charcuterie is coming our way bigtime.”

“In the coming year, we’ll see carrot ‘hot dogs,’ tofu ‘ham’ and other cured and smoked vegetables,” the author predicted.

That’s not to say that grillers are shunning meat, according to BBQ Industry, which serves as a resource for those going into the barbecue business.

Pitmasters may eschew the usual pulled pork and ribs for different cuts of meat such as tri-tip, pork steak and beef tongues.

Indeed, the nation’s top gourmet food gifting purveyor, Harry & David, last month launched a new online gourmet butcher shop, Harry & David Fine Meats, just in time for barbecue season. Grillers can choose from Bourbon-Peppercorn Marinated Steaks, Frenched Rib Pork Loin Chop, Teriyaki Chicken Breast and Maldives Tuna. Still want a burger? How about Wagyu Beef Burgers to upgrade the next backyard barbecue.

Judging by the proliferation of barbecue food trucks and Instagram posts, grilling

is booming and will continue to grow. For those starting out, or looking to gift a favored pitmaster, BBQ Industry recommended these essential tools:

The cause kit is available online at www.oldsaltmerchants.com for $58. The $10 donation from each sale will provide up to 100 healthy meals to children. KN

• Butcher block: BBQ Industry calls it the “pitmaster’s desk.” This is not a place to downsize. Having room for the cuts as they’re made is more efficient and a large block helps contain more juice, saving time and effort on cleaning up.

• Cimeter: It’s the go-to knife for cutting a large brisket and slicing beef ribs in one stroke. The best cimeter is a plain, razorsharp blade.

• Magnetic knife holder: It’s the best way to keep pit tools clean, within reach and organized.

• Gloves: Sometimes overlooked, they’re needed not just for sanitation and efficiency, but are vital when handling hot meats.

• Butcher board scraper (dough scraper, pastry cutter): It’s the most efficient way to clear a surface for the next cut of meat.

• Butcher paper: It keeps the moisture in meat, serves as a package for leftovers when taped up and even can be used to cover trays and tables.

• Knife sharpener: Leave the dullness to Uncle Bob’s fish stories. Keep the sharpener handy and in view, because regular maintenance of knives is important. KN

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KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW • JULY 2021 • www.kitchenwarenews.com

Evriholder Acquires Maker of Joie Products Evriholder Products recently announced that it has acquired Canadian company Murray Sales, which specializes in designing and creating impulse and kitchenware items under the internationally recognized Joie brand.

“We have focused on bringing novel and functional kitchenware products to the market for over 60 years,” Murray Sales Co-Presidents Harold and Ryan Abrams said in a press release. “This merger will help us jointly innovate new products under the Joie and Evriholder brands that can be distributed through our combined international distribution network.”

“Partnering with Joie adds another dimension for us in creating and innovating functional products for the home,’ said Ivan Stein, CEO of Evriholder.

The combined business will distribute products for the home through more than 100,000 retail doors and key e-commerce platforms worldwide.

Murray Sales has developed high-quality and innovative houseware designs in its Montreal headquarters. The Joie brand has two distinct lines, Essential and Novelty. The brand’s motto is “If it’s not a joy to use, it’s not a product of Joie.” KN

Linen Tea Towels Enhance Home, Retailer Decor One of the easiest ways to change home decor, depending upon season or mood, is rotating tea towels. Gourmet food retailers, tasting rooms, linen and home furnishing retailers, gift shops and other retailers could benefit from displaying quality tea towels.

Tea towels may also serve as table-toppers, cafe curtains, winebottle wrappers or just a splash of color in the kitchen or on the dinner table. Don’t forget they make great hostess gifts, too.

Mierco European Tea Towels come in traditional and contemporary designs, made in fine-quality jacquard from all corners of Europe.

Mierco also offers French Provence kitchen and printed tablecloths, French lavender embroidered sachets, shawls and throws, Euro-themed woven totes and more.

For more information, visit www.mierco.com. KN

Walford Home Launches Rustic Kitchen Utensil Holder Crock Jar

Walford Home recently launched a large country-style farmhouse kitchen utensil holder crock jar that helps home cooks become more organized while adding a pleasing, rustic touch to their home décor.

Walford Home, which supplies top-quality home and garden products, keeps its brand’s signature with the holder’s distinctive farmhouse feel. The holder comes in five colors: white, black, red, teal and cobalt blue.

From whisks to forks, the holder can handle any kitchenware essential. In addition to its aesthetics, the design of the sturdy holder makes it easy to clean.

Having an uncluttered kitchen saves time. With essential kitchen tools kept together at arm’s reach, there’s no need to hunt through drawers and cupboards. Counters and cooking surfaces are easier to clean when free from clutter, and an organized kitchen avoids duplication of food supplies and cooking tools. Experts say organized spaces reduce last-minute stresses of trying to find objects, promoting a sense of calm. In addition, cooking is more enjoyable in an organized, stress-free space, which makes consumers more likely to cook meals at home instead of ordering or going out.

For more information, go to www.walfordhome.com. KN

Linen Beach Towels Evoke Vacation Fun

Events of the past year scuttled many vacation plans. Aquatic destinations are opening up, allowing vacationers to hit the beach, relax poolside or enjoy a water park. Those who live in snowy locales can once again make plans for a sunny winter getaway.

Lightweight linen beach towels give all the drying comfort needed with minimal bulk in the suitcase or day bag. Even at home, beach towels brighten a bathroom, and of course, double as bath towels.

LinenMe offers a choice of seven colorways in two sizes and a range of patterns, which gives family members their own designated towel.

The towels are highly absorbent and made from sustainably produced European linen. KN

SUPPLEMENT TO JULY 2021

featured products

16

FRANMARA MINT JULEP CUPS

KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW • JULY 2021 • www.kitchenwarenews.com

COOK PRO CAST IRON COMBO COOKER

These distinctive, rimfull, polished stainless steel cups are used in the preparation of the classic mint julep. The famous Southern society drink itself is made with mint leaf, bourbon, syrup and ice. The original cup design descends from Kentucky in the early 1800s and is associated with drinks called smashes because of the use of a muddler.

These models have a raised base and are good for a variety of drinks—a classy glass to show off your mixeddrink skills. Add your business logo for a distinctive presentation. Laser engraving available.

The 8730 12-ounce retails for $4.59 and the 8731 15-ounce retails for $4.99. Email info@franmara.com for a free catalog, or visit the online catalog.

Constructed to last, this cast iron chicken fryer is perfect for a variety of cooking methods. From frying, grilling and braising to baking, searing and sauteing, this heavyweight, durable cast iron is built to last. Cast iron provides optimal heat retention and is ideal for high-temperature cooking. A generous 3.5-quart cast iron cooker with a versatile lid that doubles as a 10inch fry pan for added use. Preseasoned and ready to use, with a smooth, non-stick interior, if handled with care, this item can last a lifetime.

The suggested retail price for the 3.5-quart preseasoned Cast Iron Combo Cooker with 10-inch fry pan/lid is $64.99.

COUNTRY FRESH FUDGE

TWINE TABLET COOKING STAND

Franmara 800.423.5855 www.franmara.com

Country Fresh Fudge, in 12- and 6-ounce packages, is the perfect solution for all types of retailers, especially in these days of contactless purchasing and labor shortages. The attractive packaging allows the consumer to see the fudge itself.

Available in more than 80 flavors, Country Fresh Fudge is made with only the finest of ingredients, such as Belgian chocolate, AA grade butter, sweet cream, cane sugar and Dutch cocoa. Many flavors are all natural.

Country Fresh Fudge is also available in keto-friendly, sugar-free flavors. Low-cost private labeling is also available for those looking to make it their own.

All containers have a 9-month shelf life. Country Fresh Fudge in 12-ounce trays are packed eight per case, while 6-ounce trays are packed 12 per case.

Country Fresh Food & Confections Inc. 800.545.8782 www.countryfreshfood.com

Cook Pro Inc. 951.686.8282 www.cook-pro.com

The Twine Tablet Cooking Stand from True Brands, crafted from acacia wood, is perfect for the new wave of inspired at-home chefs, and accommodates tablets, smartphones and analog cookbooks – wherever recipes are found. (Item 4692, case of four, $20.99 wholesale each.)

Twine brand provides heartwarming home goods that are inviting and comfort-based, in both design and functionality. Inspired by vintage styles, natural materials and rustic elegance, Twine products are perfect for adding warmth and a welcoming touch to the modern household. Readily curate items that evoke a nostalgic sense of quality by combining cheese boards, glassware, countertop accessories and more.

As always, ordering with True Brands is easy and comes with no quantity minimums, free 90day returns, fast shipping and 100 percent satisfaction. Ask about seasonal offers for extended discounts and free shipping.

True Brands 800.750.8783 www.twineliving.com

STYLE COMBINES WITH UTILITY FROM ACCENT DECOR

Accent Decor will be in Building 1 during this winter’s Atlanta Market with Acacia Wood Cutting Boards hand-crafted in India. They’re safe for use with food, but they’re also beautiful enough to hang on the wall as decor. The Rina Pitcher is also just as much a showpiece. The clear pitcher has a handle that’s wrapped in cane knitting that pairs beautifully with a display of fresh flowers.

Accent Decor 770.346.0707 www.accentdecor.com

OLIPAC STAINLESS STEEL OLIVE OIL DISPENSERS FROM ITALY

Olipac brings four generations of craftsmanship in stainless steel kitchenware to the table with world-class olive oil cruets that improve the shelf life of the olive oil inside by shielding it from light, air and bacteria that degrade the oil’s flavor and antioxidant qualities over time.

Based in Tuscany, Italy, with its centuries-old tradition of olive oil production, Olipac offers a wide variety of olive oil cruets, from simple to complex forms. The olive oil dispensers also come in a variety of colors, including copper, gunmetal black, and the trending satin gold colors in addition to polished stainless steel. Gourmet Kitchenworks is Olipac’s exclusive distributor in the United States.

Gourmet Kitchenworks LLC 417.736.9619 www.gourmetkitchenworks.com

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NEGG HARD-BOILED EGG PEELER AND DEVILED EGG SEASONING MIXES

The best-selling Negg Egg Peeler now has the perfect complement. Look no further than the Negg Deviled Egg Seasoning Mixes.

Honored to be named the SFA 2021 sofi Award for Best New Product in the Spice/Seasoning category, Negg Deviled Egg Seasonings make perfect deviled eggs in no time―every time. They can also be added to spice up egg, tuna, chicken salads, sauces or used as a dry rub on meats and fish.

The Negg Deviled Egg Seasoning Mixes are available in four flavors: classic, cajun, curry and smoky ham.

Negg Deviled Egg Seasonings are available in single flavor case packs of 27. Negg Egg Peelers are available in single color case packs of 12.

Negg Egg Products 203.594.7781 www.faire.com

KIKUICHI 33-LAYER DAMASCUS SERIES

New for 2021, Kikuichi’s new 33-layer Damascus S33 series is everything your customer is looking for in a Japanese knife. These knives are surgical in their ability to make prep work a breeze. The VG10 edge is razor sharp, and it lasts and lasts.

With a full range from paring to 240mm chef’s knife, this line covers all the bases. The true Damascus layering is stunning to look at and will become a showpiece in any kitchen, while the Kiritsuke style clip point shape is on everyone’s mind right now, making this line a slam dunk.

Kikuichi www.kikuichi.net

TEFLON PLATINUM PLUS NONSTICK

Teflon nonstick coating systems last longer than pans with ceramic or silicone coatings, and are dishwasher and metal utensil safe.

Chemours ensures durability by providing a nonstick coating that is not only abrasion- and scratch-resistant, but also helps protect against adhesion and corrosion. It’s this balance of properties that keeps these nonstick coatings performing like new, year after year, so there’s little erosion to the wallet. That’s because high-quality Teflon coatings have been perfected over 50 years.

Teflon nonstick coatings are the finest nonstick, with a variety of products to meet the variety of cooking needs. All Teflon products are quality tested to live up to the Teflon brand promise: easier cooking and cleanup, time after time. Teflon Platinum Plus nonstick is the most scratch- and abrasion-resistant Teflon branded nonstick finish to date.

The Chemours Company 866.205.1664 www.chemours.com

SOUP AND SANDWICH SETS FROM DEMDACO

An inspired design, this bowl-and-plate combination from DEMDACO conveniently merges two serving pieces into one easy-to-use dish. Deeptoned neutrals highlight the look of hand-sculpted stoneware, giving it decorative appeal. The set retails for $30. See it in dark gray, light gray, blue and cream.

DEMDACO www.demdacoretailers.com

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adventure KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW • JULY 2021 • www.kitchenwarenews.com

ready

for

Foil Decor Containers for Transporting Dishes

Transport your casserole anywhere in style with Foil Decor serving containers for foil pans. They have the look of a casserole dish, but are made out of plastic. Bonus: the handles don’t get hot. The snap-on lid can be inverted to use as a bowl for your favorite dip. Find at the Atlanta Market and at www.foildecor.com.

Young’s Inc. Tabletop Designs Take the Party on the Road

When the celebration needs to be portable, turn to Young’s Inc.’s tabletop designs that feature the bright summer shades of blue and white — the perfect splash of color for any outdoor celebration.

The offerings include wood-carved cake plate with enamel, spoon and fork with enamel set, enamel cheese platter with knife, bowl with enamel inside, chopping board with enamel and with enamel trim. Find at the Las Vegas and Atlanta markets and at www.youngsinc.com.

BruMate’s Collection Encourages On-the-Go Hydration

Whether you’re running errands or enjoying the great outdoors, you need to keep hydrated. BruMate’s new Toddy is the world’s first leakproof insulated mug with a handle, holding 16 ounces of hot or cold drinks for hours. Suggested retail $29.99. Hopsulator Slim in Onyx Leopard is the first triple-insulated, stainless steel can cooler designed for 12-ounce slim cans. Suggested retail $19.99. Hopsulator DUO is the only triple-insulated, stainless steel can cooler that doubles as a 12-ounce tumbler. Suggested retail $29.99. Find at Next Step Reps at the Las Vegas Market or www.nextstepreps.com.

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Eco- and Bee-Friendly Toff & Zürpel Beeswax Wraps

Beeswax wraps are water-repellent, flexible and reusable, replacing aluminum, cling wrap, disposable plastic bags and bulky lunch boxes. Cover dishes and plates with the cloth; cling to cut fruit and vegetables; and wrap salads, herbs, cheese and bread. Use the heat of your hands to mold the wax to the surface to be covered. Beeswax-covered organic cotton sheets sell from $13-$40 retail. Toff & Zürpel use sustainable practices with ethical bee treatment. Find at AMEICO’s booth at the Atlanta and Las Vegas markets and at www.ameico.com.

The Insulated Food Container for the On-the-Go Lifestyle

RIGWA is an insulated food container designed for active families.

The RIGWA bowl features vacuum insulation, a leakproof top and the style that makes it work even when the site for adventure is the backyard patio or the picnic table at the park. The basis of the current product line is the RIGWA 1.5 Steel Insulated Bowl, which contains 48 ounces of food. It’s constructed with a patented air-tight lid, and its double-wall steel construction keeps hot food hot for up to four hours and cold food cold for up to eight hours.

The RIGWA Divide & Conquer inserts are sold separately in a set of two inserts. One divides the container into three sections, while the other is a 28-ounce bowl with a silicone lid that fits snugly down into the 1.5 bowl. The inserts are safe in the microwave oven, freezer and the top rack of the dishwasher. The RIGWA 1.5 Bowl retails for $39.95, while the Divide & Conquer Inserts retail for $19.95. Colors available for the Bowl include Sea Foam, Coral, Black Sand, Blue Dusk, Snowbird, Slate, Sunrise, Stainless and Sullivans Sand. For more information, visit www.rigwalife.com or email support@rigwalife.com.

Galleyware Melamine Tableware Gets Around

For decades, melamine has been appreciated for its sturdiness and versatility. Now enjoy its fun side with Galleyware 16-inch platters featuring whimsical designs of Newport, Rhode Island; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Savannah, Georgia. The two-handle melamine tray has Southern charm with its design of Charleston, South Carolina. And the 20-ounce stainless steel tumbler displays a New Orleans theme. Find them at the Atlanta Market or www.galleyware.com.

Eco-Friendly Envirocooler

LifeMade’s Envirocooler is an eco-friendly cooler to take along for an outing in the park or to bring out for casual entertaining in the backyard. The white soft-sided foam cooler holds about 20 quarts and is made from an additive-infused insulation product that breaks down in a landfill in less than four years, leaving behind no microplastics. LifeMade is a market leader in sustainable disposables, and the Envirocooler is designed to perform while it’s also good to the planet. For more information, visit www.lifemadeproducts.com/envirocooler.

Charcoal Grills Make Backyard BBQs Easy on Chef

The IG Stainless Steel Charcoal BBQ and IG Matte Black Edition Barbeque are a pair of charcoal grills designed to solve some of the frustrations that backyard chefs experience in their culinary endeavors, according to Designer/Inventor David Illulian. The grills that Illulian invented share several features: stainless steel construction, a mechanism that raises and lowers the charcoal bed to control heat, folding side trays and a bottom rack for extra storage. The cooking surface measures 34 inches by 16 inches. They also feature four wheels to make the grill easy to move from one location to another, a large cooking surface for grilling skewers – a favorite of Illulian’s – and a removable, retractable ash tray. Assembly requires no tools: even the screws provided with the grill are butterfly screws, so that they can be finger-tightened, so one person can assemble the grill in about half an hour to 40 minutes. Retail price is $499 for both the black and stainless steel models. For more information, visit www.igbbq.com.

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KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW • JULY 2021 • www.kitchenwarenews.com

The Pantry ELEPHANT-FRIENDLY TEAS FROM REPUBLIC OF TEA

LEISURELY PURSUITS

HIPPIE SNACKS ALMOND CRISPS

Republic of Tea has a pair of teas certified as Elephant Friendly, with its Bold Black Chai Tea and Bold Green Chai Tea. The Bold Black Chai Tea, inspired by traditional masala chai, has a base of strong black Biodynamic® Assam leaves infused with warming spices: cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, clove, and a hint of black pepper. It’s also available as part of Republic of Tea’s Chai Teas Stackable Tin, which also includes the Bold Green Chai Tea as well as Mushroom Cacao Chai Tea. The stackable tin contains 12 round unbleached tea bags for each of the three varieties and retails for $15.25 per tin. The tin of Bold Black Chai Tea alone retails for $12.25.

Hippie Snacks has just launched Almond Crisps and a new Cauliflower Crisp line extension. The Almond Crisps are available in three delicious flavors – Sea Salt, Rosemary, and Cheezy Chive – and all have real almonds as the first ingredient. The new Almond Crisps are grain-free, gluten-free, plant-based, minimally processed, paleo friendly, and have 5-6 grams of protein per serving. The Cauliflower Crisps pack similar attributes and are gluten-free, plant-based, minimally processed, and have 6 grams of protein per serving.

Republic of Tea www.republicoftea.com

Hippie Snacks www.hippiesnacks.com

BUBBIES

Bubbies individually wrapped Vegan Chocolate and Vegan Strawberry Mochi are decadent, non-dairy frozen desserts surrounded by sweetened mochi dough for a delicious, plant-based twist on a classic Japanese novelty. Perfectly portioned in new individually wrapped packaging, this rice-dough based treat is made with real, non-GMO ingredients. It’s also gluten-free for a mindful indulgence that anyone can love.

Bubbies Homemade Ice Cream & Desserts Inc. www.bubbiesicecream.com

PERFECTLY CORDIAL COCKTAIL MIXERS

Created with handpicked fresh fruits and a blend of spices, Perfectly Cordial brings no-nonsense cocktail mixers to the home bar, making craft cocktails and mocktails accessible for both the novice and enthusiast bartender. Each Perfectly Cordial premium craft mixer is made from a variety of fresh squeezed juices, a unique global spice blend and pure cane sugar, and do not contain artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.

Simply mix with your favorite spirit for the perfect cocktail, or combine with sparkling water or tonic for a refreshing mocktail. Seasonal flavors and holiday gift packs are available.

Perfectly Cordial www.perfectlycordial.com

LEGAL SEA FOODS HOUSE COCKTAIL SAUCE

The most sought-after ocean fare is best served with the perfect sauce on the side. By using Legal Sea Foods’ famous in-house recipes as inspiration, the specialty food makers at Stonewall Kitchen have crafted this Legal Sea Foods House Cocktail Sauce from quality ingredients for an unbeatable taste that’s sure to make waves.

A longstanding classic, cocktail sauce is all about big, zesty flavor. Made with tangy tomatoes, spices and a healthy dose of horseradish for heat, this tasty version has achieved the perfect balance of zip and zing and is sure to leave all others in its wake.

With a cocktail sauce as splendid as this one, the options aren’t limited to shrimp and oysters alone. Your customers will enjoy it spooned onto crispy crab cakes, served as a dip for fries and mozzarella sticks and even mixed into Bloody Marys.

Stonewall Kitchen 888.326.5678 www.stonewallkitchen.com

D’ARTAGNAN’S OSSETRA MALOSSOL CAVIAR

D’Artagnan’s Ossetra Malossol Caviar is unpasteurized, lowsalt and preservative-free, with an authentic, fresh flavor. This truly sustainable caviar is harvested from Siberian sturgeon on a state-of-the-art aquafarm in France that follows the strictest of animal welfare and environmental protocols. The high quality of the caviar is evident in its color, flavor and texture. The round, plump pearls have a lingering and nutty flavor reminiscent of hazelnuts or fresh walnuts. With ultra-silky mouthfeel and a color that ranges from clear gray to golden chestnut to deep brown, this buttery caviar is truly unforgettable.

D’Artagnan www.dartagnan.com

HARVEST SNAPS CRUNCHIONS

Harvest Snaps Crunchions are a plantbased, ring-shaped snack featuring nutrition-packed red lentils as the first ingredient. Pairing irresistible crunch with vegetable-first nutrition, the baked crisps offer a better-for-you alternative to conventional, corn-based snacks and pack maximum flavor in every bite. The tasty lineup includes Kick’n BBQ, Sour Cream Onion and Tangy Sweet Chili.

Powered by plant-based protein and free of starchy fillers, each crave-worthy crisp contains less sodium than other ring-shaped snacks on the market. Made with real vegetables, the innovative lineup is also certified gluten free, vegetarian friendly, and completely free of artificial flavors and colors, cholesterol and palm oil, plus the common allergens: soy, nuts, peanuts, wheat and eggs.

Calbee Inc. www.harvestsnaps.com/crunchions

BELLA SUN LUCI PLANT-BASED TOMATO JERKY

Bella Sun Luci Plant-Based Tomato Jerky has seen high increased media and buyer attention within the past year since launching the new snack. The plant-based chewy bite holds a fiber and protein content of 6 grams per serving. It is handcrafted, non-GMO, certified kosher, and vegan. The plant-based snack allows for mindful snacking with zero cholesterol and zero fat, making it a healthy addition to any lifestyle. It is gluten free, with little to no sugar added, and only 80 calories per serving.

Additionally, all of the tomato jerky flavors have recognizable ingredients and contain an easy-to-read nutrition label. Bella Sun Luci is at the forefront of healthy and convenient meat substitute snacks. Offering exciting flavor combinations, the tasty snacks are made using California grown and sun-dried tomatoes with authentic herbs and spices. The new Plant-Based Tomato Jerky Line is available in three different flavors, including Sriracha, Teriyaki and Cracked Pepper, and Hickory Smoked. Each exceptional flavor is so delicious that one is not enough. The snack is spicy and sweet, minus the meat.

Bella Sun Luci is a line of premium Mediterranean-inspired products created from authentic family recipes.

The line includes a variety of deliciously sweet sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil, sun-dried tomato chipotle sauce, pasta sauces, bruschetta spreads, estate-grown premium olive oil, risotto, marinades and new vegan jerky.

Mooney Farms www.bellasunluci.com

www.kitchenwarenews.com • JULY 2021 • KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW

Brass Roots: Healthy Snacks with a Mission to Serve Kids

BY LORRIE BAUMANN

Brass Roots is a New Orleans, Louisianabased snack food company that has taken New Orleans children under its wing as its social mission. The company is involved with a number of youth organizations in New Orleans, providing health and wellness education to the youth enrolled in the programs.

“Everything is generally focused around kids – it’s nutrition and kids,” said Aaron Gailmor, the company’s Founder and Chief Eats Officer. Part of that work involves teaching Southern cooking skills to youths at Covenant House, which helps formerly homeless teens find their way in the world.

When he’s not doing that, he might be teaching kids who are enrolled in Roots of Music, a program that helps kids pursue music even if their parents can’t necessarily afford to buy instruments, how to pickle vegetables. “Cooking is such an important part of getting back on your own two feet,” Gailmor said.

He finances the mission by making healthy snack foods based on sacha inchi seed as their hero ingredient. Sacha inchi is a native of Peru that’s also known as the Incan peanut. It behaves like a nut in recipes, but it’s free of the top nine allergens. “It crunches like a nut, but it’s a seed,” Gailmor said. “It’s more nutritious than any other nut out there.”

With 50 percent more protein and twice

the fiber of an almond, the sacha inchi seed’s taste and mouth feel are similar to a peanut or macadamia nut, Gailmor said.

“The crunch is snappier than a peanut,” he said. “When it comes to nutrition, it’s superior even to the almond.”

In addition to its high fiber content, the sacha inchi is also high in Omega-3 fatty acids, according to Gailmor. “The sacha inchi seed has a similar level of Omega-3 as a chia seed, which is considered to be one of the best plant-based sources,” he said.

Brass Roots sources its sacha inchi seeds from a supplier who grows them in Thailand and Laos and who is also involved with educating young people. The supplier runs a school and a university in rural Thailand and uses the proceeds from sales of sacha inchi seeds to finance those.

“He gives job training by having them help with roasting the seeds,” Gailmor said.

“We partnered with this product, Beyond the Seeds, because we very much saw eye to eye with our youth missions.

That’s why he’s become such a great partner there – because of these missions.”

Brass Roots has three different product lines. A line

Nutiva Advocates for Social Justice

BY LORRIE BAUMANN

Nutiva’s newest product is a line of four organic avocado oils packed into 12-ounce pouches that would be extremely convenient to toss into my chuck box the next time it feels socially responsible to pack myself, my cameras and my notebooks off to Grand Canyon to commune with ravens, watch the cloud shadows chase each other across the canyon walls and write myself into wholeness there where the Earth falls away at my feet. The Organic Avocado Oils include Organic 100% Pure Avocado Oil (a steam-refined oil that’s perfect for highheat cooking), Organic MCT Oil Blend Avocado Oil, Organic Hemp Seed Blend Avocado Oil and Organic Extra Virgin Avocado Oil (a full-flavored oil that can be used similarly to extra virgin olive oil) – all a good source of monounsaturated fats along with potassium, folate and Vitamins K, C and E, and all versatile enough to accommodate the needs of a menu based on whatever else I happened

Cont. on page 22

to pack into the box before pointing my Jeep north from Tucson.

Along with the oils themselves, Nutiva has packed into the squeeze pouches its own sense of food as a force for social and environmental justice that has been baked into the company’s being since it was founded by John Roulac in 1999. The Avocado Oil line is, like all of Nutiva’s products, organic certified to U.S. Department of Agriculture standards, and the company has overcome a short supply of organic avocado oil in the marketplace by helping to establish a regeneratively grown supply from Ethiopia.

To do this, Nutiva collaborated with a long-time sourcing partner to create a nursery program for Ethiopian women that helps them develop independent farming operations. “We have a long-term sourcing partner who specializes in organic superfood ingredients. They were exploring Ethiopia as an opportunity to expand production and were looking for branded partners to work with them,” said Nutiva Vice President Cont. on page 22

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Divine Chocolate Empowers Its Growers to Enrich Lives

BY LORRIE BAUMANN

Divine Chocolate is on a mission to serve the 100,000 Ghanaian cacao farmers who co-own the brand and use the fair trade premiums generated by their cacao sales and producer support programs to pay for a wide range of programs from literacy and tenant rights advocacy to funding for new cacao sheds – whatever the farmers decide will make their lives easier and their chocolate better. Troy Pearley is the Executive Vice President and General Manager for Divine Chocolate North America, and the farmers cooperative that grows the cacao for the brand is Kuapa Kokoo, which means “good cocoa farmer.”

Divine Chocolate is owned by Weinrich, a German chocolate manufacturer, and Kuapa Kokoo, the farmers who grow the cacao.

The Kuapa Kokoo cooperative started out in the early 1990s with 2,000 farmers in 22 villages. Now its 100,000 farmers are organized into 66 districts in six regions of Ghana. “That’s just because of the way they do business and the transparency of the organization. The farmers trust them

BY LORRIE BAUMANN

in Ghana and want to work with them,” Pearley said. “I have the privilege of running a company that has a social mission. Our aim is to have a positive impact on society and be a good catalyst for change.”

About a third of the cooperative’s farmer members are women, and many of them are involved in the cooperative’s literacy

program. “The program is almost a women’s empowerment program,” Pearley said. “Women are saying things like how they’re glad that they’re able to read now, so that they can encourage their daughters to pursue their own ambitions rather than settling for a life at home. I was really taken aback at how empowering literacy can be.”

While Kuapa Kokoo operates as the source of the cacao, Divine Chocolate is the company’s sales and marketing arm. It was founded in the United Kingdom in Cont. on page 22

A Little Light After a Year of Storms

What Mark Singleton wants to remember about 2020 is not the divisiveness of our election politics but the way Americans came together to help each other through a disaster of Biblical proportions. Not the damage unleashed by a tornado that ripped through Nashville, Tennessee on March 3, just as the storm clouds of the COVID19 pandemic had already begun gathering over New York, but the American can-do that brought a community together to sing Nashville back afterwards. Not the hardships of feeding a country populated by people afraid to go into a grocery store, but the hard work by the truck drivers who crossed the miles to bring the food that stocked the shelves. And not the operational difficulties of running a food processing company through a pandemic but the determination and good cheer of workers in Rudolph Foods plants who kept coming to work to meet increasing demand for food products that would be loaded onto those trucks for delivery to grocers across the country. “We’ve been working harder than ever – I have never been this busy,” Singleton said. “In the midst of all that, you’re seeing, all over America, unbelievable things.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the first laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19

in New York City was diagnosed on February 29, 2020. “The subsequent 3-month period was characterized by a rapid acceleration in the epidemic, resulting in approximately 203,000 cases and 18,600 deaths among persons with laboratoryconfirmed COVID-19,” according to a CDC Morbidity and Mortality Report dated November 20, 2020.

In Singleton’s memory, though, the year of disasters really began, not with the first rumbles of American experience with a global pandemic, but with a tornado that ripped through Nashville in the early morning hours of March 3. The tornado was part of a storm cluster that ripped through central Tennessee, killing 24 people and wrecking hundreds of buildings.

Tornadoes were reported several times across a 145-mile stretch of central Tennessee, and they wreaked devastation that deprived hundreds of people of their homes.

In response to the emergency, Southern Recipe Small Batch, a Rudolph Foods brand, organized a week-long series of virtual concerts featuring up-and-coming country music artists to raise funds for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee and MusiCares, a non-profit organization that had formed a COVID-19 Relief Fund Cont. on page 22

22

NUTIVA Continued from page 21 of Marketing Anne Thompson. “A catalyst for this whole thing is that there’s pretty much an absence of organic avocado oil in the market.” Each avocado nursery can develop 6,000 seedlings. The program managed by a team of 30 women provides the farmers with training in organic growing and gives them the tools and the avocado seedlings that start them along the path to developing businesses intended to lead to their financial independence. “It was an investment in the future of organic in this important category,” Thompson said. “There were women taking the initiative to find independent business opportunities.... Some of these women were looking to pursue new

BRASS ROOTS Continued from page 21 of Organic Sacha Inchi Butter is a nut-free, peanut-free alternative to peanut butter, which recently launched in Sprouts and is sold in Louisiana Whole Foods Markets. The Butters are offered in Classic, Unsweetened and Chocolate flavors and sold in 12-ounce jars that typically retail for around $11.99. The

DIVINE CHOCOLATE Continued from page 21 1998 after Kuapa Kokoo, which had organized with help from a European nonprofit organization, decided that it needed to form its own chocolate company to create an international market for its products.

When the company moved into the American market, Divine Chocolate was launched in the U.S. on February 14, 2008, on the occasion of a visit to the White House by a delegation of the Kuapa Kokoo farmers. “Even from the early 1900s, it was very important that women’s leadership was

A LITTLE LIGHT Continued from page 21 to help support the musicians whose livelihood had vanished because they were unable to tour during the pandemic. Five 30-minute concerts were performed in the living rooms of Ian Munsick, Carlton Anderson, Jordan Rager, Faren Rachels and Kasey Tyndall and streamed live through Southern Recipe Small Batch’s Instagram account. Southern Recipe Small Batch also donated $2,500 to each charity and offered giveaways to consumers who tuned in to watch. “The outreach effort and the response were unbelievable,” Singleton said. There’s just so many people out there trying to help right now. This thing has touched everybody.”

Singleton, who helped organize the concerts, is Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Rudolph Foods, which is the country’s largest producer of pork rind snacks. The company has a long history of engagement with communities throughout its market, so, even before all the tornado’s rubble had been cleared, the company was already rolling trucks to

KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW • JULY 2021 • www.kitchenwarenews.com

career opportunities at the same time that avocado expansion was happening in the region.” Nutiva imports the oil into the United States and processes and packages it into the 12-ounce pouches in its zerowaste facility in Richmond, California.

At home in Richmond, the company takes its commitments to social and environmental well-being just as seriously.

Its Richmond facility has run entirely on renewable energy for the past seven years.

Five years ago, the company launched the City Fruit Tree Initiative in partnership with the non-profit Common Vision. Since then, Nutiva has donated a fruit orchard to all 28 local public schools. “Another thing we’ve done is a partnership with Planting Justice, which is aimed at serving high-need students,” Thompson said.

Nutiva created an internship program a year ago in which six students learned plant propagation and care as a way to help them consider organic agriculture as a career path. “We’re continuing to support in other ways for that organization,” Thompson added. “We feel that doing right by our community and the environment – we need to start with our own business.”

A little farther from home, Thompson herself has been involved in the creation of a two-part webinar that’s open to the public and marketed through the company’s social media channels and those of its retail partners. In this “Tale of Two Plates” webinar, Dr. Qadira Huff, a Washington, D.C. pediatrician at Children’s National, an expert on the history of the American food system and

its relationship to systemic racism, is addressing racial disparities in health care by teaching families how to incorporate more plants in their diet as she advocates for food equity and racial justice in the food system. “The first part talked a lot about the history of U.S. agriculture being on the backs of a lot of enslaved people and the current reality about access to healthy food. The second part is more about solutions,” Thompson said. “It’s really exciting, and something we’re proud to do. We hope to have more on these current topics.... We have a deep commitment to bringing health to people and the planet. We’re running a business, but it’s not self-serving; it’s truly advancing a purpose for everyone. That’s the fiber of why Nutiva exists.” KN

Chocolate flavor is slightly sweetened with organic maple sugar. “I’m from Vermont, so I have some great maple sugar and maple syrup connections,” Gailmor said.

The second line is Roasted Sacha Inchi Seeds, offered in Lightly Salted, Honey Mustard and Salt and Vinegar varieties.

They’re sold in a 4-ounce stand-up pouch that retails for about $3.75.

The third is Crunch Puffs, grain-free,

high-protein puffed snacks that are packaged in 4-1/2 ounce bags that sit on a grocery shelf in the snacks aisle. Crunch Puffs come in Truffle Rosemary, White Cheddar and Jalapeño Cheddar and retail for about $4.29.

Brass Roots snacks are brokered by Presence Marketing, and national distribution is available through KeHE and UNFI. Packaging for the products appeals to consumers who’d like their snacking

purchase to support the company’s volunteer projects. “On all of our packaging, we talk about our social mission,” Gailmor said. “As soon as they pick it up and turn it around to the back to see the nutrition facts, they can also read about what we do in New Orleans and with our partner in Thailand and Laos.”

For more information, email info@ brassrootsfood.com. KN

in place,” Pearley said. “Women have always been highly involved in the decision making process at Divine Chocolate.”

Divine Chocolate’s identity as a fair trade brand is built into its B Corp status, and Kuapa takes particular pride in its transparency, according to Pearley, who joined Divine in 2012, first as director of sales and then advancing from there to become the company’s key decision-maker in North America as its General Manager.

“Kuapa Kokoo is led by Madam Fatima Ali, a Muslim woman, and a good deal of the cooperative is made up of Christian farmers who collectively have a common

goal. Personally, I am most impressed with how people from different beliefs are able to have a cohesive community and together grow a successful business.”

As a B Corp and Fairtrade company, Divine Chocolate and Kuapa Kokoo are regularly assessed on the structural integrity of the company. Since Divine Chocolate is just the sales and marketing operation for the enterprise – the chocolate bars themselves are made by Weinrich in Europe – Divine Chocolate has only about a dozen employees at its Washington, D.C. headquarters and another dozen or so on its global staff in England and Sweden.

The Washington location provides accessibility for Pearley to advance the company’s social mission through advocacy to U.S. foreign trade officials, as a board member for Fairtrade America and as a member of the National Confectioners Association’s Chocolate Council. “Divine Chocolate has a voice on this council because of who we are and what we stand for,” Pearley said. “We laugh at Divine about how chocolate can bring so many worlds together. We’ve used the power of chocolate to make positive change in the world. It’s always uphill, but I’m proud to say we’re moving in the right direction.” KN

deliver loads of pork rinds to hungry people. “Our Chairman [ James Rudolph] – almost immediately in the midst of all this, the tornadoes hit Nashville. We immediately saw that this was going to be ignored in the midst of this crisis. It’s been a really wonderful part of America that’s just been beat,” Singleton said. “We had truck loads of pork rinds. Luckily, we could find great partners to put them into the hands of people who need them.”

“We’ve helped food banks here, military food banks there. We’re just looking for every opportunity,” he added. “It’s a privilege to be able to, and it’s just so important right now as we get through this thing together.”

Over the years, Rudolph Foods has actively celebrated the role that truckers play in connecting its products with its markets, and Singleton also serves as a board member for the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund. That put him in position to see the toll that the pandemic was taking on truck drivers over the course of the year. The St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund is a non-faith-based charity that supports over-the-road truck drivers

and their families with a variety of services excluding actual medical expenses to help them stay well and assists with essential household expenses when drivers aren’t able to work.

“We depend on trucks to move all of our stuff from one end to the other of our supply chain,” Singleton said. “This year, more than any year in our history – the people that have stopped truckers to say thanks, the people who have donated to our St. Christopher’s Fund – this has been our highest fundraising year ever, and that’s because people now understand that there are so many invisible people in their lives… . I think we’re going to come out of this thing with a much greater appreciation for the work that gets done in this country.”

Some of that invisible work is done by the workers in the Rudolph Foods plants, who’ve been stressed by the demands of their jobs even though the configuration of their plants allows for social distancing in a way that many other food processing plants do not, Singleton said. “I can’t think of any time in my 30 years in manufacturing that it’s been harder to operate from so many directions,” he said.

“People are tired. This has been a slog… I am so convinced that if our customers knew how hard the people in our plant work to make the food taste great and to be safe, they’d pay us a lot more for it.

How lucky we are to be able to find so many people who care so much – is simply remarkable.” KN

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