By Andrea Lillo

New Product and program development and aquisitions are on tap for Evriholder with its recent investment from private equity firm ClearLight Partners.

EL PASO, Texas–Helen of Troy has acquired the global license for a line of hair-care appliances branded under “The Twilight Saga” from Summit Entertainment.

The line is under Helen of Troy’s PRO Beauty Tools grouping, and is branded as the “Twilight” Limited Edition Collection by PRO Beauty Tools. It formally launched on Oct. 1 as a lead-in to the debut of the film “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn-Part 1” at theaters on Nov. 18. The line will continue to be marketed in conjunction with the release of the DVD version of the film next year.

ROSEMONT, Ill.–The housewares category is surviving, and could end up thriving, because of ever-rapid changes in consumer behavior and at retail resulting from the economic downturn, according to Ken Harris, CEO of research firm Kantar Retail Americas Consulting.

CLOSTER, N.J.–Jura-Capresso has launched new advertising campaigns for two of its products, the Jura Impressa J9 One Touch TFT and the Capresso froth PRO.

For the Impressa, the company has teamed with tennis star Roger Federer, who appears in the ads as the Jura Ambassador. The ads are slated to appear in the New York Times, Robb Report, Barron’s, Architectural Digest and Bon Appetit.

TORRANCE, Calif.–William Bounds has instituted a Value America Program, offering retailers a selected assortment of value-priced, 100 percent American-made and assembled pepper and salt grinders.  These mills come in special Made in the USA display for year-round merchandising.

BOTANY, Australia–Stephen Audsley has resigned as CEO of Breville.

A company statement said Audsley has decided to relocate to Melbourne for family reasons. John Schmoll, Breville’s chairman, said Audsley will remain as CEO for the next few months, while the company conducts a global search for his successor.

NEW YORK–Revenues from Keurig’s K-Cup single-serve coffee cups and brewers will propel Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR) to a revenue of $2.7 billion this year, up 99 percent over last year, according to an analysis from Canaccord Genuity, a financial research firm.

FAIRFIELD, N.J.–TeleBrands has teamed up with the United Inventors Association to co-host joint Inventors Days throughout the year, allowing UIA members to demonstrate their inventions to a panel of judges for the chance to have them join TeleBrands’ product line. The first one is scheduled for Oct. 11 in Cincinnati; the submission deadline is tomorrow.

CHARLOTTE, N.C.–Eureka has introduced two new vacuums, the AirSpeed ABS and the Endeavor NLS.

The AirSpeed ABS is an upright that combines AirSpeed technology with the dust-locking features of a bagged vacuum. AirSpeed technology uses two wide, smooth tubes with limited bends and turns, allowing more air to pass through the vacuum. The direct air path from floor to dust cup decreases the distance for dirt travel, thus increasing the amount of air flow.

ATLANTA–A number of events are planned for the upcoming Atlanta Apparel Market, the Atlanta Fall Gift & Home Furnishings Market and Atlanta Gourmet Market, which are being combined for the first time at AmericasMart Atlanta.

CONGERS, N.Y.–Casabella Holdings has partnered with Melbourne, Australia-based Master Distributors to market and sell Casabella cleaning and kitchen products in Australia and New Zealand, effective immediately.

“Part of our long term strategy is to build and expand the Casabella business globally,” said Rob Moser, president of Casabella. “The Australian and New Zealand markets offer strong growth potential and Master Distributors is a natural partner to tap into that growth.”

COMMERCE, Calif.-Soho Lounge, one of Gibson Overseas’ best-selling reactive glaze dinnerware patterns, is now available in purple and green.

The reactive glaze pattern takes advantage of two of the market’s most on-trend colors, the company said.

AVONDALE, Pa.–Chef’sChoice has introduced two electric kettles geared toward gourmet stores, departments stores, online retailers and catalogs across the nation.

The Chef’sChoice Cordless Compact Electric Kettle is the company’s smallest-capacity electric kettle at 1 quart. It is lighter in weight than other models, is crafted with a brushed stainless steel body and boils water using 1,500 watts of power. Its cordless design allows the kettle to be easily lifted from the base for convenient filling, pouring and serving.

NEW YORK–Sur La Table, the specialty retailer in kitchen products, has been purchased by investment firm Investcorp for an undisclosed price.

The previous owners—the Behnke family, who purchased the first Sur La Table store in 1995; and private investment firm Freeman Spogli—will remain as investors in the company. Sur La Table now numbers 86 stores throughout the United States, and sells through its catalog, website and gift registry as well.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.–Private equity firm ClearLight Partners has acquired an ownership interest in Evriholder Products, LLC, a provider of impulse-purchase housewares. With a product portfolio spanning storage and organization, cleaning, bath and personal care, barware and kitchen categories, Evriholder will use the investment from ClearLight to fund a range of growth initiatives, including new product and program development and acquisitions.

NEW YORK–The Jay Companies will introduce its new licensed Jelly Belly collection at the New York Tabletop Show here next month.

Jay Company and Jelly Belly, the gourmet jelly bean maker, have teamed up to create a line of fun, whimsical and giftable pieces for the Jelly Belly aficionado. Included in the line are Flavor
Personality Mugs, Jelly Belly character and logo mugs, melamine dinnerware, Jelly Belly dispensers, gift barware sets, desktop Bean Jars, and more. The collection is scheduled to start shipping in early Spring 2012.

NEWTON, Mass., and MENTOR, Ohio—Euro-Pro and Guardian Technologies have both made Inc. magazine’s fifth annual 5000 list of fastest-growing privately held companies.

VALLEJO, Calif.–Meyer Corp.’s Anolon brand of cookware and kitchen products will return as a sponsor to The New York Botanical Garden’s Edible Garden Cooking series, which communicates the importance of using garden-fresh ingredients in home cooking. Now in its third year as sponsor, Anolon will host a series of cooking demonstrations in the Family Garden Kitchen, which is fully equipped with Anolon gourmet cookware, bakeware, cutlery, tools and gadgets.

BOLINGBROOK, Ill.–Personal-care retailer Ulta Beauty rode gains in sales and gross margin to an 83 percent increase in its second-quarter net income, to $23.9 million.

Net sales rose 23 percent to $394.6 million, which included a pickup of 11.3 percent in same-store sales—a significant gain coming on top of a 10.8 percent comp-store increase in last year’s second quarter. Gross margin in the quarter, which ended on July 30, climbed 170 basis points to 34 percent.

GARDEN CITY, N.Y.–Lifetime Brands has launched Ideate, a web-based application that allows retailers to customize a private label kitchenware line that will, according to Lifetime, cut months off the design process, save time and reduce costs. The program also simultaneously streamlines and coordinates packaging and point-of-sale displays.

STOCKHOLM–The Electrolux Design Lab 2011 competition was won by Adrian Mankovecky of the Academy of Fine Arts and Design Bratislava in Slovakia, for his portable spot cleaner.

The portable spot cleaner has two components, which the user separates and places on either side of a garment before choosing the suitable cleaning program. Powered with a sugar crystal battery, it uses negative ions and steam to refresh clothing and remove stains.

CANONSBURG, Penn.–All-Clad Metalcrafters continues to celebrate its 40th anniversary with the launch of the All-Clad Chefs Tour this Friday, Sept. 9.

NEW CASTLE, Del.–Lékué, a Spanish manufacturer of kitchen products that targets healthy, low-fat cooking, has formed a United States subsidiary, Lékué USA, which is based here.
 

VALLEJO, Calif.—Following a launch at the 2011 International Home and Housewares Show, Meyer will debut more than 25 new Rachael Ray and Paula Deen dinnerware and serveware collections at next month’s New York Tabletop Market, scheduled for Oct. 25-28.

The new casual tabletop collections, which include 10 holiday patterns, will be showcased at Meyer’s first-ever 3,000-square-foot showroom at Forty One Madison.  Meyer’s showroom number is 1701.

By Jessica Goldbogen Harlan

Laundry storage manufacturers are thinking outside of the box –er, hamper- to come up with new options that are better looking, more functional and more space-efficient. As industry players head into the fourth quarter, they say that better-looking pieces and items that work well in small spaces are top of mind for shoppers.

Polder Housewares, for instance, is looking to target college students, apartment dwellers or single women with a mini drying rack that can sit in the tub or on a table or counter. It sells for $14.99.

By Allison Zisko

Sur La Table has nearly doubled its floor space dedicated to Joseph Joseph in its SoHo store here, and it showcased those displays, along with exclusive new Joseph Joseph products, at a recent press event.

The specialty retailer has partnered with the design-oriented housewares company since 2009, according to Cindy Payne, director of merchandising for cookware, cutlery and cook’s tools, “and they’re growing at an accelerated rate.”

“Our customer comes in for newness and innovation. Joseph Joseph delivers on that,” she said.

COPENHAGEN, Denmark–Bodum has unveiled a Bodum-lab in its store in Paris, in which shoppers can test the company’s kitchen products. The concept, which was launched earlier this year at the company’s store in the Tivoli Gardens here, is intended to involve consumers in the testing and development of new kitchen products. In the lab, demonstrations are provided by professional chefs, and demonstration films are displayed on screens in the stores while customers test the equipment.

ANAHEIM, Calif.–Oggi has appointed Source One Marketing, a sales-representative firm, as its representative covering the South Central United States region.

The territory includes Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. Previously, Oggi’s representative for this section had been RGB Marketing.

Aji K. Das, Oggi president, cited Source One Marketing’s “collective experience” and its “vibrantly new” showroom at the Dallas Market Center.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.–Increases in both attendance and exhibitors made last week’s New York International Gift Fair the largest since summer 2008, according to GLM, the show’s owner and manager.

Attendance rose 5 percent over the numbers who visited the 2010 summer Gift Fair, to almost 35,000. More than 2,800 companies exhibited at NYIGF, up 110 over this year’s winter Gift Fair. The show ran from Aug. 13-18 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and at Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 and 94 in New York City.

OCONOMOWOC, Wis.–Tailor Made Products is building on its core competencies in the kitchen utensil and storage categories “to create a greater impact within this market,” the company said.

Tailor Made said it plans to continue to develop its capabilities in the home storage market. Product roll-outs will be ready for spring 2012. “We have worked hard to develop our process, which enables us to provide a cost-effective hanger that is engineered at a high level of quality,” said John Wilde, CEO.

WATERBURY, Vt.–Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, parent company of the Keurig coffee brand, has appointed Stephen Gibbs to the newly created position of chief accounting officer.

The post has been established to strengthen Green Mountain’s accounting function and overall financial control environment. Gibbs is responsible for the strategic leadership of the accounting operations, including financial reporting, accounting, tax, financial systems, policies and controls. He reports to Frances Rathke, chief financial officer and treasurer.

NEW YORK-The Gourmet Housewares Show has delivered on its promise to widen the playing field for housewares vendors who want to expand their channels of distribution and seek out specialty store and gift accounts, show attendees said this week.

The show, which made its debut here alongside the New York International Gift Fair, wraps up today. It leaves a swath of satisfied exhibitors, many of whom pledged to return to the venue next year.

NEW YORK–Recently launched members-only home and lifestyle flash sale website, The Foundary, thefoundary.com, has partnered with Tasting Table, a free daily email magazine that offers information about what it considers to be the best of eating and drinking culture across the country.

The Foundary’s premier “Guests at Home” series began earlier this week with a specially curated collection of Tasting Table’s top kitchen essentials.

TORRANCE, Calif.-Breville USA is readying a launch of six new products for this fall, positioning them as potential gifts for the holidays.

IRVINE, Calif.–DKB Household USA has appointed Vanessa Rozanoff sales director, based at the company’s headquarters here. Concentrating on the Southern territory for DKB, she succeeds Jim Connell, a long-time sales director who left the company to pursue other interests.

Prior to joining DKB, Rozanoff was at Mastrad, where she held a national sales and marketing position since 2009. She also has prior experience in a senior sales position with Gibson Overseas. Rozanoff  joins sales team members Charlie Wood, Jennifer Kessler and Richard Zugel at DKB.

NEW YORK–The New York International Gift Fair begins tomorrow at Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 and 94 and on Sunday at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

More than 2,800 companies will exhibit a wide array of design-driven home fashion products and complementary giftware. According to show owner and organizer GLM, approximately 35,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 85 countries worldwide are expected.

MADISON, Wis.—Sales of both Russell Hobbs and Remington products helped Spectrum Brands, their parent, to transform a third-quarter net loss of $86.5 million to net income of $28.6 million this year.

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Global Marketing Corp. and Giles & Posner have formed a joint venture to introduce a line of small appliances branded under the Hershey’s label.

The initial launch will include a hot chocolate drink maker, a mini-cupcake maker, two sizes of chocolate fountains, a waffle maker and a brownie maker. A statement from Global Marketing did not include details on retail pricing or when the collection is expected to reach retailers. The line will be showcased at next week’s Gourmet Housewares Show in the New York International Gift Fair.

TUALATIN, Ore.–Shun Cutlery will be an event and celebrity chef sponsor as well as the Official Knife of “The Bite of Oregon,” a Portland food festival that benefits the Special Olympics later this month.

The 2011 Celebrity Chef is Chef Bob Blumer, creator and host of the award-winning television series Glutton for Punishment and Surreal Gourmet. Both shows have aired on the Food Network in Canada and the U.S., as well as in over thirty countries worldwide.

The Bite of Oregon take place Aug. 12 – 14.

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y.-The NPD Group has launched a new tracking service for consumers of home appliances.

The new service is intended to provide a detailed view of both the small-appliance and major-appliance markets. It will track consumer behavior and attitudes based on surveys of NPD’s online panel of nearly 2 million participants, according to a company statement. As part of the new service, NPD will add coverage of the following product categories: home health care, electric kettles, water heaters and dehumidifiers.

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Electrolux Small Appliances North America is relocating from its former headquarters in Bloomington, Ill., to the new Electrolux North America headquarters here.

The move, which is expected to be substantially complete by the end of this month, means that all of Electrolux’s North American business units will be located under one roof for the first time, according to a company statement. The relocation of the small-appliance unit is the final step of the North American subsidiary’s overall relocation here.

GARDEN CITY, N.Y.–Lifetime Brands reported a rise in net income and a 4 percent increase in sales in its second quarter, which ended June 30.

MADISON, Wis.–Remington has launched its Red Chair Ready online community, which is dedicated to beauty and fashion.

TUALATIN, Ore.–Kai USA has unveiled a knife designed to teach school-age children proper knife skills.

The 4.5-inch polypropylene knife comes with a booklet featuring diagrams, illustrations, “how to” steps and tips on how to teach children nine and older basic knife skills.

NEW YORK–Nespresso is planning to launch the Pixie, its smallest coffeemaker ever, at the upcoming New York International Gift Fair.

CARROLLTON, Texas–Jokari is launching three gadgets that solve common household problems, the company said.

The Jokari Trash Bag Clip attaches to the side of any trash can and holds one side of the trash bag to secure it. A pack of two retails for approximately $1.99.

The new Jokari Recipe Holder mounts under any cabinet, holds two recipes at eye level, rotates 360 degrees and folds up out of sight when not in use. It retails for $2.99.

ECULLY CEDEX, France—Net income for Groupe SEB increased 4.5 percent in euros and 8.3 percent in dollars, totaling $130.6 million (using the average exchange rate of euros into dollars for the period).

By Allison Zisko

The move of the Gourmet Housewares Show to its new home and time slot in New York has pleased several housewares vendors, some of whom believe its co-location with the New York International Gift Fair will deliver two-for-the-price-of-one benefits.

The Gourmet Housewares Show has been repositioned to run alongside the Gift Fair, which takes place Aug. 14-18 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The Gourmet Show previously took place in May in various cities across the country, and was on hiatus last year.

ROSEMONT, Ill.–With its alternative dispute resolution (ADR) initiative, the International Housewares Association is driving toward reducing a major source of expense for its membership.

CRANBURY, N.J.–For the first time in its more than 87 year history, tabletop company Mottahedeh has leased a 440 square-foot venue at The New York International Gift Fair next month. The company, known for its high-fired porcelains in historical patterns, museum reproductions and prestigious licensing agreements, will showcase its tableware, decorative accessories and giftware.

CLOSTER, N.J.–The Jura ENA 9 One Touch from Jura-Capresso has joined the brand’s ENA model lineup of automatic coffee centers.

ST. PAUL, Minn.–MadeSmart is readying three new collections of organization products for the fall-winter and holiday shopping seasons. 

The Soft collection is a modular organizational system with a modern color palette and stylish patterns inspired by fashion. The Rubberwood collection, also modular, is made of sustainable and durable wood with an even and smooth grain. 

LYNDHURST, N.J.–Fagor America’s new collection of Cast Iron Lite cookware, developed in conjunction with celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein, will debut on HSN on July 29.

LIBERTYVILLE, Ill.—Hearthware has moved its office and warehouse here from Gurnee, Ill.

In a statement, the company, which manufactures the NuWave Pro Infrared Oven and other products, said the move is necessary “to accommodate its growing business.” It expands Hearthware’s total space from 77,000 square feet to 167,000 square feet. Along with added headquarters and warehouse space, the location has facilities for recipe testing and infomercial and website video production.

ATLANTA–Increased traffic, more and higher orders and an overall positive and optimistic mood among tabletop and gift buyers marked the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market, which wrapped up here yesterday.

PRAGUE, Czech Republic– This fall, luxury crystal maker Artel will launch a line of handcrafted glass dinner and dessert plates.

Building upon Artel’s existing repertoire of mouth-blown stemware, barware, and decorative crystal, the new plates are available in almost all of Artel’s 65 design motifs. The dinner plates are available

in any of Artel’s 14 colors or in clear crystal; the dessert plates are exclusively available in clear crystal.

READING, Mass.–Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick applauded Keurig and its parent company, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, for their commitment to innovation, job creation, corporate giving and volunteerism during a visit he paid to Keurig’s offices here on Tuesday.

MADISON, Wis.–Spectrum Brands’ Russell Hobbs division and Stanley Black & Decker have agreed to extend Russell Hobbs’ license with Black & Decker through Dec. 31, 2015.

ATLANTA-With The Visual Display Award, AmericasMart celebrated visual excellence in both permanent showrooms and temporary exhibits at The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market, which ends tomorrow.

KENT, Wash.–Progressive International has promoted Kurt Bergquist to president and CEO.

Bergquist, who began in his new roles effective July 1, succeeds Bill Reibl. A Progressive statement credited Reibl with for establishing “a strong competitive platform and reputation for innovation.” Progressive cited Reibl’s opening of a Hong Kong office for the company, which provided “very strong sourcing capabilities and a long history of close partnerships with leading Chinese manufacturers.”

LIBERTYVILLE, Ill.–IBC-Hearthware, marketer of the NuWave Pro Infrared Oven among other products, has changed its company name to Hearthware Inc.

The NuWave Pro Infrared Oven uses a patented system combining infrared, conduction and convection heat, and the line now encompasses four models. Other products marketed by Hearthware include the iRoast 2 coffee roaster, the NuWave Party Mixer and the Whiptide Dual Deck Carve Board.

STAMFORD, Conn.–Philips has debuted the Sonicare AirFloss, a flossing device that includes air and micro-droplet technology.

ATLANTA–Gourmet housewares and design-driven home furnishings take centerstage at AmericasMart as the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market begins today. The International Rug Market opens tomorrow.

The show features more than 250 permanent gourmet product lines, plus a floor of gourmet Market Temporaries. Cooking demonstrations will include appearances by chefs such as Cat Cora and Linton Hopkins.

By David Gill

If you make air-treatment products, you’d better make sure they work well—but you should also offer features that help with individual air problems, make them convenient to use and make sure they don’t use a lot of electricity.

According to vendors in this category, that’s what consumers are telling them about what they want from these products. And they are responding with a number of new features and technologies that address these needs, along with making them better at taking care of the air.

Boston Warehouse executives are so enthused about the potential sales opportunities for stick goods that they consider the recent acquisition of the Farberware license for cleaning products to be the company’s “most significant achievement” in its 37-year-history.

By Allison Zisko

Puiforcat, the French silversmith known for its high-end flatware and other tabletop items, is launching a cutlery line in collaboration with French chef Pierre Gagnaire. The line, comprised of six different stainless-steel blades with rosewood handles, will be unveiled at the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market later this month.

MONROE, Conn.–Victorinox Swiss Army has introduced a line of colored paring knives it is calling the Swiss Classic Collection.

The four knives come with handles in shades of green, pink, orange and yellow. The handles are also styles to minimize wrist tension while providing a secure grip. The knives are also dishwasher-safe, and the mirrored polish finish on the high-carbon, stainless steel blades are equivalent to Victorinox Swiss Army’s commercial-grade blade.

CLOSTER, N.J.–Jura Capresso has appointed Stephen Cracchiolo to the newly created post of operations manager.

Cracchiolo has assumed charge over the company’s information technology and operating systems, parts and inventory control. He also oversees the Jura Capresso warehouse and the analysis and improvement of its processes. He reports to Michael Schley, director of finance.

Before joining Jura Capresso, Cracchiolo served as an analyst at Panasonic Corp. of North America. His career also a position as operations manager with DigitalEffex.

NEW YORK–Clean Cut International has launched a nationwide television infomercial campaign for its CleanCut Touchless Paper Towel Dispenser.

Three segments have already appeared on HSN, featuring HSN hosts Callie Northagen, Guy Yovan and Marlo Smith. In a company statement, Clean Cut said an infomercial aired in May on the Food Network, Soap, Style, Lifetime Movies, DIY, WETV and other networks. Consumers can also view a brief version of the infomercial on YouTube.

IRVINE, Calif.–Cole & Mason, the U.K.-based brand of salt and pepper mills, is unveiling its Precision System, a calibrated and precise mechanism that has been incorporated into almost every mill in its line to ensure full flavor and long-lasting performance, the company said.

The Precision System, which carries a lifetime guarantee, promises “more taste, less turns” and the ability to adjust to a fine or coarse grind. Cole & Mason mills come in several finishes, including crafted woods, clear acrylic and stainless steel.

MADISON, Wis.–Omar Asali has joined the board of directors of Spectrum Brands Holdings, parent of the Remington men’s-shaver brand and of the George Foreman, Black & Decker, Toastmaster and Littermaid housewares brands.

Asali has also been elected vice chairman of Spectrum’s board. As a director, he has succeeded Robin Roger, who resigned as a Spectrum director and member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee yesterday. He was named acting president of Harbinger Group, part of Harbinger Capital Partners, on June 30.

NEW YORK–HFN is preparing its coverage of the New York International Gift Fair in August.

STERLING, Ill.–Steve Yde has been promoted to director of marketing for Wahl Clipper Corp.

Yde is responsible for all of the company’s North American consumer marketing, and reports to Bruce Kramer, vice president of North American consumer sales and marketing. He has been with Wahl Clipper for six and one-half years, and had been leading the company’s men’s grooming, personal-care and pet-care categories as senior product manager.

Before joining Wahl, Yde served in sales and marketing positions with Pampered Chef, RCA and Newell Rubbermaid.

NEW YORK–Villeroy & Boch will participate in next month’s 1,000 Cooks for the Cure charity campaign by donating a special, limited-edition “Pass the Plate” serving platter to each host of any party that raises more then $50 for the contest.

ATLANTA-Michael Polk will become president and CEO of Newell Rubbermaid on July 18, succeeding the retiring Mark Ketchum.

Most recently, Polk was president of global foods, home and personal care at Unilever, prior to which he served in several high-level positions in a 16-year tenure with Kraft Foods. Michael Cowhig, chairman of Newell Rubbermaid’s board of directors, cited Polk’s “proven record of growing global brands, driving change and delivering superior financial performance.”

NEW YORK–Macy’s is hitting the road with a van full of chefs and plenty of food to give away.

The retailer has kicked-off “Macy’s Chefs A-Go-Go,” a national food truck tour showcasing Macy’s Culinary Council. Rolling into cities nationwide, Macy’s first-ever food truck tour will feature a MCC chef at each stop, including Cat Cora, Todd English and Marcus Samuelsson, cooking his or her favorite summertime recipes and dishing them out free.

NEW YORK–Trade Associates Group, Ltd. (tag) returns to New York this summer for the New York International Gift Fair and Gourmet
Housewares Show at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, August 14-18.

This will mark a return to Javits for tag, who last exhibited at the Fair in 2006. The company also has a permanent showroom at 7 W New York.

OXFORD, Conn.–Polder Housewares has introduced the Style Station, a storage device that holds electric hair-styling appliances.

The Style Station is a container with three openings into which hair dryers and styling appliances can be stored. It’s made with a heat-resistant silicone base that allows the appliances to be stored while they are still hot, and protects counters and users from exposure to high heat. The stainless steel mesh body allows for air flow to help the items to cool more quickly.

ROSEMONT, Ill.–The International Housewares Association has begun holding year-round educational programs for specialty retailers; it kicked off the program yesterday with a webinar on the use of social media.

Presented by IHA’s Gourmet Home Specialty Retailer University, the webinar was hosted by Ed Taylor, founder of Internet Marketing Group and author of “Proven Strategies to Increase Website Sales, Leads & Opt-ins.”

STAMFORD, Conn.–Cuisinart has made a contribution to Al Roker’s Lend a Hand good-will trip, an annual charity benefit by “The Today Show.”

SAN DIEGO-Aroma Housewares, manufacturer of the Aroma rice cooker, has published “5 Plus 5: Five Ingredients + Five Minutes Prep!”, a new cookbook to accompany the rice cooker.

The book has 125 rice-cooker recipes, each of which requires five ingredients and five minutes of preparation time. Recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner and desserts are included. Once the meal is ready, the rice cooker switches automatically to its “Keep-Warm” function, which keeps the meal from overcooking.

LONDON–Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT), owner of GLM, said it is exploring “strategic alternatives” about the company’s U.S. trade-show unit—which, according to sources, could include a sale of the business.

The statement said, “The strategic review of GLM follows the conclusion that there is limited opportunity to leverage the GLM assets across the wider DMGT group, and that we should focus our events activities onto fewer areas ... such as our portfolio of energy shows and our activities in the Middle East.”

NORWOOD, Mass.–Boston Warehouse, a supplier of home-entertaining and tabletop products, has partnered with Farberware Licensing Co. to design and produce a collection of Farberware-branded cleaning products.

The line will include stick goods, standard cleaning tools and cleaning accessories for both the household and automotive markets. The first delivery of products is scheduled for this coming fall, and the line will be officially launched at the International Home + Housewares Show in March 2012.

VALLEJO, Calif.–The Circulon Cooks! application for the iPad has been relaunched after Meyer Corp. rectified a minor technical blip that occurred with its original release late last month.

CINCINNATI–Procter & Gamble has appointed Patrice Louvet president of its Global Male Grooming unit.

The move puts Louvet in charge of the company’s male-grooming brands, including the Braun line of men’s electric grooming products.

He will report to Dimitri Panayotopoulos, vice chairman of Global Business Units. He will succeed Charles V. (Chip) Bergh, who is retiring on Sept. 1 from P&G after 28 years to pursue his aspiration to be CEO of a major company, according to a P&G statement.

By Duke Ratliff

The Hong Kong Houseware Fair continued its reputation as one of the most far-reaching international trade shows with buyers, distributors and vendors from around the world.

The event celebrated its 26th anniversary in April, and it combined with a home textile fair to attract more than 2,300 exhibitors from 33 countries.

At the same time, North American exhibitors at the show said the Houseware Fair attracts distributors and buyers from seemingly all points of the globe.

By Andrea Lillo

From appealing to men to “tongs with teeth,” the next generation of food preparation tools and gadgets have both style and substance.  

With consumers clamoring for lower price points as well as color for the kitchen, the tools and gadgets category is a natural area for additions, as well as a means of extending a brand. Some recent introductions target specific functions or cuisines, others have been designed to stand on their handles or lie flat without tilting over. 

By David Gill

The addition of a half day to next year’s International Home + Housewares Show is prompting a general response from the industry that “change is good.”

The International Housewares Association, sponsor and manager of the show, said the 2012 International Home + Housewares Show will open at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 10, a response to retail requests. In previous years, the show had opened on Sunday morning.

OSAKA, Japan–Panasonic and UNESCO World Heritage Centre have formed a strategic partnership to promote sustainable development through World Heritage conservation and environmental education.

GARDEN CITY, N.Y.—Mikasa has launched a branding video entitled “Making Life Memorable” targeted to brides and grooms registering for tabletop items. The video will be used for bridal and training events, online selling sites and web-based outreach including distribution on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and blogs.

SECAUCUS, N.J.–Peggy Noonan has been appointed to lead Panasonic North America’s marketing branding functions.

Noonan, who reports directly to Joseph M. Taylor, chairman and CEO of Panasonic North America, serves concurrently as vice president of marketing and brand management of Panasonic North America and as senior vice president of marketing for Panasonic Consumer Electronics. In the former position, she succeeds Robert Greenberg, who retired last year. In the latter post, she succeeds Robert Perry, who left Panasonic last year.

NEW YORK–The laser-cut Clutch Clip won top prize for student Jeff Rubio in the seventh annual Umbra | Pratt Design Competition, which took place recently during the Pratt Show, a juried show of the work of graduating seniors. Rubio received $500 and a $500 Umbra gift certificate for first place. Second place — and $350 and a $350 Umbra gift certificate—went to Sierra Yip-Bannicq  for her T-Cup, a ceramic mug that has an indentation for the tea bag tag.

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis.–Kohl’s will renew its exclusive Bobby Flay partnership of home and grill products under a long-term license agreement with Bobby Flay, the department store said today. The current merchandise assortment will expand to include more product offerings, which will be available in Kohl’s stores nationwide and Kohls.com beginning February 2012.

CHARLESTON, N.C.–Le Creuset is a sponsor of the International Association of Culinary Professionals’ 2011 Kids in the Kitchen program, which takes place during the IACP Conference in Austin, Texas June 1 to 4. On Wednesday, June 1, 20 fourth and fifth graders from the University of Texas Elementary School will join White House pastry chef Bill Yosses, IACP and Le Creuset for a hands-on, garden-to-table cooking class.

GARDEN CITY, N.Y.-Lifetime Brands has added a social media specialist and videographer to its marketing communications team to strengthen its social media and video production capabilities. Martine Cauthen, social media specialist, reports to Brian Schlef, marketing director.

As part of its commitment to social media, Lifetime is launching a series of videos linked to Quick Response (QR) codes on product packaging. These small square bar codes provide additional product information when scanned by smart phones.

LOS ANGELES–Tabletop and cookware company Lynns Concepts has named Michael Byrne to the newly created position of president.

Byrne will work with Lynns’ partners overseas and will be the principle driver of all Lynns’ North American operations, according to a statement from the company. Byrne will also be the principal driver for the company’s new production facility in northern China and will manage sourcing and distribution channels for the company’s American stainless steel cookware and ceramics businesses.

GARDEN CITY, N.Y.–Lifetime Brands has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Larien Products to manufacture and distribute the Bagel Biter, The Original Bagel Guillotine worldwide to consumers. Bagel Biter is a patented manual bagel slicer that uses a guillotine design to slice bagels safely.

Lifetime Brands will begin shipping Bagel Biter products in October 2011. In the interim, Larien Products will continue to fulfill all retail sales.

ROSEMONT, Ill.—Next year’s International Home + Housewares Show will open at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 10.

MADISON, Wis.—Spectrum Brands, parent of the Russell Hobbs housewares brand and the Remington personal-care brand, posted a second-quarter net loss of $50.2 million, compared with a net loss of $19 million in last year’s second quarter.

 By David Gill

“Get ’em when they’re young” has apparently become an important marketing focus for manufacturers of electric oral-care products.

Recently, Water Pik, the Sonicare product line from Philips and the Oral-B line from Procter & Gamble debuted programs that combine launches of products geared specifically to kids with efforts directed at getting parents involved in their children’s oral care.

EL PASO, Texas–Helen of Troy finished a record fiscal year with an increase of 46 percent in fourth-quarter net income, to a company record $24.4 million.

The fourth-quarter bottom line boosted Helen of Troy’s net for the entire fiscal 2011 to $93.3 million, up 30 percent over fiscal 2010. Net sales for the quarter, which ended on Feb. 28, rose 56 percent to $237.1 million—pushing the company’s fiscal-year top line to $777 million, an increase of 20 percent. All of these totals were new records as well.

MIRAMAR, Fla.–The George Foreman line of electric indoor grills has debuted a recipe contest with Meal Makeover Moms and has become part of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation.

MINEOLA, N.Y.–Lifetime Brands is being honored today by Nassau County, including the renaming of Endo Boulevard here to Lifetime Brands Boulevard.

CLEVELAND–“Margin compression” took the blame for a steep 71 percent drop in net income for the Hamilton Beach brand in the first quarter, according to a statement from parent company NACCO Industries.

WATERBURY, Vt.–Big gains in sales of Keurig brewers and K-Cup portion packs boosted Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, the brand’s parent, to major gains in its fiscal second quarter.

Net income finished the quarter, which ended on March 26, 172 percent above the profit total from last year’s second quarter, to $65.4 million. Fueled by a 94 percent increase in K-Cup sales and an 86 percent rise in sales of Keurig Brewers, Green Mountain’s net sales overall jumped 101 percent to $647.7 million.

WASHINGTON–The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers has elected two housewares industry executives to its board of directors.

David W. Becker, vice president of strategy for Viking Range, and Drew Fiorenza, vice president of North America/Australia sales and marketing and new business development for Remington Products, have been voted onto the AHAM board. The terms of Becker and Fiorenza will expire in 2014.

STERLING, Ill.-Wahl Clipper has inaugurated the sixth annual Man of the Year contest, in which it evaluates facial-hair styles from contest entrants.

CLOSTER, N.J.–The Jura Impressa J9 One Touch TFT automatic coffee center has won the Red Dot Design Award from the Red Dot Institute in Germany, according to a statement from the product’s manufacturer, Jura-Capresso.

ATLANTA-Newell Rubbermaid reported a net income increase of 29.6 percent for the first quarter of 2011, ended March 31, 2011, for a total of $75.7 million as reported.

RACINE, Wis.–The Ziploc brand now includes glass food storage with the introduction of the Ziploc VersaGlass containers. From SC Johnson, the containers can go from the fridge to the microwave or the oven (up to 400 degrees) to the table. Made of tempered glass, the line includes two round, two rectangle and two square sizes, as well as a variety pack of three containers. 

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J.–The National Kitchen & Bath Association is launching an improved website at the 2011 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, which begins today in Las Vegas. The site, nkba.org, is designed to enhance the experience of both consumers and professionals through improved navigation and easy access to information

TORONTO-Les Mandelbaum and Paul Rowan, the two founders of Umbra, have been inducted into Canada’s Marketing Hall of Legends.

The two men founded the company, a resource for casual home furnishings, more than 30 years ago. A statement from the Marketing Hall of Legends cited Mandelbaum and Rowan as “great entrepreneurs who have created enduring, valuable and iconic Canadian brands.”

The two executives were inducted into the hall at a ceremony here on April 14.

HONG KONG–The Hong Kong Houseware Fair and the Hong Kong International Home Textiles Fair opened earlier today, and will both continue through April 23.

Both shows are taking place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. One key focus at both fairs is environmentally friendly products. The Houseware Fair includes a new Green Living Zone, which is showcasing “green” housewares products for homes and buildings, while eco-friendly products made of biodegradable materials or with green manufacturing techniques will be spotlighted at the Home Textiles Fair.

NORWALK, Conn.–Cutlery maker Wüsthof-Trident has appointed Michael Garaghty (a.k.a. “Chef Mike”) executive chef.

In this newly created position, Chef Mike, who reports to Scott Severinson, president, sales and marketing, will preside and appear in Wüsthof-sponsored television segments, retail events, cooking videos, social media initiatives, trade shows, consumer food festivals and other elements of the brand’s sales and marketing campaigns.

NORWALK, Conn.-Cutlery maker Wüsthof was featured on television this morning, appearing on “The Balancing Act” on Lifetime Television.

As part of the show’s popular “myCuisine” series, Wüsthof’s newly appointed executive chef, Michael Garaghty educated the show’s predominantly women viewers on how to choose the right knife for the right task and how to properly use, store and sharpen quality kitchen knives. Today’s segment, which aired at 7 a.m., is scheduled for re-broadcasting May 4.

STAMFORD, Conn.—Cuisinart has unveiled a new application called KitchenSync to meet consumers’ recipe needs.

With this app, shoppers can search hundreds of recipes, share them with others, save recipes in a box, cross-reference their personal “pantry” and sort what items are need from the grocery store. The app also includes step-by-step recipe videos, the ability to save recipes specifically tailored to a consumer’s ingredients at hand and the capability to find recipes crafted for a consumer’s Cuisinart product.

WHITE PLAINS, NY–Scores of leading gourmet products and housewares resources plan to participate in the summer 2011 debut of the Gourmet Housewares Show at the New York International Gift Fair, show organizer GLM said today. The Gourmet Housewares Show runs August 14-18 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

As part of the repositioning of the Gourmet Housewares Show to run alongside NYIGF, some 150 high-end gourmet products suppliers will be showcased on the Javits Center’s Level 3 exhibit floor, between NYIGF’s Accent on Design and tabletop divisions.

NORWALK, Conn.–Annette Garaghty has been promoted to vice president of sales and marketing at Wüsthof-Trident of America, Inc., a newly formed position at the company.

Garaghty continues to report directly to the company’s President of Sales and Marketing, Scott Severinson.

TUALATIN, Ore.–Shun Cutlery has named celebrity chef Chris Cosentino Shun brand ambassador and spokesperson.

Cosentino will educate consumers about Shun cutlery and cooking sustainable foods in both traditional and social media campaigns as well as on blogs, in articles and in special appearances. He will also collaborate with Shun designers on product development.

STOCKHOLM-Marcus Wallenberg has been re-elected chairman of the board of AB Electrolux, the parent company of the Electrolux brand.

In addition, Keith McLoughlin, president and CEO, was elected to the company’s board at yesterday’s annual general meeting. McLoughlin succeeded Hans Stråberg as president and CEO on Jan. 1.

Wallenberg has served on the Electrolux board since 2005. McLoughlin, who joined Electrolux in 2003, had been chief operations officer for major appliances before assuming his current posts.

SodaStream Creates a Bubbly Buzz

If Housewares Show attendees thought this year’s SodaStream booth at McCormick Place was bigger than last year, they were right.

SodaStream President Daniel Birnbaum said the much-talked-about company’s exhibition space at the 2011 version of the show was six times the size of last year’s—perfectly reflecting the company’s rapid growth since the last show.

Cutlery introductions at last month’s International Home + Housewares Show touched on a number of trends in the category, but predominantly on the broad use of color.

By David Gill
Coffee and tea remain on trend with consumers, as evidenced by many of the new products that made their bow during last month’s International Home + Housewares Show.

To judge from these new products, sleek and innovative designs that include bright colors, and raising the bar on technology are key directions taken by vendors.

NOVATO, Calif.–Kuhn Rikon USA has hired Chelsea Schlunt in the newly created position of managing director, expanding its management team as the company continues to grow its kitchen tools, pressure cookers and specialty cookware business. Schlunt reports to Rudy Keller, president of Kuhn Rikon USA.

ROSEMONT, Ill.–The International Home + Housewares Show earlier this month registered sold-out status for the first time in three years, according to the International Housewares Association.

More than 21,000 buyers attended the show, up 5 percent from last year. In addition, 1,951 exhibitors were present, reflecting a 5 percent increase in space sold over the 2010 show. It is also expected to generate more than 350 million consumer impressions through coverage by broadcast and print media, and on the Internet, IHA said.

TARRYTOWN, N.Y.-Looking to go beyond ceramic cookware, GreenPan recently merged with Anotech Intl., its major manufacturing partner since the beginning of GreenPan, to now operate as one unified entity called The Cookware Company.

With GreenPan’s PFOA-free ceramic cookware, which debuted in the U.S. in 2007, “we were pioneers,” Wim De Veirman, chief executive officer, The Cookware Company, told HFN at the recent International Home + Housewares Show. But now, “we also want to go into other brands...we are more than ceramic cookware.”

CHICAGO–Pantone announced its Pantone View home + interiors 2012, a trend forecast containing the nine most directional color palettes for home furnishings and interior design in 2012.

Pantone View home + interiors 2012 is a forecasting book that provides color and trend direction, enabling designers to select the right shades and combinations for home furnishings or interior spaces.

NEW YORK–Metrokane will be a sponsor of “Vine Talk,” a new series to begin airing on PBS in April.

Actor Stanley Tucci, the host of the series, will lead a panel of celebrities and prominent chefs through a blind taste test to select their favorite wine. Different wine regions from around the world serve as inspiration.

Guests in the first season include John Lithgow, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, Nathan Lane and chef Daniel Boulud.

By David Gill

Epilady, the marketer of epilators, is celebrating its silver anniversary in business this year—and has chosen to mark the occasion by launching new product categories in the U.S. market.

Mizco International is expecting a busy International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago this month.

Welcome to the 2011 International Home + Housewares Show featuring 2,000 exhibitors from five continents and 60,000 housewares professionals from 100 countries.

While this show attendance is great news it is not the best news. The best news is that the housewares industry, which drove sales and margin increases for many retailers last fall, is represented by well over 20,000 new products from seasoned exhibitors and is a destination for nearly 500 new exhibitors who are eager to share their latest designs.

NEW YORK-Designer Chris Madden has relaunched her website to integrate the company’s Facebook initiative, which regularly shares multimedia, links to press items and Madden’s blog posts with the company’s current followers.
 

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y.–Jaccard Corporation is partnering with Art Ginsburg and his Mr. Food brand on a range of new kitchen products, including the Mr. Food Butcher’s Magician, a 45-blade meat tenderizer that will debut at the International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago next week.

The Mr. Food brand is the “originator of quick & easy cooking,” based on the philosophy of Ginsburg, its founder. The company offers practical solutions to everyday mealtime dilemmas through its nationally syndicated television news broadcast division as well as publishing venues.

One hundred years before the food processor, there was the Starrett meat and vegetable chopper (version shown here from 1865), one of the 300-plus items now on view at Kendall College’s Culinary Curiosity exhibition (culinarycuriosity.org) in Chicago.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.–Bunn has formed an alliance with David Robinson, son of Brooklyn Dodger great Jackie Robinson, on its My Café single-serve coffee brewer.

In this partnership, Sweet Unity Farms Coffee, a coffee producer founded by Robinson and based in Tanzania, will be one of the brands included in My Café. The brewer will be unveiled at next week’s International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago. Robinson will be at the Bunn booth on March 6 and March 7 to help launch the new brewer.

VALLEJO, Calif. -Darrin Johnston has been promoted to the newly created position of senior vice president of sales at Meyer Corp., U.S., for which he has sales responsibilities over all brands, including Circulon Anolon, BonJour, KitchenAid cookware, Rachael Ray, Farberware, Paula Deen and SilverStone. He will continue to report to the company’s managing director, Jay Zilinskas.

CHARLOTTE, N.C.–Diamond-reinforced non-stick cookware company Swiss Diamond Intl. Sarl has opened a U.S. division, called Swiss Gourmet USA Inc., to handle its business in the U.S., Canada and South America. Mark Harris, a well-established executive who has held positions with Smith Abrasives, WMF Americas, Kaiser Bakeware and Berndes, has been named president of the new division.

WOODRIDGE, Ill.–Trudeau Corporation has named Marty Armstrong to the newly created position of vice president, sales and trade marketing.  Armstrong, who reports to Philippe Trudeau, president, will continue to increase Trudeau’s in-store visibility and further establish the brand as the leading innovator of kitchen and table products, the company said.

HOUSTON–Celebrating its 25th anniversary in business, Epilady will enter new product categories in the U.S. market at next month’s International Home + Housewares Show.

ECULLY CEDEX, France–Groupe SEB has agreed to buy a complementary 20 percent stake of the capital of Chinese cookware company Supor from the founding shareholders, which have expressed their desire to sell. Groupe SEB already holds 51.3 percent of Supor’s capital.

Through a Share Purchase Agreement, Groupe SEB has agreed to buy from the founding shareholders 115,450,400 shares at a price of RMB30 each, for a total of about RMB3.5 billion, or $525.9 million. 

ROSEMONT, Ill.–Six chefs who have won the James Beard Award will prepare specialties for attendees at the 14th annual Housewares Charity Foundation gala on March 7 at the Hilton Hotel in Chicago.

BEDFORD, Mass.–Fourth-quarter net income for iRobot jumped to $7 million, 36 percent more than in its fiscal fourth quarter of last year.
 
The company—which, among other businesses, manufactures and markets home-vacuum robots such as the Roomba—reported a gain in total revenues of 12 percent to $114 million. This included a 14 percent gain in product revenue in the quarter, which ended on Jan. 1.
 

CARLSTADT, N.J. — Color authority Pantone has unveiled its Pantone Fashion Color Report Fall 2011, which includes the upcoming top 10 colors for women’s fashion. Released to coincide with this week’s Fashion Week in New York, the report is available for free download at pantone.com/fall2011, and includes designer sketches, quotes and head shots.

CHICAGO–Toastess has formed a partnership with the Cloer European brand of small electrics to become its distributor in the U.S. market.

Cloer’s current distribution covers Europe, Russia, Asia and Canada (Toastess is the brand’s distributor to the latter country). Along with making its appearance here, it has slated entries later this year in the Australian and South Korean markets.

NEW YORK–­ABC News has launched a Made in America project and is looking for companies in the home furnishings industry to participate.

The project will see ABC purchase a home and outfit it entirely with goods made in America. ABC News said it started the project to highlight the idea that using goods made in this country could stimulate the economy and create jobs. Companies interested in participating should contact Ellen Gefen at ellen@thehome.com.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif.–Fabio Viviani, the Italian chef currently competing on this season of Top Chef on the Bravo Channel, has partnered with Bialetti to showcase the cookware and coffee maker brand through social media, media interviews and select in-person interviews.

ANAHEIM, Calif.–Evriholder has partnered with Nestlé’s Nesquik brand of flavored milk powder, syrup and ready-to-drink products for a licensed product line that will launch later this year. The storage-oriented line will be designed to be merchandised adjacent to Nesquik products on clip strips, in counter and floor displays.

The new license joins Evriholder’s portfolio of licensed brands, which includes Campbell’s, Crayola, Hostess, Kellogg’s, Pepperidge Farm and Wonderbread.

AURORA, Colo.–Bona US has expanded its product distribution into retailers in Canada and Mexico.

Retailers carrying the company’s line of floor-care products in Canada include Lowe’s, Canadian Tire and Home Outfitters. In Mexico, retailers with Bona’s line include Walmart, Home Depot, HEB and Bed Bath & Beyond.

Bona’s line includes mops, cleaning products and systems, and polishes.

CLOSTER, N.J.–Two Jura-Capresso coffeemakers have received the Good Design Award from the Chicago Athenaeum, the museum of architecture and design.

CLOSTER, N.J.—Jura-Capresso has appointed April Strogen to the newly created post of product manager for the Capresso brand.

Strogen oversees marketing, sales support and new product development for all of Capresso’s products. She reports to David Shull, Jura-Capresso’s vice president of sales and marketing.

Before joining Jura-Capresso, Strogen was product manager for Emerson Radio Corp. Prior to that, she was product manager and market specialist for De’Longhi USA.

NEW YORK-Six companies exhibiting in Accent on Design at the New York International Gift Fair were presented with awards to recognize superior design creativity and innovative product design.
 
“These Accent on Design participants have emphasized functionality, without compromising aesthetics, across a broad spectrum of product categories,” said Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF director and GLM senior vice president. “Their work stands out in a field of exemplary design.”
 

NEW YORK–HFN is coordinating its coverage of the International Home + Housewares Show in March.

Exhibitors at the show are invited to submit information and high-resolution images of products that they plan to highlight.

SAN FRANCISCO—The PRO-1000 Vacuum Sealer from Oliso was among five winners of the Award for Design, Technology and Innovation at MadridFusión 2011, the international gastronomy summit.

The PRO-1000 was cited for its compact size and ease of use. It is made with a patented punch-and-seal technology and reusable bags, and can be used for sous-vide (a cooking method involving the use of airtight sealed bags in warm water for a long time), food storage and portioning.

ATLANTA—Fourth-quarter net income for Newell Rubbermaid totaled $75.7 million, 25 percent up from the fourth quarter of 2009.

The company had a modest net sales gain of 3.4 percent to $1.5 billion in the quarter, which ended on Dec. 31, 2010. It was also able to keep expenses in check, with a 2.2 percent increase in selling, general and administrative expenses, and gross margin rose 10 basis points to 37.1 percent. Newell Rubbermaid was also able to take advantage of a lower income-tax rate, which reduced its income taxes for the quarter by 33 percent.

RYE, N.Y.—Revenue for Jarden’s fiscal year 2011 should reach about $6 billion, according to preliminary results from the housewares giant.

STOCKHOLM—Electrolux has named three executives to positions overseeing operations, technology and marketing.

Jonas Samuelson has been appointed chief operations officer and head of the company’s global operations in major appliances, and will continue in his current role as chief financial officer. Jan Brockmann has been named to the newly created position of chief technology officer, responsible for technology development. Marykay Kopf has been designated chief marketing officer, overseeing brand management, marketing and design.

GARDEN CITY, N.Y.­—Lifetime Brands, Accent-Fairchild Group, Grupo Vasconia S.A.B. and Fackelmann GmbH Co. KG announced the formation of Housewares Corporation of Asia Limited (HCA) to supply direct import, kitchenware programs to retailers in North, Central and South America.

SAN FRANCISCO–Revenues for the Williams-Sonoma holiday season just ended rose 10.5 percent to $865 million over the same period in 2009.

The increase included a same-store sales gain of five percent, the retailer said in a statement. As a result, Williams-Sonoma said it now expects fourth-quarter revenues to total between $1.17 billion and $1.19 billion, and revenues for the fiscal year as a whole to reach from $3.48 billion to $3.5 billion. Last year, the company logged in fourth-quarter revenues of $1.09 billion and fiscal-year revenues of $3.1 billion.

LYNDHURST, N.J. – Chefs Jose Andrés, Ferran Adria and Juan Mari Arzak – known as the innovators of modern Spanish cuisine – discussed the significance of provoking emotion through food to more than 300 guests, including chefs, students and culinary aficionados, at an event earlier this month hosted by Fagor America.
 

LIMA, Ohio—Range Kleen Manufacturing has extended its partnership with Berndes Cookware to 2015, continuing to lead all sales, marketing and shipping of Berndes Cookware USA from its headquarters here. It has also expanded its territorial responsibility from North America to now include Mexico and the Caribbean.

A leading manufacturer of replacement range accessories for 40 years, Range Kleen first partnered with Berndes in November 2009. A division of Heinrich Berndes, Berndes Cookware is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year.

EL PASO, Texas—Rising sales and improved gross margin helped Helen of Troy to a 9.4 percent gain in net income for its fiscal third quarter, which ended Nov. 30.

The bottom line totaled $27.1 million, while net sales increased 8.2 percent to $205 million. The company’s personal-care segment increased its sales 9.2 percent in the quarter, while the housewares segment saw its sales rise 6 percent. Gross margin picked up 100 basis points to finish the quarter at 45.2 percent.

ATLANTA–About.com is seeking nominations for its annual Readers’ Choice Awards beginning Jan. 13. The awards showcase the best products, features and services in dozens of categories across all of About.com, including cooking equipment.
 
Within the cooking equipment category, nominations will be accepted for Best Cookware Line; Best Cutlery Line; Best Kitchen Tool or Gadget; Best Cookbook 2010; Best Blender; Best Food Processor; Best Slow Cooker; Best Ice Cream Maker; Best Countertop Grill and Kitchenware Brand of the Year.
 

NEW YORK–The Sharper Image has reached an agreement with Bradford Licensing India in which the latter will represent the brand in India.

The deal puts Sharper Image-branded consumer electronics, personal-care products, health-and-wellness products, home and small kitchen appliances, air purifiers and luggage and travel accessories into the Indian market. Sharper Image was launched in that country at last month’s Brand Licensing India 2010 trade show in New Delhi.

TOLEDO, Ohio–2011 marks 25 years of success for Mark Feldstein & Associates (MFA), a product development company and importer of giftware, housewares and electronics.
 

By Allison Zisko

Snapware’s success in the food storage business, its recent growth, and its established distribution network made it irresistible to World Kitchen, which acquired the Mira Loma, Calif.-based company last month and has appointed a joint integration team to make the transition seamless for its retail partners.

The merger grants World Kitchen access to the food storage business, a growing category that it had been unable to tap, while lending Snapware the marketing and branding expertise of a leading housewares company.

OSAKA, Japan—Panasonic will convert Sanyo into a wholly owned subsidiary through a share exchange that is scheduled for March.

Panasonic, which acquired the majority of Sanyo’s voting stock in December 2009, conducted a tender offer for all of Sanyo’s shares from Aug. 23 to Oct. 6 of this year. As of two days ago, Panasonic said in a statement that it owned 80.77 percent of Sanyo’s shares.

NEW YORK—Jarden Corp. has purchased Quickie Manufacturing Corp. in a deal that moves the consumer-products giant into the stick-goods market.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed in a statement from Centre Partners Management, Quickie’s previous owner. The company’s current management, led by President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Magerman, and employees will continue to run the operation—which includes headquarters in Cinnaminson, N.J., and production facilities in Lumberton, N.C., El Paso, Texas, and Cadereyta, Mexico.

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill.—Hamilton Beach has formed a partnership with the Senseo coffee brand of Sara Lee to introduce single-serve coffeemakers.

NEW YORK – Twenty one individual Bodum products have won the 2011 iF Product Design Award, an annual international design competition held in Germany.

The winning products include kitchen electrics from the e-bodum collection, cutlery from the Bistro Ceramic Blade series as well as drinkware and kitchen storage accessories.

TOPEKA, Kan.—Ogden Publications, the company that publishes the magazines Mother Earth News, Utne Reader and Natural Home, among others, has acquired Cataluña Enterprises, the company that launched Ogden’s Natural Home line of sustainable kitchenware.

STAMFORD, Conn.—Philips Norelco is partnering with Disney in an effort centering on the release of “TRON: Legacy” at theaters on Dec. 17.

The campaign includes a website, 3DShave.com/TRON, games and a sweepstakes for a chance to win $10,000 for a three-dimensional home-theater upgrade. Site visitors who have already bought Philips Norelco’s SensoTouch 3D, a new shaver, and have bought tickets to the movie can also download a $30 mail-in rebate form up to Jan. 31, 2011.

GURNEE, Ill.—Hearthware Home Products has promoted John Stewart to vice president of sales and marketing. Stewart has assumed responsibility over the management of the company’s sales force, product development, packaging and promotion of the company’s product line. He reports to Gene H. Kim, the company’s vice president, and has succeeded Mike Rawdon, who left the company earlier this year.

A renowned culinary institution like the James Beard House was the ideal spot to kick off the upcoming anniversary of another culinary icon—All-Clad, which will turn 40 years old next year.

Top chefs such as Ming Tsai, René Redzepi, Dan Barber and Daniel Humm were among the guests at the recent All-Clad event, which also included retailers and media. All-Clad was founded in 1971 by metallurgist John Ulam, and bought by Sam Michaels in 1988. Groupe SEB purchased the company in 2004. Details on other happenings surrounding the anniversary are to come.

Breville

CHICAGO–The International Housewares Association is gearing up for its upcoming International Home + Housewares Show with the announcement of new and returning exhibitors, as well as a hotel survey contest, where one winner will receive a $300 gift certificate to Benny’s Chop House.

NEW YORK–Dean Chapman has become chief executive officer of Prepara, the housewares company founded in 2007, succeeding Evan Dash, who has left the company. Chapman, who is also president, owns the company with Ed Kilduff, who has become chief operating officer. Before Prepara, the two had a boutique industrial design firm called Pollen Design.

FRANKFURT, Germany–Key players in the small electrics category have returned to the Ambiente trade fair, which takes place here Feb. 11-15, 2011.

Approximately 35 key players, such as BEEM, Bialetti, Espressi, Gastroback Kenwood, NOVIS and WMF, have registered as exhibitors at Ambiente 2011, according to show organizer Messe Frankfurt. Moreover, several exhibitors, including A. & J. Stöckli AG, G.A.T. Spa Gruppo Alternativo and KitchenAid, are enlarging their exhibition stands in the kitchen product segment.

IVYLAND, Penn.–Housewares company Fox Run has agreed to acquire Outset, a grilling and entertaining accessories company, for an undisclosed amount.

“This is a great opportunity for Fox Run to add a few key components to our brand strategy — products we do not offer today, powerful high profile brands, and two people in Jeff Norling and Curt Anderson who have demonstrated a proven ability to recognize opportunity, develop unique products and execute placement at a high level,” said Sean Leonard, chief executive officer, Fox Run Brands.

BOCA RATON, Fla.­-The Mr. Coffee brand has introduced the Mr. Coffee Single
Serve brewer, its entry into the single-serve category.

The brewer incorporates the single-serve brewing technology used by Keurig,
which introduced this technology about 10 years ago. It was developed under
a licensing and distribution agreement between Keurig and Mr. Coffee, which
was formed in 2009. The manufacturer's suggested retail price for the Mr.
Coffee product is $79.99.

READING, Mass.–Keurig is unveiling its redesigned website today, with features intended to reinforce its brand positioning.

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y.—Gift for the home will be a focus for shoppers this holiday season, according to a statement from The NPD Group.

Among the top-selling home gifts predicted by the research firm are single-serve coffeemakers, massagers, cordless drills, wine glasses, waffle makers, stand mixers, hand tools, men’s electric shavers, cast-iron cookware and electric blankets.

RAHWAY, N.J.–iHome, the division of SDI Technologies that markets iPhone/iPod/iPad speaker products, has introduced a new consumer-directed website at iHomeaudio.com.

The reconfigured site provides users with an intuitive interface, enhanced communication tools and an expanded product learning center. Among the improvements on the site are Discover, a newly designed section with product information; enhanced navigation through feature filters and upgraded product departments; and a support section on products and spare parts.

VALLEJO, Calif.–Meyer’s latest ad campaign for Anolon incorporates not only the traditional food-centric magazines/e-zines, but also includes digital versions and lifestyle publications that target a higher number of men.

STAMFORD, Conn.—Cuisinart is continuing its sponsorship of the PBS series “Avec Eric,” which has begun its second season.

Hosted by Eric Ripert, chef at Le Bernardin in New York City and judge on the Bravo network’s “Top Chef,” the show has three segments in each episode: a behind-the-scene look at Le Bernardin’s kitchen; food tasting and exploration around the world; and a culinary lesson given in Ripert’s own kitchen. During this season, Ripert will introduce viewers to City Harvest, a food rescue organization in Manhattan.

GARDEN CITY, N.Y.–Lifetime Brands reported double-digit increases in earnings and sales for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2010.

Consolidated net income grew by 35 percent to $6.6 million, compared to $4.9 million in the prior year quarter. Consolidated net sales were $124.9 million, an increase of 12 percent compared to consolidated net sales of $111.4 million in the corresponding period in 2009.

MARKHAM, Ontario–Browne & Co. has appointed Wayne Ackerson East Coast regional sales manager for Browne USA, a new position created to support the new Browne USA consolidated business. Ackerson, who reports to National Sales Manager Deb Flynn, will be responsible for all of Browne USA brands: Cuisipro, Duncan Kitchen Grips and Berard.

Jura-Capresso: From Bean to Cup
Few companies have been as innovative in the coffee category as Jura-Capresso, in enhancing what the company describes as the “bean-to-cup experience.”

ROSEMONT, Ill.–Landmark labor reform legislation at McCormick Place will help exhibitors in the 2011 International Home + Housewares Show save up to 23 percent on electrical labor rates and service costs as well as reduce other overall costs, the International Housewares Association announced.

By Andrea Lillo
When it comes to tools and gadgets, customers are seeing red—and other colors. The powerful pop of crimson is what consumers gravitate toward when shopping for kitchen tools and gadgets, most manufacturers in this category said, though a range of hues remains integral.

While basic colors such as black and white are still prevalent, collections with a few eye-catching hues will always resonate with consumers. And in this category, the price points are ideal for impulse purchases so consumers can fearlessly add color to their kitchens.

MADISON, Wis.—Spectrum Brands, parent company of the Remington shaver brand, has signed an agreement with British shaving brand King of Shaves to expand King of Shaves’ distribution to the United States and Canada.

KEWASKUM, Wis.—Employees at Regal Ware have raised nearly $7,000 and 2,900 pounds of food for two local food pantries.

The company divided employees into eight teams, which then held a friendly competition to raise the most funds and collect the most food. The pantries were the Kewaskum Community Food Pantry here and the Full Shelf Food Pantry in the nearby community of West Bend. Regal Ware owns and operates manufacturing and office facilities in both communities.

MERRIMACK, N.H.—Brookstone registered a third-quarter net loss of $20.3 million, compared to a $19 million net loss in the third quarter of last year.

STOCKHOLM–Net income for AB Electrolux was $189.7 million in the third quarter, down 15 percent from the manufacturer’s bottom line in the 2009 third quarter after currency conversion.

HOUSTON–Epilady USA has entered a license agreement with Sharper Image, while it also prepares to debut its hair-care products category in this country.

CLOSTER, N.J.–The Jura Impressa Z7 One Touch automatic coffee center has won a 2010 iF Design Award and has been nominated for the 2011 German Design Award.

MERRIMACK, N.H.–Brookstone has launched a Wholesale and Licensing Division to seek out licensing partners for expanding the availability of its product line.

READING, Mass.—Keurig and its parent company, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, have reached an agreement with the Boston Market restaurant chain whereby more than 400 Boston Markets nationwide will offer Green Mountain coffee made with Keurig single-cup brewing systems.

According to a Green Mountain statement, the rollout will begin this month and will be finished in early 2011. It will feature Keurig’s B140 brewer and selections of Green Mountain coffee. The agreement was finalized after a test pilot in 10 Boston Markets in Florida over three months.