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Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market
AmericasMart, Atlanta
Jan. 11-18
www.americasmart.com

New Corridor Links Tabletop, Gourmet Showrooms

With more than 1,400 showrooms and more than 2,500 temporary exhibiting companies, the Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market kicks off the 2012 tradeshow season on Jan. 11 and continues through the 18. Temporary exhibits are open Jan. 13-17.

This show, which encompasses more than 7 million square feet of showroom space across the four buildings, features gourmet products, kitchenware, textiles, gifts, home furnishings, accessories, area rugs and the largest collection of holiday, floral and home décor.

A new corridor links the eighth floor of Building Two, which features tabletop, with the eighth floor of Building2 West Wing, which features gourmet, creating a holistic platform uniting housewares, tabletop, gourmet and the gift segments.

AmericasMart will present events, celebrity appearances, educational seminars and giveaways.

For a full list of demo kitchen events, plus a customizable MyMarket Plan, visit www.amerciasmart.com

Winter Fancy Food Show
Moscone Center, San Francisco
Jan. 15-17
www.fancyfoodshows.com

Winter Fancy Food Show On Track to be Largest Ever

The 37th Winter Fancy Food Show is on track to be the largest ever. Amid healthy demand for specialty food, more than 17,000 buyers from across the U.S. and around the world are expected to attend.

Specialty food manufacturers, importers and entrepreneurs from more than 35 countries will present the latest specialties There will be 80,000 products on display. American cheesemakers and craft brewers will be featured in pavilions from the American Cheese Society and the Brewers Association.

International pavilions will include India, Peru, Poland, Japan and China. Italy returns with the largest international pavilion, while the Flanders region of Belgium makes its first show appearance. There's also a pavilion of 30 emerging food entrepreneurs.

The 22 seminars and workshops include how-to sessions for both start-up and established entrepreneurs. Seminars include: The Basics: The Business of Specialty Foods, Top 10 Mistakes a Beginning Manufacturer Makes, and Responsible Sourcing. Tastings include olive oil, specialty salts and pepper and artisan cheeses. Tours of San Francisco food artisans and trend-setting retailers are also available.

At the end of the show, exhibitors plan to donate food to area food pantries. Last year's donation reached 1,700 people.

For more information, visit www.fancyfoodshows.com

NYIGF
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 & 94
New York
Jan. 28-Feb. 2
www.nyigf.com

Design, Sustainability Issues Addressed in NYIGF Seminars

Buyers and suppliers participating in the winter 2012 New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) will be have the opportunity to participate in more than 40 educational sessions, industry social events, product awards, feature displays and buyer promotions taking place Jan. 28-Feb.2.

The programming includes new concentrations on design and sustainability. Other highlights include a pre-show NYIGF Orientation webinar and daily onsite sessions for first-time attendees. The ninth Annual Housewares Design Awards, honoring the best products in 13 categories, is on Jan. 31.

NYIGF's SustainAbility: design for a better world® display will return to feature hundreds of eco-friendly and socially-responsible gift and home products. Visitors to the display can vote for their favorite products. A full seminar and event schedule is available online at www.nyigf.com/programs

NYIGF features more than 2,800 exhibiting companies . Some 35,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 80 countries worldwide are expected.

New Products

Long Grove Confectionery Co.
Long Grove, Ill.
800-373-3102
www.longgrove.com
WFFS Booth #3905
Just in time for Easter, Long Grove Confectionery Co. introduces several new items including Speckled Truffle Eggs. These handcrafted all natural chocolate truffle centers are enrobed in natural color pink or purple speckled white chocolate and are made in the USA. Each individually wrapped truffle egg weighs .75 ounces and is 1.75 inches long. A display case, which measures 7.5 x 10.25 x 1.5 inches, is included. SRP: $1.10.

Venus Wafers Inc.
Hingham, Mass.
781-740-1002
www.venuswafers.com
WFFS Booth #1264

The reforumulated Original Mariner Biscuit Co. brand is free from GMOs, and also vegan- and kosher-certified, began shipping Dec. 5. The revamped packaging for the expanded range of water crackers features the Non-GMO Project seal of approval. Five varieties are available: Original Water Cracker, Basil and Roasted Pepper, Cracked Peppercorn, Toasted Sesame Seed, Olive Oil and Sea Salt. Each 4-ounce box has a SRP of $3.29.

Stonewall Kitchen
York, Maine
877-356-5678
www.stonewallkitchen.com
AIG Booth #875A, WFFS Booth #524, NYIGF #7380

Stonewall Kitchen's new all-natural Aioli flavors include Habanero Mango, Roasted Garlic, Lemon Herb, Horseradish and Smokey Barbeque. All Aiolis are 10-11 ounces each. SRP: $7.50.

Other January introductions include a line of simmering sauces: Buffalo Wing Simmering Sauce, Coq Au Vin, Cacciatore, Coconut Curry, Pulled Pork and Sloppy Joe. Simmering Sauces are 18-18.5-ounces. SRP: $8.95. Two additional marmalade flavors will be available in January: Blueberry Orange and Pink Grapefruit. Marmalades are 12.25-13 ounces each. SRP: $7.95.

Blue Crab Bay Co.
Melfa, Va.
800- 325-0026
www.baybeyond.net
WFFS Booth #966

Surf Doggies are Virginia peanuts coated with honey mustard powder spiked with the company's Chesapeake Bay Seasoning. The coastal-themed label features colorful surfboards resting against a beach fence. Surf Doggies are the newest addition to Blue Crab Bay's line of 10 nut and snack mixes. The product, packaged in a 12-ounce tin, is all-natural, has a shelf life of 18 months and comes in a case pack of 12. SRP: $6.99.

Enrico Products LLC
Seattle
866-566-9876
www.enricorproducts.com
NYIGF Booth#3231

The Ropetwist Mango Serving Dish, item 2861, is one of the newest additions to the Enrico Products line. This is a hand carved mango wood tray 18 X 8 X 5 inches and is bulk packed 4 pieces / box. SRP: $59.95. Available for shipment Feb. 10.

Room Copenhagen Inc.
Sturtevant, Wis.
856-904-8259
www.roomcopenhagen.com
NYIGF Booth # 3214

Room Copenhagen, in partnership with internationally recognized color authority Pantone, is launching a family of products under the Pantone Universe brand. The products will be launched within the key categories table setting, food storage, kitchen utensils, home storage and personal organizers via leading kitchenware, design and interior specialty stores and retail chains. Available March 2012. Pictured is the Pantone Universe Exquisite Line Cup that's available in a variety of Pantone colors. SRP: $14.95 each.

Sagaform Inc.
Sicklerville, N.J.
856-626-1340
www.sagaform.com/usa
NYIGF Booth #3237

Sagaform U.S. will introduce several new lines in 2010. Among the new items is the Spectra Wine Glass . It holds 11 5/8 ounces and features decorative stem. The wine glasses are sold in sets of two in a retail ready gift box. SRP: $24.95.

Molecule-R Flavors Inc.
Montreal
514-564-3363
www.molecule-r.com
NYIGF Booth #3277

Molecule-R Flavors Inc. unveils its molecular gastronomy kit: Cuisine R-Evolution. The kit thus includes everything needed to experiment with molecular gastronomy techniques including: 50 sachets of five natural food additives; one set of kitchen tools, a DVD with step-by-step instructions and 50 recipes. The set has a SRP of $58.95.

Green Glass Co.
Weston, Wis.
715-355-1897
www.greenglass.com
NYIGF Booth #9481

These retro-looking tumblers are made of reclaimed beer bottles, originally brewed by The Amsterdam Brewing Co. and rescued from the North American waste stream. The Green Glass Co formed a perfect rim and annealed the glasses to maintain its original strength. The 8-ounce glasses are sold in a set of 4. SRP: $32

Also new is the Very Green Verrines Collection that is made from re-purposed wine cooler bottles and nested on cut slats of reclaimed wine barrels. Reclaimed verrines are made of thicker glass walls to accommodate varying temperatures and cut to the right height so that the food can easily be reached. The wood slat, is slightly curved, and makes a perfect centerpiece. A set includes a slat cut for 4, 5-ounce verrines. SRP $49 per set.

Q&A

Justin Gold
founder and CEO
Justin's Nut Butters

How did you get started in the gourmet business?

In 2003 I started making my own nut butters with a food processor in my kitchen. I was adding all kinds of ingredients from coconut to white chocolate. Eventually my name made it on the jar and that was the birth of the brand. In 2004 I began selling in the farmers market and in local stores.

What products are currently on the market?

We currently have eight different flavors and varieties of nut butter available in single-serve squeeze packs and jars, including Honey Peanut, Maple Almond and Chocolate Hazelnut. We recently entered the candy category with 100% Organic Peanut Butter Cups in both milk and dark chocolate varieties.

The 30+% forecasted increase in peanut butter prices have been widely reported. How will this affect your products' prices?

It's been a nutty year for peanuts, and it has affected all companies that use them. We will absorb most of the increase but need to raise our prices slightly. The price hike will take effect in the first quarter. I am not psyched about it.

What opportunities do you see for gourmet retailers?

There are a lot of incredible companies that have compelling stories that need to be communicated to consumers through the retailers. Displays, signage and end-caps are a great way to share companies' missions for sustainability, artisanal production, etc.

What trends have you noticed?

Transparency with consumers. The digital age is upon us and we can use our smart phones to research just about anything about the companies and their items on shelf while shopping. I believe it's important to communicate everything from how products are made to where the packaging and ingredients are from.

What's next?

Our Organic Peanut Butter Cups have been a big win for us, and it's got me thinking about other candy items I'd love to make...Sustainability is also a big undertaking for us, and we will be converting all of our packaging to be made from more renewable and recycled materials.