-By Joseph Tarnowski

People are preparing more meals themselves — whether it’s their morning cup of Joe, some gourmet snacks for an evening get-together around the TV, or just a simple ice-cold refreshing glass of water. While the economy may have prompted this eat-at-home trend, suppliers have stepped up to bring consumers the tools to prepare “eating out”-quality foods and beverages in the comfort of their own homes. Following is some data that highlights these trends, and some handy products that were developed with these trends in mind.

Home Sweet Home
The economy may be improving, but one of its residual effects is the fact that Americans are spending a lot more time at home, which means they are preparing a lot more meals at home — and this has resulted in a boon for the kitchen electrics category.

“This tendency to spend more time at home is reflected in the kinds of housewares consumers are buying,” says Perry Reynolds, VP of marketing and trade development for the International Housewares Association (IHA). “They are preparing more meals at home, and this is particularly true when it comes to coffee — many people no longer want to spend $4 a day at their local Starbucks.”

Indeed, market research firm NPD Group found that because consumers are cooking more at home, they are looking to replace their old appliances that may be old, broken or outdated (see Table 1), and that coffee makers are among those items showing positive trends because of this.

Kitchen electrics also top the list when it comes to gift registries, as was revealed in a research study published November 2009 by The Knot, Inc.

“Originally, many years ago when registries started, couples listed a lot of tableware and china,” says Miriam Alexander, VP, head of insights and analytics, The Knot. “Now, it’s a lot of kitchen electrics. There is an emphasis on quality across the category.”

According to Alexander, for these “back of the house” electrics, which include items such as cookware and appliances, function is very important. “Reviews and endorsements from other consumers are very important, and consumers tend to do a lot of online research for these items before deciding on which ones are right for them.”

This research includes online consumer reviews, family and friend recommendations, and advice from salespeople in the store, while catalogs are losing importance as a source of information. Brand counts more for these items as well, especially for the more functional items, she adds.

Just what types of items are being listed on registries? According to The Knot study, 50 percent ask for blenders, and 44 percent ask for food processors. “These, along with other higher-ticket items, are likely to be asked for on registries at higher-end stores such as Macy’s, Bloomingdale's or Williams-Sonoma,” says Alexander. “One in five register for a sandwich or panini grill — but these types of items often go to couples who have lived together before marriage (which is seven out of every 10 couples), and so they tend to have a lot of kitchen electrics already and are just looking to fill in the gaps.” (Table 2)

New Products

Clean Water, Clean Counter
Cuisinart’s CleanWater Countertop Filtration System was developed as an affordable and convenient means of providing healthier, filtered water for the entire family, without relying on bottles.

It is available in a 2-gallon capacity unit (model no. WCH-1500) that comes with two fast-flow spigots for dispensing hot, cold or room-temperature filtered water, as well as an Energy Saver mode that cuts energy use by 50 percent when the function is engaged.

“The health and well-being of our consumers is paramount at Cuisinart,” says Mary Rodgers, director of marketing communications for the company. “The CleanWater filtration system can be used to mix a bottle of baby formula or to prepare soup, hot chocolate, or instant oatmeal. What’s more, the unit is curved in the front so that a pot or pan can be placed directly below the fast-flow spigots to cook rice and even prepare pasta.”

Unlike free-standing filtration systems that use large containers of water and take up significant floor space, Cuisinart’s compact filtration system sits directly on the counter, says the supplier. And because the unit does not have a compressor, it is quiet and quickly dispenses water at hot temperatures (194 degrees Fahrenheit), cold temperatures (44 degrees Fahrenheit) or room temperature.

The unit also has red/blue LED indicators that light up when the water has reached hot/cold temperatures, and a green LED indicator that signals that the unit is in Energy Saver mode. The 2-gallon unit retails for $149.

For more information, call 203-975-4609 or visit www.cuisinart.com.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 420


Stone-Heated Buffet
Nostalgia Products Group’s stainless steel 3-in-1 Lazy Susan Buffet Server is a food warmer that works even when unplugged — and can also cook food, in addition to merely serving it.

The unit, which retails for $99.99, has a stone inside its base that retains heat so food stays warm for up to an hour after the cord is detached, and it breaks down to a warming tray, large buffet pan and four separate covered chafing dishes, giving the user a variety of options for serving.

In addition, the Lazy Susan’s chafing dishes can separate to be made part of a table setting.

Features include:
• Four 1.5-quart stainless steel chafing dishes
• Four clear, polycarbonate lids with steam escape ports
• Stainless steel base can be used as stand-alone warming tray
• Heat-retaining stone in base serves as the perfect food warmer for up to one hour
• Rotation ring allows trays to turn on base
• Detachable electric cord
• Chrome-plated handles

For more information, call 920-337-9800 or visit www.nostalgiaelectrics.com.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 423



Espresso Anywhere
Changing how — and where — the world drinks espresso, the mypressi™ Twist™ makes its worldwide retail debut on America’s annual National Espresso Day. The Twist is currently shipping to retailers and is available for purchase at www.mypressi.com for $169.

Espressi, Inc.’s mypressi Twist challenges traditional thinking on how, and where, quality espresso is made. The Twist uses a patent-pending pneumatic delivery system powered by standardized gas cartridges — commonly used for whipped cream — to produce 135 pounds per square inch, or just more than nine bars of pressure, for each espresso extraction, which is the ideal pressure for espresso, ensuring the shot is at its peak in flavor, aroma and color. Each fully recyclable cartridge makes up to eight single or four double shots of espresso, at a cost of just pennies per shot.

The portable Twist requires no external power and is small and light enough to fit easily into a briefcase, backpack or handbag, and works equally well with fresh coffee grounds or ESE coffee pods. It ships with single and double baskets for fresh grounds, a pressurized basket for coarser grinds, and an easy-to-change adapter for pods. Each unit also comes with a tamper, combined drip coaster and tamping mat, convenient travel pouch, and four gas cartridges.

The Twist’s easy-to-clean design ensures there are never residual oils to oxidize or spoil subsequent shots. To operate the Twist, users simply insert a cartridge into the pressure chamber, fill the basket with fresh-ground coffee or a coffee pod, and fill the upper compartment with hot water. With a simple pull of the trigger, it produces one or two shots of espresso.

For more information, call 206-957-6550 or visit www.mypressi.com.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 426