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The International Home & Housewares Show in Chicago this past March featured more than 2,100 exhibitors from 34 countries and more than 18,000 buyers from over 100 countries around the world. As retailers crowded the aisles to get a glimpse of the latest cutting-edge innovations, we asked our Retailer Advisory Board members to sort through the thousands of products aisle by aisle to obtain a firsthand assessment of the latest products.

Judged on their own merits for our readers who were unable to attend the show, and for those who attended but did not have a chance to experience it all, the following winning results should prove informative, interesting, and profitable.


Aisle: S3628
Product: Self Leveling Spoons
Company: Amco Houseworks
Address: 120 Lakeview Pkwy
Vernon Hills, IL 60061
Phone: 877-310-9102
Company representative: Fran Pegler
Judge: Jane and Ed Fowler
Gourmet Pantry
Lubbock, TX
Comments: It is the first measuring tool to address the leveling issue so that a cook does not need to level with another instrument.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 930



Aisle: S410
Company: Bodum
Address: 415 W. 14th St.
New York City, NY 10014
Phone: 877-992-6386
Product: Assam Tea Press
Company representative: Amelia Hutchenson
Judge: Linda Ballard
Art Mart/ Art Mart Foods
Urbana, IL
Comments: Bodum is at the forefront of coffee and tea brewers for the contemporary design-focused customer — their products are always a step ahead in materials, function and design. They are a pleasure to have in our store for our customers.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 902



Aisle: S410
Company: Bodum
Address: 415 W. 14th St.
New York City, NY 10014
Phone: 877-992-6386
Product: Kona Coffee Maker
Company representative: Amelia Hutchenson
Judge: Linda Ballard
Art Mart/ Art Mart Foods
Urbana, IL
Comments: Bodum is at the forefront of coffee and tea brewers for the contemporary design-focused customer — their products are always a step ahead in materials, function and design. They are a pleasure to have in our store for our customers.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 904



Aisle: S410
Company: Bodum
Address: 415 W. 14th St.
New York City, NY 10014
Phone: 877-992-6386
Product: Bistro Double Wall Pourover Coffee Maker
Company representative: Jeff Malkasian
Judge: Mike and Shelly Sackett
Kitchen Affairs
Evansville, IN
Comments: A beautiful update on the old brewer with insulated carafe.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 931



Aisle: S410
Company: Bodum
Address: 415 W. 14th St.
New York City, NY 10014
Phone: 877-992-6386
Product: Chambord 8 Cup Double Wall Coffee Press
Company representative: Tim Diamond
Judge: Barbara Freeman
Kitchenware Outfitters
Savannah, GA
Comments: Double wall keeps coffee warm and still lets you see the beautiful coffee unlike other presses.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 905


Aisle: S3247
Product: Wine Ratchet Magnum
Company: Built NY
Address: 520 Broadway, 2nd Floor
New York City, NY 10012
Phone: 212-227-2044
Judge: Lia Huemoeller
Kitchen Window
Minneapolis, MN
Comments: The perfect opener for the person who loves tools. It comes with two interchangeable screw bits for natural or synthetic corks.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 914



Aisle: L11102
Product: Jura Capresso Automatic Coffee Center – Impressa E9
Company: Capresso
Address: 81 Ruckman Rd.
P.O. Box 775
Closter, NJ 07624
Phone: 800-767-3554
Company representative: Krisa Letts
Judge: Carol Ann Hurt
Art Mart/ Art Mart Foods
Urbana, IL
Comments: This machine is fabulous. It grinds, tamps, brews and cleans in under 60 seconds.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 926



Aisle: S552
Product: Wand Scrubber/Soap Brush
Company: Chef'n
Address: 1520 Fourth Ave., Third Floor
Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 866-64-CHEFN
Company representative: Michael Purcell
Judge: Willard Doxey
A Southern Season
Chapel Hill, NC
Comments: Chef'n continues to be best in design, function and package design. The whole CleanGenuity line is great.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 917


Aisle: S2882
Product: Modular Series Food Prep Boards
Company: Epicurean Cutting Surfaces
Address: 1325 N. 59th Ave. W
Duluth, MN 55807
Phone: 866-678-3500
Company representative: Dave Benson
Judge: Natasha Georgia
Kitchen Window
Minneapolis, MN
Comments: It is very innovative. The two different sizes (29"x11" & 29"x15") create a large work surface that can be taken apart to be put in the dishwasher and to store.

Judge: Barbara Freeman
Kitchenware Outfitters
Savannah, GA
Comments: It's a two-piece cutting board with juice grooves on one side of each piece. You can configure the two pieces like a jigsaw puzzle to any configuration you want.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 925



Aisle: S3425
Product: 7-pc. Pressure Cooker Set
Company: Fagor America
Address: 1099 Wall St. W., Suite 387
Lyndhurst, NJ 07071
Phone: 800-207-0806
Company representative: Agnes Csomos
Judge: Jennifer Baron
A Cook's Companion
Brooklyn, NY
Comments: Smartly designed — stores away easily, and very compact. Super price point, too!
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 909


Aisle: S1450
Product: Poach Pods
Company: Harold Import Company
Address: 747 Vassar Ave.
Lakewood, NJ 08701
Phone: 800-526-2163
Judge: Laura Havlek
Sign of the Bear Kitchenware
Sonoma, CA
Comments: Harold is distributing the much-missed Poach Pods, a key all-year-round seller for us that we have customers waiting for. It is not new, but it is our most-potential-show-dollars contender as a key item for any gourmet store.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 912


Aisle: S1450
Product: The Perfect Rice Cooker
Company: Harold Import Company
Address: 747 Vassar Ave.
Lakewood, NJ 08701
Phone: 800-526-2163
Company representative: Robert Laub and Helen Chen
Judge: Larry Oates
KitchenArt – The Store for Cooks
West Lafayette, IN
Comments: Low-tech way to cook rice perfectly every time. Rice will not scorch or burn as long as the stock pot has water. Easy sell at $24.99 retail!
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 901



Aisle: S819
Product: Silicone Products
Company: iSi North America
Address: 175 Route 46 W.
Fairfield, NJ 07004
Phone: 800-447-2426
Company representative: Michael Loughnane
Judge: Becky Moore
Murphy's Department Store
Stillwater, OK
Comments: Innovative, practical, colorful, useful and trendy.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 919



Aisle: S4262
Product: Vacuum Food Sealers
Company: Keepeez
Address: 1101 NE 144th St., Suite 107
Vancouver, WA 98685
Phone: 800-979-2231
Company representative: Tyler Spencer
Judge: Tracee Clepper
The Kitchen Shoppe, Inc.
Carlisle, PA
Comments: The dramatic display showing this product made you approach the booth and inspect the products. From suspended filled wine glasses to bowls, it keeps food fresh up to five times longer with a leak-proof seal, and also reduces waste of plastic wrap.

Judge: Jennifer Baron
A Cook's Companion
Brooklyn, NY
Comments: Seals all kinds of bowls or glasses neatly. It's "green" — stop wasting away all that plastic wrap!
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 923


Aisle: S1646
Product: Fruit Combo Rack
Company: Nifty Home Products
Address: P.O. Box 507
Madison Lake, MN 56063
Phone: 507-243-3509
Judge: Suzanne Hoffman
The Kitchen Shoppe
Carlisle, PA
Comments: New package to tell the story. Healthy eating made easy!
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 929


Aisle: S2010
Product: Melon/Pineapple Cutter
Company: Norpro
Address: 2215 Merrill Creek Pkwy.
Everett, WA 98203
Phone: 800-722-0202
Company representative: Adriel Lacher
Judge: Nancy Monroe
Murphy's Department Store
Stillwater, OK
Comments: I selected this item because it was novel; has multiple uses — for pineapple as well as a variety of small melons, and it is a good summer item. It can also be readily demonstrated to enhance sales.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 921


Aisle: L13139
Product: Freshvac
Company: Oliso
Address: 1095 Folsom St.
San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone: 415-864-7600
Judge: Laura Havlek
Sign of the Bear Kitchenware
Sonoma, CA
Comments: A clever little food-sealer with reusable bags, it's compact, attractive and works well.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 913

Aisle: S1200
Product: New Canister Line
Company: OXO
Address: 75 Ninth Ave. 5th Floor
New York, NY 10011
Phone: 212-242-3333
Company representative: Stephanie Karlis
Judge: Willard Doxey
A Southern Season
Chapel Hill, NC
Comments: Great design, ease of use and ease of cleaning.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 907



Aisle: S3675
Product: Paula Deen Vidalia Onion Peach Grilling Marinade
Company: The Peanut Shop of Williamsburg
Address: 8012 Hankins Ind. Pk. Rd.
Toano, VA 23168
Phone: 800-831-1828
Company representative: Gigi Arnold
Judge: Larry Oates
KitchenArt – The Store for Cooks
West Lafayette, IN
Comments: Sweet and fiery sauce. Great in seafood and easy to bring "down home" taste to a weeknight meal.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 911


Aisle: S1987
Product: Locking Tongs
Company: Rosle
Address: 802 Centerpoint Blvd.
New Castle, DE 19720
Phone: 302-326-4801
Company representative: Patrick Lobo
Judge: Lia Huemoeller
Kitchen Window
Minneapolis, MN
Comments: The best hand-held locking tongs we've ever tried. They're extremely smooth — simply hold up to lock and down to release. Like all Rosle products, they are beautiful as well as functional. Available in three sizes.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 906



Aisle: S4210
Product: Silicone Grid Potholders
Company: SiliconeZone
Address: 252 W 38th St. 14th Floor
New York, NY 10018
Phone: 212-997-9591
Company representative: Matthew Glazer
Judge: Jane and Ed Fowler
Gourmet Pantry
Lubbock, TX
Comments: The unique waffle-like grid design gives a cloth-like feel and contours to the hand while diffusing heat. Safe up to 675° F and is dishwasher safe.
Judge: Chris Beykirch
Love to Cook
Logan, UT
Comments: Very soft, great feel. Once in my hand, I was sold!
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 903



Aisle: S1584
Product: Plastic Serving Piece
Company: Simple Settings
Address: 2670 N. Point Ct.
Spring Valley, OH 45370
Phone: 937-532-6960
Company representative: Kevin Castle
Judge: Becky Moore
Murphy's Department Store
Stillwater, OK
Comments: Different, inexpensive, fashionable colors, and this item is really thought through. Once you snap off the utensils, you can clip them back on — no one else has that feature.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 908



Aisle: S2382
Product: SmartShopper Grocery List Organizer
Company: SmartShopper Electronics
Address: Genesis Bldg, 6000 Lombardo Ctr. Unit 205
Seven Hills, OH 44131
Phone: 216-447-9106
Company representative: Jim Eastin
Judge: Mike & Shelly Sackett
Kitchen Affairs
Evansville, IN
Comments: Most creative, well designed and properly priced.

Judge: Terry Monroe
Murphy's Department Store
Stillwater, OK
Comments: We have never seen anything similar. You speak into the hand-held device, and it uses voice recognition to make a listing. It also groups by kind of grocery, so you can generate lists by location in the store.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 910


Aisle: S113
Product: No-Drip Pourers
Company: Spring Mill Home Products Corp.
Address: P.O. Box 126
Gladwyne, PA 19035
Phone: 610-642-1800
Company representative: Jay Butera
Judge: Suzanne Hoffman
The Kitchen Shoppe, Inc.
Carlisle, PA
Comments: Very practical, very much needed and looks neat!
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 922



Aisle: S2443
Product: Leak-Proof Travel Mug
Company: Thermos
Address: 2550 W. Golf Rd. Suite 800
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
Phone: 800-243-0745
Company representative: Louise Shepard
Judge: Carol Ann Hurt
Art Mart / Art Mart Foods
Urbana, IL
Comments: It's a new color — espresso — translucent with a black rubber handle and grips. It is unbreakable, lightweight and features a stainless steel interior.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 924


Aisle: S2246
Product: Fashion Collection
Company: Trudeau Corp.
Address: 10440 Woodward Ave.
Woodridge, IL 60517
Phone: 888-887-8332
Company representative: Michelle Campbell
Judge: Nancy Monroe
Murphy's Department Store
Stillwater, OK
Comments: Very eye-catching colors and display. Great for merchandising products, and it is good-quality merchandise.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 915


Aisle: S4860
Product: Porcelain Dinnerware
Company: WesternWare
Address: 2816 Palm Drive
Billings, MT 59102
Phone: 800-282-2141
Judge: Terry Monroe
Murphy's Department Store
Stillwater, OK
Comments: While this product may be regional in appeal, it is a quality Western-themed product at a reasonable price. We see increasing demand for Western items, particularly those items of quality with historical significance.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 927


Aisle: S2035
Product: Microwave Garlic Roaster
Company: William Bounds
Address: 3737 W. 240th St.
P.O. Box 1547
Torrance, CA 90505
Phone: 800-473-0504
Judge: Chris Beykirch
Love to Cook
Logan, UT
Comments: Finally, a quick solution to a one-hour project.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 920


Aisle: S2407
Product: Silly-Feet!
Company: Wilton Industries
Address: 2240 W 75 St.
Woodridge, IL 60517
Phone: 800-772-7111
Judge: Tracee Clepper
The Kitchen Shoppe
Carlisle, PA
Comments: The display was eye-catching: on large stainless steel wire trees with clips suspending all colors. Cupcakes are back in popularity and fun. Done in bright silicone colors, it may help educate customers on the use of silicone bakeware, its use and benefits — cute sells!
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 916


Aisle: S2077/S2269
Product: Confetti Line
Company: Zak Designs
Address: P.O. Box 19188
Spokane, WA 99219
Phone: 800-331-1089
Company representative: David Simpson
Judge: Natasha Georgia
Kitchen Window
Minneapolis, MN
Comments: Colorful, hip, new greenware. The line includes plates, bowls, cups, salt & pepper shakers, spoon rests and mixing bowls. Great for summer!
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 928