Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/275779
Ki t c h e n wa re N e ws & H o u s e wa re s Re vi e w S h o w D a i l y 5 1 S a t u rd a y, M a rc h 1 5 , 2 0 1 4 MEDPORT SEES CONTINUED MARKET GROWTH FOR FIT & FRESH An interview with Larry Wesson, President of Medport LLC. KNSD: You've been President of Medport since 2005. How did Fit & Fresh get started? LW: In 2005, our research and the con- sumer told us they were looking for a bet- ter way to take healthy food with them from home to work or school. They told us the brown bag wasn't working for them. She wanted more functionality, more fashion and style and products designed to meet her needs. We listened, and the brand growth continues to accel- erate. Fit & Fresh sales really exploded over the past three years. KNSD: To what do you attribute all of that growth? LW: The trend towards people taking lunch with them has accelerated due to health, economic and convenience issues. We've been able to bring her a combination of containers, bags and ice packs that work together to meet all her needs at fabulous values. We have more styles, more patterns and stronger fashion than any other supplier out there. We have great designers and we keep the line fresh. We help many of our retailer part- ners to rotate the fashion three to four times per year, giving the fashion-con- scious consumer an opportunity to pur- chase several of our lunch bags. The second area that continues to grow very rapidly is our Back to School business. We have one of the most complete selection of products for Mom to pack a fresh, healthy lunch for her kids. KNSD: What is next for Fit & Fresh? LW: What we hear the consumer saying now is that she needs a better way of bringing a dish she prepared to a social gathering, whether it's a pot luck dinner, a tailgate party or a backyard barbecue. Consumers are using all sorts of home grown solutions, from towels and baskets to cardboard boxes, and hoping it doesn't spill in the car on the way to their gather- ing. When they get to the event, they are concerned it's not at the best temperature for serving and it's not presented in a way that makes the consumer proud. We have designed a line of Go carriers with patented mate- rials that can keep food hot or cold for up to four hours. They're attractive and can go right on the table for serving. The double lid system is spill proof for transporting and can be closed between servings. We have brought together a great combina- tion of technology and design to provide a complete solution for the consumer. We're very excited about the future of this line. Visit Fit & Fresh at booth S2170. HEWLETT JEWELSTICK ON CNN COOLEST GADGETS LIST By Linda Hewlett Fortune Magazine senior features editor, Tim Smith, states, "Let's be frank: some- times the best gadget is as simple as a caveman's tool. With a diamond coating and three grit densities on the same rod, however, this knife sharpener is no pleis- tocene implement. Keeps your kitchen knives surgically sharp without the need for a benchstone." We couldn't have said it any better, Tim. Thanks for the rave review. We knew it all along, and have been telling everyone we know about this extraordinary product. Now, it's been confirmed. The Hewlett JEWELSTIK 1- 2-3 is one of the coolest gadgets of 2013, found on the CNN Coolest Gadgets List from 2013. The JEWELSTIK 1-2-3 was listed number 25 on the list found among many 'techy' products. Our JEWELSTIK 1-2-3 is manufactured and packaged in the U.S.A. and has a lifetime guarantee. Three grits, (coarse, medium, fine) on one handle for your convenience in sharpen- ing. Throw away all the other gadgets in your drawer. Once you have a JEWEL- STIK, there is no need for anything else. Hewlett Mfg., of Linesville, Penn., is the inventor and manufacturer of this fine product. Hewlett Mfg. is nearly 50 years in business, making its customers' needs its first priority. Make your life in the kitchen a pleasure; a few swipes across each grit will slice anything from a ripened tomato to a tough butternut squash. Hewlett Mfg. regrets not being able to attend this year's show due to family circumstances. We will miss seeing all of our customers. To contact Hewlett Mfg., visit www.jewel- stik.com, or call Linda at 814-720-8448 or Sharon at 814-683-4762.