Oser Communications Group

GENERAL NEWS www.kitchenwarenews.com n APRIL 2014 n KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW It has happened before—a cozy movie night at home has been spoiled by a burnt bag of microwave popcorn. W hat if families never had to worry about hanging around their microwave or guessing the cook time for the bag? Thanks to Whirlpool brand microwave monitoring can be a thing of the past. Consumers can watch the movie, not the microwave, with the help of the AccuPop™ cycle, which automatically produces the perfect pop every time. The new Whirlpool® 1.9 cubic foot Over the Range Microwave with TimeSavor™ Plus True Convection features the AccuPop cycle, a unique feature that's designed to listen to popcorn as it cooks, adapting cooking time automatically, using sound sensors to help make perfect popcorn. When the popcorn is ready, the microwave stops heating, allowing families to indulge in a tasty popcorn fix. "At W hirlpool brand, we are always looking to create products that make our Whirlpool Offers Microwave Oven Designed for Perfect Popcorn consumers' lives easier," said Andrea Smith, Whirlpool new products, cooking and suites Brand Manager. "By offering families this AccuPop cycle, we can give them the ability to cut out the time they spend watching the microwave and get back to what they want to enjoy – delicious results and time with each other." Cooking something other than popcorn? The new Whirlpool brand Over the Range Microwave has the features that allow consumers to achieve the same flavorful results for any craving: TimeSavor™ Plus true convection seals in flavors and juices, using a rear fan and heating element that circulate preheated air over, under and around food for moist cakes and juicy meats. Steam cooking creates healthy food in a flash with the universal microwave steamer. Enjoy flaky fish, tender vegetables and fluffy rice quickly and easily without the hassle of bulky cooktop steamers. CleanRelease® non-stick interior is the industry's first non-stick interior that allows for cleaning without harsh chemicals—wipe away cooked-on spills and splashes from the silver metallic surface. Now, cleaning all types of splatters is quick and easy. The Whirlpool 1.9 cubic foot Over the Range Microwave with TimeSavor Plus True Convection featuring the AccuPop Cycle (Model WMH76719C) is available now at retailers nationwide in Stainless Steel, White Ice and Black Ice with retail prices starting at $519. Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. has promoted Eugene A. Castagna, previously the company 's Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, to the role of Chief Operating Officer. Susan E. Lattmann, formerly the Company's Vice President – Finance, has been promoted to Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Castagna, 48, has been with Bed Bath & Beyond since November 1994 and has served as CFO and Treasurer since 2006. Previously, he served as Assistant Treasurer from 2002 to 2006 and as Vice President – Finance from 2000 to 2006. In addition, Castagna's duties have included several key operational functions, including primary responsibility for the company's integration and growth of its baby product business Eugene Castagna Becomes Bed Bath & Beyond's COO since the company's acquisition of buybuy BABY in 2007, and helping lead the integration efforts following the company's 2012 acquisition of Cost Plus World Market. Lattmann, 46, has been with Bed Bath & Beyond since August 1996. She has been Vice President – Finance since 2006, and previously served as Vice President - Controller from 2001 to 2006 and Controller from 2000 to 2001. Prior to joining Bed Bath & Beyond, Lattmann, a certified public accountant, spent six years with the firm of Arthur Andersen. Steven Temares, Chief Executive Officer and member of the company's board of directors, said, "These promotions further strengthen our deep and experienced management team as we execute our long- term strategic plans. Over the last several years, Gene's role has expanded beyond his financial responsibilities to include several key operational and planning areas, and Sue has made valuable contributions to all aspects of our financial and strategic processes. Today 's announcement has positioned both Gene and Sue to assume even greater roles in helping lead and organize our company for continued growth and success." 3 Two new casual tabletop collections – Patchwork Paisley and Fruit Scroll – join the newly launched line of BonJour® Tabletop from Meyer Corporation, U.S. Elegantly styled with French country flair to reflect the brand's personality, the new decorated stoneware collections debuted at the 2014 International Home + Housewares Show. Conveniently dishwasher and microwave oven safe, Patchwork Paisley blends varying shades of blue with bursts of fuchsia pink and pale green in a joyous blend of floral and stylized paisley designs. Patchwork Paisley keeps the French country theme fresh and contemporary with a crisp white background that is prominent on key dinnerware items, such as the dinner plate. Cereal bowls are also more lightly decorated and feature a center floral motif for added interest. A pretty pattern that combines classic floral styling with modern graphic touches, Patchwork Paisley is available in a 16-Piece Set, and six four- piece sets including dinner plates, salad plates, cereal bowls, mugs, appetizer plates and fruit bowls. Four serving items include a 9" ser ving bowl, 10" ser ving bowl, rectangular platter and oval platter. New Fruit Scroll brings to life the vibrant colors and attractive shapes of assorted fruits, such as pears, cherries and plums in a classical design embellished with softly rendered scrolls in pale gold. Set on a neutral white background, Fruit Scroll's realistically rendered fruit design, which appears hand- painted, contrasts beautifully with the pattern's fluid scroll motif framing most items. Dishwasher and microwave oven safe, the sophisticated and welcoming Fruit Scroll collection is offered in a 16-piece set ($69.99), and six four-piece sets. Three serving items include a 10" round serving bowl, 12" round platter and oval platter. BonJour Patchwork Paisley and Fruit Scroll Stoneware Collections Forty One Madison is ready for The New York Tabletop Market, Tuesday, April 22 through Friday, April 25, according to Laurie Burns, senior vice president and director of Forty One Madison Avenue. "As we enter the next decade and our first half-century, the stage is set in the industry for bold moves and decisive actions" said Burns. "This spring's Tabletop Show is all about the product. Visitors will see new product introductions and US market debuts like never before. Brands have spent their unequaled resources to innovate and offerings are going to wow. From luxury to introductor y prices, from formal to casual, and including lighting, gifts and traditional tabletop, you will see it all here in New York." Forty One Madison/The New York Merchandise Mart's management founded the show 40 years ago, and it has since evolved to become the premier event for the tabletop category in North America. In that time, Forty One has become home to 95+ flagship showrooms representing more than 125 global brands, several of which now market other home products that go beyond the table to include gifts, housewares, accent furnishings and lighting. Showroom Additions + Moves Christofle is making Forty One Madison its North American headquarters with a new 6,000-square-foot showroom debuting in April on the 6th floor. An industr y leader since 1830, Christofle is renowned for its world-class silvercraft — flatware, giftware, hollowware, ser veware and accessories. Increasingly, the company is creating collections that expand into home décor and lifestyle, and a major introduction at April market is a furniture series designed by Marcel Wanders. According to Nicolas Krafft, Christofle's President and CEO, "Forty One is a hub for luxury design brands and thus a natural fit to host Christofle's newest showroom – our only permanent wholesale showroom in the U.S. This location will make it easy for our customers to shop Christofle during market periods, and the Rudin Management team has made this move and build for us a seamless experience." A theme of "Silver Moments" will embody the array of products featured when the showroom opens in April. "These are designs to be shared with family, friends and loved ones and the kind that are commemorated by silver," said Krafft. Joseph Joseph can now be found on the 15th floor in a 2,000-square-foot showroom and company headquarters. Founded by brothers Richard and Antony Joseph in 2003, Joseph Joseph has skyrocketed to prominence with its ingeniously designed everyday household utensils for food preparation, service and cleanup. Zak Designs will debut its new New York showroom on the third floor. The color and flair that have become a signature of this company 's tableware, kitchen, serving and entertaining products will be on display in its new 3,000-square-foot space. Zak also is distinguished as a leading Disney Consumer Products partner, licensed to feature numerous characters and films that are family favorites around the world. "Because we are so focused on global trends in tabletop, serveware and kitchen prep products, it's always been important for us to have a strong showroom presence in New York," said Irv Zakheim, Zak's Chairman and CEO. "Forty One Madison offered everything we were looking for. We're ver y excited to have our new showroom in a great location." Hankook Chinaware will be opening its doors at Forty One Madison in April. This acclaimed South Korean factory, known globally for its superior bone china production, will occupy a renovated 1,200- square-foot showroom on the 19th floor. As for showroom moves: On the third floor, a newly remodeled space has been carved out for the portfolio of luxury brands represented by BIA Cordon Bleu, namely Philippe Deshoulieres, Royal Limoges, Mateus and CAPDECO. While on the 6th floor, Fitz and Floyd also has moved into new quarters, now in a redesigned jewel-box space that begs exploration with a comprehensive presentation of the tableware and giftware lines. The company has been part of the Forty One Madison community for 15 years. The New York Tabletop Market Ready for Spring

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