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Kitchenware News & Housewares Review Show Daily 9 3 Saturday, March 18, 2017 iconic infomercial industry by being the first to introduce 'As Seen on TV' prod- ucts on retail store shelves. Today, TeleBrands is transitioning to BulbHead, a brand that provides Bright Ideas for a Better Life. We continue to grow with well-known lines under the Red Copper, Pocket Hose and Hurricane Spin Mop brands. BulbHead will follow TeleBrands in launching successful con- sumer products in the DRTV space with the goal of helping consumers solve everyday problems. KNSD: What are your thoughts on growth and success? AK: Consumers are always looking to improve their lives. BulbHead, as a con- sumer brand, is focused on this core belief as we create "Bright Ideas for a Better Life." Our goal is to continue to bring fun and helpful products to con- sumers with the goal of providing easy solutions to everyday problems. We make a point of listening to our con- sumers. We bring products that offer affordable price-points, mass audience reach and a 'WOW' demonstration to market. Our model hasn't changed – with BulbHead, we continue to allow buyers to save time and money with easy to use products. Our team of professionals is con- stantly searching for the next big product. Retailers count on TeleBrands and our BulbHead team to stock shelves with items that will resonate with shoppers, resulting in rapid sales and fast new- product turnaround. KNSD: BulbHead has had a successful year. How do you continue to find win- ners? AK: The TeleBrands team commands decades of direct response experience, which is now being married with BulbHead's digital services and deep technological capabilities. This powerful combination enables rapid product dis- covery of 'bright ideas' through the use Telebrands (Cont'd. from p. 1) of proprietary algorithms and systems we've built to validate product demand. As a result, we always continue to aggressively grow and increase our brand offerings. For example, this year Pocket Hose introduced Pocket Hose Dura-Rib Bullet and Pocket Hose Top Brass Bullet. Our new Hercules Hose is sure to be a top seller. The Red Copper line continued to expand with Red Copper Square Dance, Red Copper 10-inch Fry Pan, Red Copper 5 Piece Set and Red Copper Mug. Hurricane Spin Scrubber and Hurricane Spin Broom are the newest in the Hurricane Spin Mop line. The Atomic Beam line, starting with the Atomic Beam Flashlight, is extending to the Atomic Beam Lantern and the Atomic Beam Headlight. We're constantly on the lookout for new products in the house- wares, beauty and pet categories. We also meet inventors at trade shows and through colleagues. We've built a network of entrepreneurs through these meetings as well as our Inventor Days events. Those with con- sumer products can apply at bigideas@telebrands.com. We often find incredible products through at- home inventors. KNSD: What products are you most excited about at this year's show? AK: While 2016 saw unprecedented growth for the company, we're looking forward to our new Climb Cart in 2017. A folding cart that climbs stairs with ease, Climb Cart is lightweight and holds up to 100 pounds. Perfect for use inside and outside, on curbs, ramps and inclines, Climb Cart folds to store easily. BulbHead is also rolling out Hurricane Spin Broom, Atomic Beam Headlight, Atomic Beam Lantern and Atomic Beam Flashlight, as well as Air Dragon and Easy Einstein Water Balloons that fill and seal dozens of water balloons. Visit booth #L11331. For more informa- tion on BulbHead and TeleBrands, visit www.bulbhead.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bulbheadideas or on Twitter @BulbHeadIdeas. TRAINA FOODS KETCHUPS OFFER INTENSE TOMATO FLAVOR By Lorrie Baumann A taste for ketchup is no longer the mark- er that divides the gourmet from the hoi polloi, and Traina Foods's new Sun Dried Tomato Ketchups are among the reasons for that. The company has now added a new Hot Sriracha Sun Dried Tomato Ketchup to its product line and promises that more premium ketchups are coming in 2017. While Traina Foods's Sun Dried Tomato Ketchup was already designed to appeal to the consumer who appreciates bold flavors, the new Hot Sriracha-fla- vored ketchup amps up the spiciness and works well on a taco or on scrambled eggs, says Willie Traina, the company's Chief Executive Officer and President. He's the third generation in this family- owned company that's now on its fourth generation in the business of producing dried fruits sold as ingredients to many of the largest food companies in the U.S. as well as to foodservice suppliers and even in the little bags of dried cherries, apri- cots or tomatoes that grocers put in their produce aisles. Traina Foods currently dries 60 different fruits in 14 drying facil- ities around the world and is behind more than 700 SKUs distributed across the country. "Our products are distributed in every state and in Canada," Traina said. "If you see sun-dried apricots or cherries in a restaurant, chances are that it came out of one of our facilities." About four years ago, the company decided to branch out just a bit and offer a product designed for the retail market – but without competing for the dollars already coming in for its packaged dried fruit. So they decided to take their sun- dried tomatoes and make a ketchup out of them. "We felt like we could give people a ketchup experience that would go a lit- tle further than the typical sweet tomato paste-based ketchup that you typically see," Traina said. "Ultimately, we felt like we improved ketchup." Four pounds of fresh California tomatoes go into every bottle of the Traina Foods Sun Dried Tomato Ketchup. "We're packing a lot of tomato into our bottle of ketchup," Traina said. "When you sun-dry tomatoes, you're removing the water, and if you ever eat a really good sun-dried California tomato, they are really intense in flavor. When you make your tomato paste out of sun- dried tomatoes, your intensity is off the charts, and that's how we make a really great ketchup." The tomatoes for the ketchups are sourced from growers in California's Central Valley, following the season from Bakersfield in early summer to fields around Sacramento as the harvest season continues. "My dad's philosophy is that you have to bring in a great product to produce a great product," Traina said. "It starts in the field." While the Hot Sriracha Sun Dried Tomato Ketchup is the newest to be launched at retail, the Traina Foods prod- uct development team is currently work- ing on other sun-dried tomato ketchups with a fruit twist that Traina promises will add a fillip to foods that most people haven't yet thought of dousing with ketchup. "They won't be just for burgers and hot dogs," he said. "We're talking about being able to use a ketchup on fish or chicken." They're still in the develop- ment stage, so we may or may not get a taste of them at the Winter Fancy Food Show, but they'll definitely be available for tasting at Traina Foods' booth next summer. "I'm excited about it. It's some- thing that we've really been excited about," Traina said. "Our product devel- opment team worked really hard on the new products, and it's something that I'm really proud of." But of course, ketchup isn't the only way to use dried fruits, and Traina Foods is working on other products that origi- nate in family recipes. The latest of these is a line of flavored vodkas made from vodka derived from grapes and then soaked with dried fruits and sold under the PORCH LIGHT Vodka brand. "It's an old recipe that my mother used to do," Traina said. "During the Prohibition, my grandfather used to make a little alcohol. He'd be in the barn behind the home. If grandma saw a lot of action or people who were coming around, she'd flip on the porch light, and he'd know to put things away." There are currently four flavors: Apricot, which is from the original fami- ly recipe; Strawberry; Fig and Sun Dried Tomato, which makes a Bloody Mary that Traina says is "scary good." The vodka has just launched at retail, with initial distribution in California and growing from there. It's great for sipping, great for blend- ing," Traina said. "Enjoy life. Slow down a little bit. That's our philosophy – to slow down on life a little bit. It goes too quick." BREADMAKER OPTIONS EXPAND Zojirushi, manufacturer of kitchen appliances, has increased the menu set- tings on their new Home Bakery Maestro™ Breadmaker (BB-SSC10), allowing users to select from a variety of healthy baking options. The new course menu selection style is straight- forward with the course key code clear- ly listed on the lid. This new arrange- ment allowed for a multitude of settings to be pre-programmed in the machine, including the new multigrain, salt free, sugar free and vegan settings. The Maestro's compact size is perfect for smaller kitchens and bakes a 1lb loaf, which is ideal for smaller families or singles. The easy-to-use model also comes with a full-color recipe book to help consumers bake the perfect loaf, right from the start. The Maestro will retail for $390 and will be available May 2017. Zojirushi's goal is to constantly improve their products and bring the best technology to the kitchen. Courses were tested and retested to ensure breads were not only healthy but delicious. The Maestro is loaded with features and user- friendly settings. The Homemade course allows users to customize the knead, rise and bake time of three memory settings. And the combination of pre-programmed healthy bread course options and non-bread options, such as pasta dough and jam, make this machine a helpful and versatile appliance. New to this machine is the expanded menu which includes the fol- lowing course settings: white, European, quick white, whole wheat, quick whole wheat, multigrain, gluten free, salt free, sugar free, vegan, bread/pizza dough, pasta dough, cake, jam, and homemade. The machine is equipped with double heaters that rapidly heat the interior to give the loaf a light and airy crust, and Crust Control gives the user the ability to choose between a medium or dark crust. Delicious, healthy breads can be made in a little over 2 hours with the Quick course set- ting. In addition, all sur- faces that come in con- tact with food or bever- age are BPA-free. Other features include a carry handle for easy storage, an auto add dispenser that automatically dis- penses nuts, fruits or other extra ingredients, nonstick coated baking pan, liquid measuring cup and measuring spoon. For more information, visit www.zojirushi.com.