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8 GENERAL NEWS KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW n APRIL 2017 n www.kitchenwarenews.com Inspired by America's cocktail renaissance, Microplane® ref reshes its offering of professional and home use bar tools with the launch of its multi-functional Ultimate Bar Tool (model 41060). Available at retail in March 2017, the Ultimate Bar Tool is priced at $14.95 suggested retail. Minimizing the number of accouterments needed to make pro-style cocktails and mocktails, the streamlined and extraordinarily efficient Ultimate Bar Tool allows bartenders and party hosts to muddle, stir, cut, score, strain, and create garnishing twists and peels f rom citrus f ruit with one easy and fun-to-use tool. A sharp-edged peerler blade is Specially designed onto the bottom end of the tool, and safely covered with a removable clear cap, to easily and smoothly create flavorful strips of citrus peel for flaming garnishes or to add flavor to a classic Manhattan and other cocktails. The cleverly designed upper portion of the tool, which is durably constructed in stainless steel, offers six built-in beverage- making features. The dual-purpose clear protective cover is serrated at the tip to mash and blend ingredients, such as f resh mint leaves, sugar and lime juice for authentic mojitos. At the top end, a middle hole is purposely designed to facilitate stirring to help combine ingredients, chill and dilute for perfectly balanced drinks. Next to the stirrer is a small, sharp knife blade to conveniently trim herbs, slice citrus f ruit paper-thin and prep other ingredients. Below the knife blade, the Ultimate Bar Tool includes a razor-sharp scorer to pierce through the tough skin of limes, lemons and other citrus f ruits before peeling. Below the knife blade and scorer is an equally sharp channel knife to transform citrus peel into elegant garnishing twists. A well-designed integrated strainer that fits across both a standard size tumbler and a shaker, and helps prevent muddled bits of fruit or ice from falling into serving glasses, is located on the opposite side of the tool. The hard working, space saving and dishwasher safe Microplane Ultimate Bar Tool is crafted with a comfortable soft-grip handle in black with white accents. For more information on the Ultimate Bar Tool and other premium quality kitchen tools f rom Microplane®, visit www.microplane.com. KN New Microplane Ultimate Bar Tool The privately held, 135-year-old W.C. Redmon Company, in joint venture with TCI Corporation of New Zealand introduced 13 new items at the 2017 Housewares Show. " These new items include a wide range of consumer products f rom utility and food storage to gardening items and portable flooring", said Peter Redmon, President of W.C. Redmon Co. Inc. "We add several new items every year that reflect changing trends in today 's lifestyles." Visto™, a f resh food storage solution, is the ultimate storage system for the countertop, pantry, refrigerator and freezer. The cr ystal-clear, modular design is microwave, dishwasher and f reezer safe, stain and shatter resistant and has an advanced airtight sealed lid system. Visto Store & Stack is manufactured from BPA- f ree triton® copolyester. Visto is available in a range of convenient sizes and lids are interchangeable. Gridmat™, a cost-effective portable flooring system, was recently added to Redmon's product line. It is lightweight, hard wearing and easy to install while hiding power cables. The Gridmat tile system can also be used as a semi-permanent surface on grass as it allows growth through the holes in the surface. The grass can even be mowed. Gridmat is a patented injection molded product manufactured from superior quality, high impact, UV stabilized polypropylene. Gridmat is extremely strong. A 2-ton vehicle can be driven over it without worry. Gridmat center, side, trim and corner pieces can be ordered to easily assemble to fit the desired size. The trim pieces have a gentle slope up to the flooring level. The Compost Bin, available in Forest Green or Black, offers buyers an easy way to compost at home. The 65-gallon and 108- gallon sized bins both come with a comprehensive composting guide. Redmon now offers contemporary square flower pots with saucers in Terra Cotta and Forest Green colors. Both are available in 5- gallon and 10-gallon sizes. Also available is a low-cost Garden Hose Hanger with integrated door for safe storage of fittings and/or sprayer nozzle and is UV resistant to beat sun damage. Redmon has extended its line of economical storage bins and totes. From the stackable drawer units in various colors to the clear view trays and totes with lids and the wheeled-underbed storage containers, there is a color and size for every buyer, even a bright colored line appealing to kids. For more information, visit www.redmonusa.com. KN New Offerings from Redmon Stor-All Solutions, a division of Misco Home & Garden, announced the debut of its patented Press & Click line of products at the International Home + Housewares Show last month. With its easy-to-use, one-touch click mechanism, these airtight and watertight containers both preserve and extend food freshness, while also reducing the risk of oxidation. The heat-resistant push component also serves as handles, making it easy to remove the container after microwaving a meal or snack, from soup to a pre-prepared gourmet meal. Press & Click has an iconic design, and prevents spills or messes. That benefit, in addition to its safety as a BPA-free plastic alternative, makes this product versatile for a multitude of uses, from freezer storage to microwaving. Another benefit of the Press & Click design is that it does not warp or change shape when cleaned on the top rack of a dishwasher. The debut of Press & Click is the result of extensive engineering and testing, where quality is an absolute, and value is a necessity, in an area that rarely sees change, but impacts everyone. The Press & Click line joins the other Stor-All Solutions' user-focused products. "We continue to reinvent the way consumers can quickly — and effectively — store all types of foods and items," said Alex Missry, COO of Stor-All Solutions. "Press & Click is the latest example of our commitment to excellence, in which we offer a simple, secure, one-touch solution. Press & Click complements our existing series of products, all of which enjoy critical and commercial success." Press & Click and the complete line of Stor- All Solutions' storage products are available at online providers like Amazon, Target.com, Walmart.com and other retail anchors. For more information, visit www.storallsolutions.com. KN Stor-All Solutions Introduces New Containers Midea, manufacturer of air conditioners and home appliances, announced that it has strengthened its physical presence in North America by expanding upon select existing locations and opening new facilities to support continued business growth in the region. Midea's North American locations include a customer service center, expanded corporate office spaces, and research and development facilities. This expansion further enhances Midea's network of more than 280 major product facilities and logistics centers worldwide. "O ur physical expansion in North America is a testament to the continued business growth in this important market," says Jim Tomaszewski, President of Midea America. "Not only will these facilities give us the resources and tools we need to meet the fast-growing demand for high- quality products for the home in the U.S. and Canada, but they will also create more jobs in each location, which will help to boost the local economies." A brand new after-sales and management office, which will be fully operational this spring, will be located in Miami, Florida. The new office offers three times the amount of space as the previous location and will accommodate more customer service representatives, a state- of-the-art training center, show room and large warehouse for spare parts management. The training center will aim to certify contractors, installers and distributors on Midea's air conditioning business, specifically for installation and repair. Additional enhanced support features will come later this year and include online product registration and chat support through the website. Midea is also amplifying its research and development efforts in North America. Established in early 2015, the Midea America Research Center (MARC) in Louisville, Kentucky, provides technical expertise in developing home appliance products for the U.S. market. MARC quickly outgrew its initial offices and broke ground on a new custom-designed office and lab space last fall. The brand new, 30,000 square foot building will incorporate state-of-the-art lab facilities, testing equipment, and engineering areas, as well as office space for more than 60 people. It is scheduled to be fully operational this spring. Additionally, Midea's new Emerging Technology Office is based in San Jose California, and will focus on the company's connected home products. There is also a new office in Boston, Massachusetts, which is home to Midea's Floor Care product division, under the Eureka brand. Finally, Midea is investing in its corporate sales and management facilities to support its continued business growth. In particular, while the company 's Canadian office has relocated to a larger space in Toronto due to the growing business in the region, Midea America has hired dozens of employees in the last six months for its offices across North America. For additional information on Midea and its portfolio of products, visit us.midea.com. KN Midea Expands North American Locations

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