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FROM THE EDITOR KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW n AUGUST 2017 n www.kitchenwarenews.com Periodicals postage paid at Tucson, AZ and additional mail- ing office. Kitchenware News & Housewares Review (USPS012-625) is published 12 times per year (Jan., Feb., March, April, May, June, July, Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., and Dec.) by Oser Communications Group, 1877 N. Kolb Road, Tucson, AZ, 85715 520.721.1300. Publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material or prices quoted in newspaper. Contributors are responsi- ble for proper release of proprietary classified information. ©2017 by Oser Communications Group. All rightsreserved Reproduction, in whole or in part, without written permis- sion of the publisher, is expressly prohibited. Back issues, when available, cost $8 each within the past 12 months. Back issue orders must be paid in advance by check. Kitchenware News & Housewares Review is distributed without charge in North America to qualified professionals in the retail and distribution channels of the upscale kitchenware and tabletop trade. For subscriber services, in- cluding subscription information, call 520.721.1300. Printed in the USA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Kitchenware News & Housewares Review, 1877 N. Kolb Road, Tucson, AZ 85715. PUBLISHER Kim Oser SR. ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Jules Denton jules_d@oser.com EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Lorrie Baumann lorrie_b@oser.com EDITOR Micah Cheek micah_c@oser.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR Greg Gonzales greg_g@oser.com ART DIRECTOR Yasmine Brown GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Jonathan Schieffer CUSTOMER SERVICE Caitlyn McGrath MANAGERS caitlyn_m@oser.com Sarah Glenn sarah_g@oser.com CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Tara Neal CIRCULATION MANAGER Jamie Green jamie_g@oser.com Kitchenware News & Housewares Review is a publication of Oser Communications Group Inc. 1877 N. Kolb Road • Tucson, AZ 85715 520.721.1300 www.kitchenwarenews.com www.oser.com FOUNDER Lee M. Oser OSER COMMUNICATIONS GROUP H o u s e w a r e s R e v i e w KITCHENWARE NEWS S E R V I N G K I T C H E N WA R E, H O M E D E C O R A N D G I F T WA R E M A R K E T S editor from the On the cover of this month's issue, you can read about some of the good things that specialty and natural foods distributor KeHE is doing in the world, another example among the many we've seen over the past few years as leaders in our industries demonstrate how capitalism can be a vehicle for creating positive change. This is not a particularly new idea – I am still indebted to the Carnegie Library that served me when I was a youngster with a voracious reading habit that ultimately turned into an unending love affair with the English language. But what we're seeing now is a growing sentiment that the practice of directing some of the proceeds of a profitable business to philanthropy shouldn't be limited to the ultra-rich and that philanthropy is an essential element of a truly healthy business. That's the whole notion behind the B Corp certification. B Corps, KeHE among them, are for-profit companies certified by the nonprofit B Lab to meet standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency. There are now more than 2,100 Certified B Corps f rom 50 countries who are working together to redefine success in business. As an extra blessing for those of us who make our living writing about business, we're also seeing an increasing willingness to talk about these ideas, to take credit for the ways that we are helping to meet the needs of the communities around us, supporting employees who volunteer for charitable activities, finding ways to use what we know how to do for the benefit of others as well as ourselves. Talking opening about these things is important; it's how we inspire others around us to look for ways to make their own contributions. Companies that are perceived to make positive contributions to societies are likely to attract and to keep high-quality employees, and, in addition to promoting healthier, more livable and economically viable communities and helping to solve social and environmental issues, these companies also often do better than average on their bottom lines. Neilsen data indicates that most consumers are willing to pay more for products that come f rom companies committed to making a positive social or environmental impact. As Doug Rauch, the former CEO of Trader Joe's has said: for a business, profits are like air. We have to have air to survive, but we don't get up in the morning thinking that our business for the day is simply to breathe as much air as possible. Something to think about as we enjoy these last days of summer before we start our final preparations for a healthy and happy holiday rush. KN Lorrie Baumann, Editorial Director 4

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