IHA Inspired Home Event Preps Holiday Housewares

The International Housewares Association held its Inspired Home holiday event in New York yesterday, June 9. The event showcased fresh faces and fresh ideas pacing a changing market with new housewares solutions in food prep, kitchen electrics, food storage and beverageware. 

Some highlights of the event include:

In food and beverage-related housewares, Anchor Hocking developed glass Conrad jars with TrueFit lids, in half- and one-gallon sizes, suggested retail prices $16.99 and $19.99, to keep large quantities of stored food fresher. Bradshaw International showcased the T-Fal Thermoseal food storage system that uses a patented valve to allow microwaving without opening. 

A freezable wine bag from PackIt keeps wine cool and has two carry options, by hand or over shoulder, at a $15.99 SRP. In contrast, the growler and tote combo from Picnic Time allows consumers to conveniently carry home 64-ounces of fresh-poured beer.

Blue Avocado (re)zip stand-up tall reusable bags, in four-, six- and eight-cup sizes, have leak-proof seals and are freezer safe and transparent to make arranging and locating stored food easy. Brabantia USA's Roll Top bread box has a shiny steel retro look but is space saving with a flat top that allows storage on top.

The Brilliant Inventors knife glider makes food prep safe, swift and easier by securing food firmly with a plastic shield and base. In a colorful turn, the Kitchen Innovations Crocus measuring spoons silicone tools arrange together like a flower for display. Color also enhances Kuhn Rikon Colori titanium knives, which come in six hues cast as a "natural" part of the metal-binding process. The Messermeister Oliva elite knife line incorporates Italian olive wood as the handle for a hammer forged blade. 

WBM Himalayan Salt and Health Products offers ceramic grinders, food prep and serving items at a direct-sourced price that can include sub $10 retails, while the Companion Group Himalayan Salt Plate offers a unique way to serve up and spice up dishes.

The DKB Household Cole & Mason Inverta Select range of mills flips to operate and won't dump excess spice when set aside. A new West Salt Mill from Peugeot has a unique anti-clog spiral operation to process the spice effectively.

In kitchen electrics, the Nuni Tortilla Toaster debuted as a way to effectively warm tortillas using a unique magnetic device that makes the appliance easy to employ and empty. Pangea Brands followed up on its Star Wars Darth Vader toaster with the Stormtrooper toaster, equipped with wider slots. The Perfect Company Smart Scale Plus interactive recipe app allows consumers to create precise beverage combinations, with two measuring devices available at a $49.99 and $99.99 SRP respectively. The StoreBound PancakeBot creates flapjack forms of various shapes, including the Eiffel Tower using a robotic griddle. 

In beverage-related items, wine and cocktails continue to encourage innovation as in the Epare double-wall champagne flute, offered in sets of two, and the Zoku Mixology Set, providing big geometric silicone ice molds for cocktails.

Likewise, tea and coffee continue to invite new ideas, as in the Bean Me Up coffee grinder from Finum North America Corp., with its pear-shaped body and ceramic mechanism. The Typhoon Homewares Kilner coffee grinder processes the grounds into a clear airtight mason-style jar.

In beverageware, the Thermos adjustable flow infuser bottle provides an adjustable flow and open spout. Base Brands offered the 24-ounce Cold-1 tumbler, with a patented 3-in-1 lid.

In water filtration, Mavea's MicroDisk water filtration system uses a single filter type that fits a variety of beverageware including a water bottle, carafe and pitcher.