Gourmet Business April 2019

Inspire To Cook At Home

As many of you have noticed, the IHA has re-branded the annual industry trade show in Chicago as the Inspired Home Show.  It’s a fitting name, since that is exactly what I think our industry needs right now to increase the demand for our products.  In this issue you will find some great new products that I discovered at this year’s show that I hadn’t seen earlier in the season that I didn’t want you to miss.  They are all shining examples of products that are well-made, well-designed, ingenious, and right for the times in which we live.

At the same time that we are introducing excellent products to market that are intended to help consumers cook better, eat better, and enjoy life, we have to make sure that we are connecting the dots.  In other words, we also need to create the desire to get into the kitchen, so these products can be put to work.  Our challenge is to inspire the Millennial generation, in words of action that they can identify with, to create meals of their own choosing for themselves, to share with friends, and even for their families.  This shouldn’t require a miracle, since many of this generation grew up in homes that were full of wonderful kitchen tools and cooking implements that aided in creating wonderful family meals night after night.  

I have no doubt this generation will eat differently.  They will likely cook differently too.  But, they are destined to arrive in the kitchen sometime soon.  Are we going to help them get there sooner?  The brands that are successful at inspiring this generation will have an opportunity to make an early brand impression that will likely power their success for years to come.  I hope we can rise to the challenge.