August Newsletter

• Editorial
  - Counting down till kick-off,
• The Baby Boutique
  - Trends for Little Feet.
• Buy Baby Buy
  - Retail Buying Tips
• Accessorise Me
  - Jewellery and Fashion Accessory Speak
• Sharpen Up
  - Leading Trends in Kitchen Gadgets and Knives
• Make it a Wrap
  - Wrapping Up the Season Ahead
  

Sharpen Up

Leading Trends in Kitchen Gadgets and Knives

Words by Catherine Murray

Thanks to modern media, the world of global cuisine is easily within arms’ reach. While still Kiwi at heart, our kitchens display flavours from other corners of the globe resulting in colourful hues in cooking wares and on our plates.

Colour is making a huge impact in the marketplace and in our kitchens, says Jarred Wallace, key account manager of Sheldon and Hammond New Zealand. One range to clinch this trend is Spectrum by the renowned SCANPAN brand. “There’s everything from little paring knives, which all come with their own sheaths, to cooks’ knives, bread knives and more,” says Wallace. “Price wise, they are incredibly good value and have really taken off. People like to have a favourite knife in their favourite colour.”

Nowadays, it’s near-essential that the price of a product is as attractive as its features and branding, he says. “People are always looking out for bargains, but they also want something to do with the latest trends that are coming through. Items in colour are still quite new and funky, and are something they can buy for themselves that Kitchen appliances are also getting a makeover, with the Mini Prep Food Processor now available in a range of colours. “They’re very consistent sellers,” says Wallace. “The beauty of them is that they are only small but do an incredible job. People have them sitting on the bench and they don’t take up too much space.”

Wendy Muir, owner of Milly’s Kitchen in Auckland, agrees that colour is still popular in the kitchen gadget department. She says many of her customers will often head straight towards a big jar of colourful utensils, choosing a new spatula or stirring spoon in bright red or hot pink – something to make their day a bit more cheerful.

This season, red is the top trending colour with green running a close second, says Wendy Forman, national accounts sales manager for DKSH. Kitchen gadgets and those ‘one hit wonders’ are also holding their place in the popularity stakes. “Gadgets that are useful for preparation, store easily and have some colour are what consumers are looking for,” says Forman, citing the curly fries cutter as a prime example.

Another trend to watch for is the influence of the media on the choices consumers make. For example, says Forman, the growing use of mandolin kitchen slicers on television food shows has translated to an increase in their use in the home kitchen. “People are learning and seeing ways to make preparation easier – in addition to the fact you can find almost any kind of YouTube video on how to use a product. With the advent and growth of online access over the last couple of years, people are becoming much more product savvy.”

Wendy Muir agrees that consumers are becoming increasingly knowledgeable about the products they wish to purchase. “We tend to find our customers use the web to get their information before they come and purchase,” she says. “Social media websites such as Facebook also play an important part in customer education.”

The awareness of global cuisine, whether it be via televised food shows, travelling or the internet, is also changing the way we select, prepare and eat our meals, which in turn is influencing the type of products we are buying. Shannon Fryer, operational director of World of Cutlery, says the change in style of eating has changed our choice in knives.

“While Kiwis still love their ‘meat and three veg’, they are also cooking and experimenting with more Asian-style meals, resulting in the need for a lightweight Oriental knife in addition to the traditional long cook’s knife.” Selecting your own set of knives for the knife block is fast becoming a popular option for knife shoppers, says Fryer. Knife block sets are often tailored for the American or European market, resulting in a restrictive set of knives that don’t always meet the customer’s needs. “We are still a nation that enjoys eating pumpkin, kumara and potatoes – I guess we like our roasts,” he says. “For that you want a longer cook’s knife than what they include in a knife block set.” Fryer prefers to build up a knife block set by selecting the block and knives separately, educating the consumer about the specific use of each knife. He says purchasing knives in this way ensures they are used for their intended purpose, resulting in happier customers.

When it comes to knives, Tim Hawley of Andrew Hawley Ltd says quality will always prosper. They are agents for the Japanese Kai-Shun knives, which have a huge presence in Europe, North America and Australia. These knives have featured on television food shows, although Hawley does concede you need to be quick off the mark to recognise what sort of knife a chef is using. “We have noticed a trend in kitchen knives for the higher end of the market, as the professional chefs demand the best knife – regardless of cost,” he he says. They says. “There will always be the budget-conscious buyers, but the old saying ‘you pay for what you get’ still rings true.”

DKSH’s Wendy Forman agrees it’s a trend that’ll stand the test of time. “With knife buying and stocking, the well-known brands will always come out on top, as many people opt for the higher road and want to set up their kitchens with quality products.”