HomePage News presents a Year in Review, a gallery of key product introductions from 2023. This gallery looks at kitchen tools, food storage and cutlery.

Scroll through the slideshow below to view:

Compiled by Elizabeth Dempsey, Contributing Editor.

The Cookware & Bakeware Alliance (CBA) has updated the membership levels available to industry participants.

The CBA now offers four distinct membership classifications: general, associate, supplier and retailer. These classifications reflect the diverse roles and contributions of companies within the cookware and bakeware market in the United States and Canada, according to Fran Groesbeck, CBA managing director.

General membership in the CBA is open to all persons, firms or corporations engaged in the manufacture for sale of cooking and/or baking utensils or accessories. Associate membership is available to those who have established a presence in the market but have not yet met all the requirements of CBA general membership.

Supplier membership is open to entities engaged in supplying or supporting the manufacture of cooking and/or baking utensils or accessories. Retailer membership is available to those engaged in the retail sale of cookware and/or bakeware.

All CBA members, regardless of their category, must demonstrate a long-term, primary commitment to the industry, reliably service warranties, exhibit excellence in manufacturing and innovation, ensure product quality consistent with price points, prioritize the safety and welfare of employees, be environmentally conscious, and be devoted to consumer protection, Groesbeck said.

Kris Malkoski, Newell Brands’ CEO, Learning & Development & Commercial Head EMEA & Asia of Newell Brands and former CBA board member, said, “(Newell) sees the Cookware & Bakeware Alliance as a critical voice to ensure quality, integrity, and consumer safety for our end-users. Being a part of the CBA ensures that we receive timely global knowledge and communication, that we are part of advocacy and education issues that affect our industry, and that we can meet and engage with other manufacturers and retailers regarding cookware and bakeware topics.”

For more information about the Cookware & Bakeware Alliance, visit www.cookwareandbakeware.org.

Jeffrey Reigle, longtime leader of the family run Regal Ware cookware manufacturing and marketing business, died Wednesday, November 22. He was 72.

Reigle, a third-generation descendant of Regal Ware founder J.O. Reigle, was president and CEO of Regal Ware from 1992 to March 2021, when he was succeeded by his son, Ryan. Jeffrey Reigle was Regal Ware’s board chairman.

Kewaskum-WI-based Regal Ware is a longtime manufacturer and marketer of cookware. The company, which produces cookware in nearby West Bend, WI, markets premium cookware under such brands as Saladmaster and American Kitchen through direct-sales, retail and e-commerce channels. The company previously was a leading retail cookware supplier under such brands as Regal Ware and Club. The company recently sold the Espro brand of coffee and tea products to DKK.

“My father was not only a brilliant leader but also a loving husband and father,” said Regal Ware CEO Ryan Reigle. “He set a high standard for us as a family and as a company. His legacy of compassion, innovation, transformation, and commitment to our core values will guide us forward.’

Jeff has served as chairman Direct Selling Association, chairman of the Direct Selling Education Foundation and president of Cookware Manufacturers Association. He was inducted into the Direct Selling Association Hall of Fame in June 2018.

Roborock has launched the Dyad Air, a handheld vacuum that cleans wet and dry messes simultaneously.

“A wet-dry vacuum remains a relatively new product concept in the home cleaning category. We understand customers’ dire need of finding new ways to hack their cleaning routines to save time and effort,” said Richard Chang, founder and CEO of Roborock. “With the ability to vacuum and mop in one go, Dyad Air aims to bring the core benefits of a simple yet powerful one-stop cleaning solution to the mass consumer. Equipped with Roborock’s most innovative wet-dry cleaning technology at a mid-tier price point that resonates with the market, Dyad Air serves as the perfect entry point for someone looking to simplify cleaning.”

The Dyad Air features:

• Powerful Cleaning Performance: The Dyad Air vacuums and mops at the same time with 17,000Pa of suction power and the ability to clean as close as 3mm away from edges and corners.
• Enhanced Intelligence: The vacuum features DirTect Smart Sensors that adapt cleaning power and water flow based on floor conditions. It is supported by the Roborock App, allowing consumers to receive real-time alerts and maintain full control.
• Ease of Use: The Dyad Air’s RevoBrush self-cleaning and drying system automatically cleans the roller brush and dries it with hot air. It has up to 50 minutes of run time and is designed for prolonged use, both short- and long-term.

The Dyad Air is now available for purchase in the United States on Amazon and the Roborock official online store for an MSRP of $429.99.

Soft trends in consumer and stylist demand contributed to Sally Beauty Holdings falling short of Wall Street estimates in the fourth quarter.

Net earnings in the quarter were $42.6 million, or 39 cents per diluted share, versus $21.3 million, or 20 cents per diluted share, in the prior-year period. Adjusted for one-time events, net earnings were $45.7 million, 42 cents per diluted share, versus $54.4 million, or 50 cents per diluted share, in the year-earlier period, the company indicated.

Sally Beauty came up short of a MarketBeat-published fourth-quarter analyst consensus estimate of 46 cents per adjusted diluted share and $930.35 million.

Consolidated comparable sales slipped 1.6% in the quarter year over year, driven primarily by lower traffic and inflationary pressures that continued to impact consumer behavior at Sally Beauty and the continuation of professional stylist demand trends seen during the past several quarters at Beauty Systems Group, the company pointed out. Consolidated net sales were $921.4 million, down 4.3% from the year before. Operating earnings were $76.9 million versus $39.2 million in the year-past quarter, while adjusted operating earnings were $79.3 million versus $83.9 million.

Sally Beauty operated 308 fewer stores at the end of the quarter compared to the year-previous period.

Sally Beauty Supply segment net sales were $524.6 million in the quarter, down 5.3% year over year as comps declined 1.2%. Beauty Systems Group segment net sales were $396.8 million in the period, down 2.9% year over year as comps declined 2.3%, the company indicated.

For the full fiscal year, Sally Beauty’s net earnings were $184.6 million, or $1.69 per diluted share, versus $183.6 million, or $1.66 per diluted share, in the quarter a year prior. Adjusted net earnings were $200.4 million, or $1.83 per diluted share, versus $237.9 million, or $2.16 per diluted share in the year-earlier period, the company maintained.

Consolidated comps increased 1.4% year over year. Net sales were $3.73 billion versus $3.82 billion in the year earlier. Operating earnings were $325 million versus $337.6 million in the year past, while adjusted operating earnings were $340.8 million versus $391.3 million.

“We are pleased to report full-year financial results in line with the expectations we laid out at the beginning of fiscal 2023,” said Denise Paulonis, Sally Beauty president and CEO. “We drove a comparable sales gain, maintained healthy gross margins and generated strong cash flow from operations against a rapidly shifting backdrop. We also advanced our consumer-centric strategies during the year, launching new concepts and bringing new services to the market while delivering unparalleled product innovation to both our Sally and BSG customers. Our teams are executing well on our strategic initiatives designed to reignite top-line growth and improve profitability, enhancing our customer centricity, growing our high-margin own brands and amplifying innovation, and increasing the efficiency of our operations. Building on our strong foundation, we are focused on the future and remain committed to creating value for our shareholders.”

ResearchAndMarkets.com, in a report forecasting the U.S. small appliance market from 2022-2027, predicts a 5.02% compound annual growth rate for the forecast period.

ResearchAndMarkets.com is a global market research company based in Dublin, Ireland.

The rapid adoption of IoT technology driving smart small household appliances, as well as increased consumer knowledge regarding the evolution and use of technology, will enhance the prospects of items such as humidifiers and should have an influence on demand for small household appliances market in the coming years, ReseachandMarkets.com stated. 

In addition, increasing wealth and gains in disposable incomes will likely lead to an increase in the number of single-person households in the U.S., according to the report. With the rise in income, consumers will be able to afford more expenses on their own, so the firm expects an increasing number of people will choose to live alone. The young generation is focusing on education and career, which ResearchandMarkets.com expects to delay marriage and increase the number of adults living alone, which should exert great influence on the advanced household appliances industry. Because busy single people have less time for cooking, they will look for appliances that make the task easier. At the same time, the evolution of cloud technology will support and enrich smart home technology.

One challenge to the small household appliance sector could be tariffs on raw materials such as steel and aluminum, which can drive up costs and retail prices.

ResearchandMarkets.com added while the COVID-19 outbreak harmed the U.S. small household appliance sector in 2020, the dip was not as severe as in some other businesses. The market recovered in 2021 as a result of factors including increased consumer spending, additional single-person households and the launch of new businesses, the report concluded. The market is likely to grow in the future based on companies introducing novel, mini household appliances and the sector making extensive use of artificial intelligence and cloud computing to enhance convenience.

HomePage News presents a Year in Review, a gallery of key product introductions from 2023. This gallery looks at cookware and bakeware.

Scroll through the slideshow below to view:

Compiled by Elizabeth Dempsey, Contributing Editor.

Wahl has introduced the Pro Series High Visibility Trimmer, partnering with actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan to promote the launch.

The trimmer is designed to provide precision and visibility to deliver superior lines and the flexibility to trim, shave and detail.

“There’s a brotherhood of men who take honor in their craft, be it refurbishing a car, developing a rye whiskey — or sculpting a beard,” said Morgan (pictured above), best known for his role as the neatly bearded Negan in AMC’s “The Walking Dead” franchise. “Whatever your passion, if you want to level up, you’ll need the right tools to get you there. And when I first held this trimmer, I thought, ‘Woah, this is a serious piece of kit.'”

The Wahl Pro Series High Visibility Trimmer includes:

• Visibility: The trimmer is engineered to provide a five-times clearer line of sight (compared to Wahl’s standard trimmers and several competing trimmers) from every angle for sharper and straighter beard lines, said the company.
• No-Slip Grip: Built with zinc-alloy metal, the no-slip rubber grip offers comfort and control.
• Precision: The diamond-hard-coated “Forever Blade” is made to cut closer and smoother than a standard blade for less skin irritation.
• Multi-Purpose Grooming: The trimmer’s all-in-one design includes three easy-change heads: a trimmer, a foil shaver and a detailer.
• Long Run-Time: The grooming tool can last months between charges with a powerful lithium-ion battery, said Wahl, and if needed, there is a three-minute quick charge feature.

The Wahl Pro Series High Visibility Trimmer has an MSRP of $149.99 and is currently available on Amazon.

Although adjusted earnings slipped slightly year over year, BJ’s Wholesale Club beat Wall Street revenue and income estimates for the third quarter as it pushed to gain better traction in general merchandise, including home goods.

An analyst consensus estimate published by Yahoo Finance called for adjusted diluted earnings per share of 95 cents and sales of $4.9 billion.

Comparable store sales, excluding fuel price volatility, were flat year over year, according to BJ’s, which added digitally enabled comps gained 16% year-over-year

Net sales were $4.82 billion versus $4.69 billion in the year-before quarter while revenues, including membership fees, were $4.92 billion versus $4.79 billion. Operating income was $199.4 million versus $192 billion in the year-prior period..

In a conference call, Bob Eddy, BJ’s chairman and CEO. said general merchandise sales that had been squeezed by consumer concern about discretionary spending are looking better. In the third quarter, about 80% of the holiday home assortment was new, with BJ’s investing in quality and enhancing the value, Eddy said. The company also is strengthening its treasure hunt elements with curated trend-driven, giftable items, such as a retro video game station, Sur La Table kitchenware and a home movie theater pop-up kit, he said. In addition, BJ’s is enhancing general merchandise marketing and presentation in its clubs for a better member experience, Eddy added.

“Our advantaged model and strong value proposition continue to resonate with our members,” he said. “During the third quarter, we posted accelerating membership growth, robust traffic gains and continued increases in market share. These gains continue to reinforce the underlying strength of our business, and we remain confident in the long-term growth prospects of our company.”

Sunbrella, a manufacturer of fabrics for outdoor and indoor furnishings, launched ReMade, a line of one-of-a-kind home goods made from upcycled Sunbrella fabrics. The ReMade offering includes tabletop accessories, home textiles, wall hangings and tote bags. 

“While we have long prioritized sustainable practices, Sunbrella ReMade represents a new extension of our commitment to sustainability as we look to further connect our design team’s expertise to the circular economy,” said Allen Gant III, general manager of lifestyle products at Sunbrella. “Finished home goods made from repurposed industry-leading performance fabrics were missing in the marketplace and we’re glad to give consumers another option where performance, sustainability and elevated design can coexist without compromise.”

Sunbrella ReMade utilizes the excess fabrics from the brand’s design and manufacturing process, including sample sets, design trials, short rolls and other sources. The fabric is upcycled into coasters, placemats, table runners, aprons, tote bags and wall hangings that double as picnic blankets.

The line was developed in partnership with sustainability leader Recircled for the company’s ability to embrace complexity and produce bespoke products, said Sunbrella. Like all Sunbrella fabrics, each product features the brand’s Color to the Core technology, designed to keep each fiber of yarn saturated to the core with UV-stable pigments for products that are weather- and stain-resistant.

The ReMade line is the latest step in Sunbrella’s commitment to sustainability which includes the Recycle Me Sunbrella program that provides manufacturing partners and consumers with an alternative outlet for disposal and has recycled more than one million pounds of fabric. The brand, in conjunction with parent company Glen Raven is on track to be 100% powered by certified renewable electricity by 2025 and carbon neutral for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030.

All ReMade products will be available for purchase on remade.sunbrella.com allowing consumers to view the design, fabrics and colors of each unique piece. New pieces will be added frequently, according to Sunbrella.