May Food Holidays

It’s the merry month of May and there are food celebrations every day

In May we celebrate:
• National Asparagus Month
• National Barbecue Month
• National Chocolate Custard Month
• National Egg Month
• National Gazpacho Aficionado Month
• National Hamburger Month
• National Mediterranean Diet Month
• National Salad Month
• National Salsa Month
• National Strawberry Month

Weeklong celebrations this month include:
National Raisin Week and National Herb Week are the first week of the month
National Hamburger Week the second week of the month
International Pickles Week the third week
National Frozen Yogurt Week and American Beer Week fall in the fourth week.

Why are we not surprised that National Barbecue Day and National Hamburger/Cheeseburger Day both fall on Memorial Day Monday—but plan to celebrate these days this month too:
May 1: National Chocolate Parfait Day
May 2: National Truffles Day
May 3: National Raspberry Tart Day
May 4: National Homebrew Day
May 4: National Orange Juice Day
May 4: National Candied Orange Peel Day
May 5: National Chocolate Custard Day
May 5: Cinco de Mayo
May 5: National Hoagie Day
May 6: National Crêpes Suzette Day
May 6: International No Diet Day
May 7: National Roast Leg of Lamb Day
May 8 National Coconut Cream Pie Day
May 8: National Empanada Day
May 8: Have A Coke Day
May 9: National Butterscotch Brownie Day
May 10: National Shrimp Day
May 11: Eat What You Want Day
May 12: National Nutty Fudge Day
May 13 National Apple Pie Day
May 13: National Fruit Cocktail Day
May 14: National Buttermilk Biscuit Day
May 15: National Chocolate Chip Day
May 16: National Coquilles St. Jacques Day
May 17: National Cherry Cobbler Day
May 18: National Cheese Soufflé Day
May 19: National Devil’s Food Cake Day
May 20: National Quiche Lorraine Day
May 20: Pick Strawberries Day
May 21: National Strawberries and Cream Day
May 22: National Vanilla Pudding Day
May 23: National Taffy Day
May 24: National Escargot Day
May 25: National Brown-Bag-It Day
May 25: National Wine Day
May 26: National Blueberry Cheesecake Day
May 26: National Cherry Dessert Day
May 27: National Grape Popsicle Day
May 28: National Brisket Day
May 29: National Coq Au Vin Day
May 30: National Mint Julep Day
May 31: National Macaroon Day

Perfect pairings

Like salt and pepper, peanut butter and jelly, or birds of a feather…some things just go together. That’s why kitchenware retailers merchandise pairs of items or themes in their stores to give customers ideas. Here are a few examples we have found. What pairings are featured in your store?

This California Store put together a food processor with the Pourfect Bowl sets.

And here's a Georgia Kitchenware Store with a pairing of everything needed to make everyone's favorite pair of foods--pizza and tacos.

April Food Holidays

Easter Is coming this month but why wait when there is a food holidays every day to celebrate!

National Florida Tomato Month
National Garlic Month
National Grilled Cheese Month
National Soft Pretzel Month
National Soy Foods Month

Here are some weeklong celebrations:
National Bake Week Begins First Monday
National Egg Salad Week Second Week
National Hot Cross Bun Day Good Friday
National Baked Ham with Pineapple Day Easter

And the daily rundown:
April 1: National Sourdough Bread Day
April 2: National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day
April 3: National Chocolate Mousse Day
April 4: National Cordon Bleu Day
April 5: National Caramel Day
April 5: National Raisin and Spice Bar Day
April 6: National Caramel Popcorn Day
April 7: Coffee Cake Day
April 8: National Empanada Day
April 9: Chinese Almond Cookie Day
April 10: National Cinnamon Crescent (Croissant) Day
April 11: National Cheese Fondue Day
April 12: Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day
April 12: National Licorice Day
April 13: National Peach Cobbler Day
April 14: National Pecan Day
April 15: National Glazed Spiral Ham Day

April 16: National Eggs Benedict Day
April 16: Day of the Mushroom
April 17: National Cheeseball Day
April 17: Healthy Kids Day
April 18: Animal Crackers Birthday
April 19: Garlic Day
April 19: National Amaretto Day
April 20: National Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Day
April 20: Lima Bean Respect Day
April 21: Chocolate-Covered Cashew Truffle Day
April 22: April 22 is Earth Day
April 22: National Jelly Bean Day
April 23: National Cherry Cheesecake Day
April 23: National Picnic Day
April 24: National Pigs-In-A-Blanket Day
April 25: National Zucchini Bread Day
April 26: National Pretzel Day
April 27: National Prime Rib Day
April 28: National Blueberry Pie Day
April 29: National Shrimp Scampi Day
April 30: National Raisin Day

March Foodie Holidays

Of course, this month we'll be celebrating Mardi Gras as well as Chocolate Chip Cookie Week during the second week of March and American Chocolate Week the third week.

All month we'll be enjoying:

• National Celery Month
• National Flour Month
• National Frozen Food Month
• National Nutrition Month
• National Noodle Month
• National Peanut Month
• National Sauce Month
• National Caffeine Awareness Month




Each day of the month has something to celebrate:
March 1: National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day
March 1: National Fruit Compote Day
March 2: National Banana Crème Pie Day
March 3: National Cold Cuts Day
March 3: National Mulled Wine Day
March 4: National Pound Cake Day
March 5: National Cheese Doodle Day
March 5: National Absinthe Day
March 6: National Frozen Food Day
March 6: National White Chocolate Cheesecake Day
March 7: National Crown Roast Of Pork Day
March 7: National Cereal Day
March 8: National Peanut Cluster Day
March 9: National Crabmeat Day
March 10: National Blueberry Popover Day
March 10: Pack Your Lunch Day
March 11: Oatmeal-Nut Waffles Day
March 12: National Baked Scallops Day
March 13: Coconut Torte Day
March 14: National Potato Chip Day
March 14: Pi Day in Math Circles (Pi is (3.141414); Bake A Pie In
Solidarity
March 15: National Pears Helene Day (with Chocolate Sauce & Brandy)
March 15: Ag Day, Celebrating Our Bountiful Food Supply
March 16: National Artichoke Hearts Day
March 17: Corned Beef And Cabbage Day
March 18: Oatmeal Cookie Day
March 19: Poultry Day
March 19: Maple Syrup Saturday
March 19: National Chocolate Caramel Day
March 20: Bock Beer Day
March 20: National Ravioli Day
March 21: California Strawberry Day
March 21: National French Bread Day
March 22: Coq Au Vin Day
March 22: National Water Day
March 23: National Chip and Dip Day
March 23: National Melba Toast Day
March 24: National Chocolate Covered Raisins Day
March 25: National Lobster Newburg Day
March 25: National Pecan Day
March 25: National Waffle Day
March 26: Make Up Your Own Holiday Day (We’ve Chosen To Make It Gourmet Mac & Cheese Day)
March 26: Spinach Day
March 27: National Spanish Paella Day
March 28: Something On A Stick Day
March 28: National Black Forest Cake Day
March 29: National Lemon Chiffon Cake Day
March 30: Turkey Neck Soup Day
March 31: Tater Day
March 31: National Clams On TheHalf Shell Day
March 31: Oranges and LemonsDay

Register by February 15

When was the last time you participated in professional development?

Learning and retail training not only invigorates your store with new ideas, approaches and strategies but also recharges and refreshes you and your participating staff. That’s why Housewares Training & Information Group (HTI) has launched the One Voice Conference which will premiere in March at the 2011 International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago. The March 5 event will bring together retailers and vendors together in a daylong forum focused on education and networking. A special part of the event is the retail roundtable where you can share information and learn about successful strategies from other retailers just like you. It will also be a chance to meet with vendors to discuss product lines, issues of concern and build relationships one-to-one in a relaxed atmosphere--including a Friday night reception.

Participating in the educational forum is easy too--because it is held in conjunction with existing event, the confluence of the timeframe and the International Housewares Association’s mission made Chicago the perfect place to hold this event.

Author, seminar leader and speaker, Harold Lloyd (left) will keynote the conference. Lloyd is known in the gourmet industry for his presentations at Retail 2020, The International Dairy-Deli-Bake Conference and the National Grocers Association Convention. He has been the president of a 14 store company with 1,000 employees and a franchisee of an award-winning family restaurant group.

Lloyd joins HTI President Bob Coviello (left) who will bring his know-how and vendor-retailer experience of more than 25 years to the conference.

The One Voice Conference has been developed by independent retailers including: Karen Skalicky of Creative Kitchen, Fargo, ND; Mike Fear of Now Your Cooking, Bath, ME; Karl and Marie Benson, Cooks of Crocus Hill, St. Paul, MN.; and Dean Eaton of Your Kitchen, Keene, NH.

FMI contact Annette Quezada hti.aquez@gmail.com

Time to celebrate

Food Holidays for February

• Berry Fresh Month
• Canned Food Month
• Celebration of Chocolate Month
• Great American Pies Month
• National Cherry Month
• National Fiber Focus Month
• National Fondue Month
• National Grapefruit Month
• National Heart Healthy Month
• National Hot Breakfast Month
• National Snack Food Month
• Potato Lover’s Month
• Sweet Potato Month
• International Pancake Day, Shrove Tuesday (February or March)
• Oatmeal Monday, second Monday

And this month's daily celebrations include:

February 1: National Baked Alaska Day
February 2: Heavenly Hash Day
February 3: National Carrot Cake Day
February 4: Homemade Soup Day
February 4: National Stuffed Mushroom Day
February 5: National Chocolate Fondue Day
February 7: National Fettuccine Alfredo Day
February 8: Molasses Bar Day
February 9: National Bagels and Lox Day
February 9: Pizza Pie Day
February 10: Cream Cheese Brownie Day
February 11: Peppermint Patty Day
February 11: Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk Day
February 12: National Plum Pudding Day
February 13: National Tortellini Day
February 14: National Creme-Filled Chocolates Day
February 15: National Gumdrop Day
February 16: National Almond Day
February 17: National Indian Pudding Day
February 18: Crab-Stuffed Flounder Day
February 18: Drink Wine Day
February 19: National Chocolate Mint Day
February 20: National Cherry Pie Day
February 21: National Sticky Bun Day
February 22: National Margarita Day
February 23: National Banana Bread Day
February 23: Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day
February 24: National Tortilla Chip Day
February 25: National Clam Chowder Day
February 25: National Chocolate-Covered Nuts Day
February 26: National Pistachio Day
February 27: National Strawberry Day
February 27: National Kahlua Day
February 28: National Chocolate Soufflé Day
February 29: Surf and Turf Day

Keeping it local

Unlike big box stores which sell the same products, in the same layout, in the same store, in the same looking mall in everywhere USA, local independent kitchenware stores boast a hometown flair.

Whether stocking aebleskiver pans at the Creative Kitchen in Fargo, featuring cookbooks by local chefs at a kitchenware store in Napa Valley (left, above), or cheering for the Super Bowl-bound hometown team (left, below) at Pittsburgh’s In the Kitchen (Go Steelers!) independent stores are “keeping it local.”

How does your store show its hometown local pride?