Takealong Containers
New Food Storage Options from Bradshaw International
The recent acquisition of SHYE Worldwide, a Fullerton, California-based maker of food storage containers, lunchboxes and tabletop products, has brought Bradshaw International into the leading edge of the food storage business. Among the SHYE brands that will be brought into the lineup and given the GoodCook® flagship branding will be Gourmet Solutions vented lid containers, Square Meals lunchbox sets and Sip-n-Snack drink and snack cups.
Visit Bradshaw International in booth #s S1837, #S1843 and #S2043.
Of special interest is the Sip-n-Snack, which will be shown with samples at the Bradshaw booth. The unique drink tumbler is able to hold fruit, nuts, candy or any snack in the upper cup while milk, punch or any drink can be sipped from the bottom. The Sip-n-Snack figures to be a permanent favorite at holiday parties and after school treats.
Other food storage solutions being offered by Bradshaw will be a rigid, microwaveable container with color coded, vented lids, a screw-on sealable and vented container system, lid-locking, bento style nesting containers and vacuum disposable type container assortments. The variety of quality products at sharp price points will allow Bradshaw to penetrate this segment as never before, and fall naturally in line with its kitchenware mix.
“This is an area we have great interest in,” says Bradshaw Chief Executive Officer Mike Rodrigue. “We feel that the consumers’ lifestyle today needs and uses these product lines, and we plan to accelerate product development in this area.”
For more information, call 800.421.6290 or email Bert Tanimoto at bert.tanimoto@goodcook.com.
Food Storage For A Healthier Planet
By Micah Cheek
Concern for the environment is motivating consumers to choose reusable containers over the traditional plastic bags. Companies like U-Konserve are accommodating the trend with a wide range of earth-friendly washable containers and other waste-free solutions.
U-Konserve is an Arizona company focused on selling leak-proof lunch kits, containers, reusable food wraps, recycled lunch totes, glass bottles, and accessories made with a focus on preserving the environment. The company, originally called Kids Konserve, was founded in 2008, when Lynn Julian and cofounder Chance Claxton noticed the difference between their respective childrens’ school lunch programs. One school had a strict packaging waste policy, while the other did not. Kids Konserve began with products designed to reduce lunch waste for kids. The first kit consisted of metal tins and BPA-free plastic food wraps. “At the time, BPA was getting a lot of press, people weren’t wanting to use plastics,” says Julian. Along with these first products came an initiative called the Waste Free Challenge, to encourage school waste reduction. When schools take part in the Challenge, U-Konserve offers a discount on their products to the parents of schoolchildren. “It’s not a huge revenue generator, its purpose is to educate,” says Julian. “Then we will provide support to them.”
As Kids Konserve grew, Julian and Claxton began hearing that more and more teens and adults were beginning to use their products, designed for children, and were looking for a greater variety of options. To accommodate the greater interest, the company soon expanded its line into home storage containers and changed its name to U-Konserve. “It was a very natural outgrowth of what we were doing,” says Julian. “People liked our storage but they were saying, ‘We want larger sizes, so we can put leftovers in it.’” One big shift was to make containers from glass as well as metal. “One of the main reason for the glass [is that] customers wanted microwavable,” says Julian. Glass bakeware and storageware is now offered, with colorful silicone sleeves. The silicone sleeve is designed to protect the glass from bumps and drops, and make handling easier when the containers are hot.
Even as U-Konserve has expanded into other types of food storage, the beginning of the school year is still the products’ strongest season, though the addition of home containers and other products has rounded out the portfolio and delivers more consistent sales throughout the year. ”We have put a lot of time and energy into our lines, rather than spending money on a ton of different products,” says Julian. “You’re not going to be seeing anything crazy new, but you will be seeing new sizes and colors.”
A recent accomplishment has been getting U-Konserve B Corporation certified. The B Corporation certification, given to businesses that meet standards of social and environmental accountability, is difficult to attain and represents U-Konserve’s efforts to solve environmental problems through the business.
Since U-Konserve’s journey began, the founders have seen more companies following suit with alternatives to wasteful disposable packaging. Julian welcomes new environmentally-conscious businesses, seeing a successful future for the environmentally friendly market. “Based on all of our research, I really see it increasing,” says Julian. “[It] makes us very glad that people have jumped on the bandwagon, that the trend is moving towards reusable food storage.”
Klean Kanteen Targets Elimination of Single-use Containers with New Leakproof Café Cap 2.0, Insulated Tumblers and Pint Cups
Over 10 years ago, Klean Kanteen launched its first stainless steel water bottle and announced its commitment to reducing waste from single-use products. In 2016, Klean continues to embody its mission as a Benefit Corporation with new reusable solutions, including the Leakproof Café Cap 2.0, the do-it-all lid that redefines convenience. Klean’s new product line also features the 8- and 20-ounce Vacuum Insulated Tumblers and a single wall, 20-ounce Pint Cup.
“Klean is and always has been mission-driven—our product is the solution”, Jim Osgood, President and CEO at Klean remarked. “Inspired by responsible Klean design, safe materials, versatile construction and durability, we only create products that replace a single use alternative. We want to inspire behavior change and a reduction in trash, it’s that simple, and hope that the Bring Your Own™ Project continues to inspire a new conversation around the power of reusable products to replace mountains (and oceans) of trash in daily life.”
The Leakproof Café Cap 2.0, to be included with all Insulated Wide Kanteens, offers a single solution that fully seals and is easy to drink from. The BPA-free lid is nontoxic, features a durable silicone seal and offers the classic Klean style.
“As we considered an update to our Café Cap 2.0, our team focused on functionality, intuitive design and ease of use”, commented Phil Notheis, Director of Product at Klean. “One twist and it’s sealed, and with just a few moving parts it’s incredibly easy to clean. Now it’s even easier to carry hot or cold drinks anywhere you go.”
Klean’s new 8- and 20-ounce tumblers are, as always, double-wall vacuum-insulated, ideal for hot and cold beverages on the go. The 8-ounce Tumbler is the perfect size for a morning latte and the 20-ounce is right sized to perfectly fit a pint of craft brew. The full line of Tumblers, including the 8-, 16- and 20-ounce versions will be available June 2016.
The new 20-ounce Imperial Pint is the latest addition to the single wall pint line. Specifically designed with beer drinkers in mind, it features interior 1-pint and 0.5-liter markings for accurate pouring.
The product will be on display at Outdoor Retailer in Salt Lake City, January 7-10 2016.
New Food Container Folds Flat for Storage
Former British army officer Ben Strange may have just solved the problem of that kitchen cabinet where we’re storing our food storage containers by inventing a patent-pending plastic food container that folds down to a third of its size when it’s not being used. The FOLDFLAT container fits inside its lid and can be stacked on a shelf like a paperback book. It pops up for use and is dishwasher-safe, freezer-safe and microwaveable. 
He’s funding the production of his prototype model through an Indiegogo campaign that runs through the month of November and into December. If the campaign succeeds, he’s offering delivery of the first containers in April 2016.
Travel Mug Adjusts and Holds Temperature of Hot Beverages
Startup company Ember Technologies has just released a temperature-adjustable mug that keeps coffee or tea at a consistent temperature. Using patented heating and phase change cooling technology, the Ember mug creates an unforgettable drinking experience that will change the way we enjoy coffee or tea. Ember has made the mug available via a pre-order campaign on Indiegogo for $129. The Ember mug will begin shipping in April 2016.
Rather than pouring too-hot-to-drink coffee into a paper cup or travel mug and then impatiently waiting until the temperature falls to a comfortable drinking level (and soon thereafter, to an unpleasant lukewarm), the Ember mug will rapidly cool your hot coffee or tea down to a chosen temperature and will hold it at that exact temperature for hours on end. Experience the pleasure of enjoying your drink, in its perfect state, from the first sip to the last drop.
“I started Ember to solve a very simple problem: how to keep the coffee you love at the perfect temperature for as long as you like,” said founder and CEO Clayton Alexander. “By merging Ember’s patented temperature-control technology with beautiful design and an incredible user experience, we knew that we could appeal to discerning coffee drinkers.”
Ember’s patented temperature-control technology combines a phase change cooling system with an active heating system, creating the world’s most precise temperature controlled mug. Leak-proof and highly portable, Ember is ideal to take along in the car or use at home or around the office. Ember will keep your coffee or tea at the perfect temperature for up to two hours on the go or all day long when used with included charging coaster.
Ember partnered with San Francisco-based Ammunition, a world-class consumer product design firm, to turn Ember’s vision into a reality. Ember’s simple, elegant design has no buttons or complex instructions. Simply rotate the dial at the base of the mug to easily adjust the temperature and enjoy your coffee exactly the way you like it. The mug can be controlled on its own, or through the Ember mobile app. The app allows you to create temperature presets for all of your favorite drinks and even adjust the temperature of your coffee or tea remotely.
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