Welcome to a new year of Gourmet Business Fine Cheese & Charcuterie (FCC). We are entering our third year of publishing this valuable resource, and we are pleased that we have created a com- munity around cheese and cured meats that everyone in the trade can participate in while fostering an environ- ment where we can learn from each other. We appreciate everyone’s enthusiasm and support for our Managing Editor James Mellgren, who has done a fine job of delivering to us a wealth of knowledge and insight regarding the business of selling artisan cheeses and cured meats. Since we never seem to get enough of James’ fine writing, we have asked him to give us even more this year, and I am pleased to announce that FCC will be published eight times this year.
In 2013, we will also be expanding our coverage of the gourmet marketplace with the introduction of Quench, a publication devoted to the growing specialty beverage marketplace. Our new title will be published five times a year beginning in February. It will provide regular coverage of three major categories within the beverage industry: Tea, Coffee and Specialty Beverages, such as water, energy drinks, and craft sodas. The new publication will be headed by our esteemed colleague and beverage expert Laura Everage, and assisted by our existing editorial team. We look forward to bringing you the latest information related to the category as well as the housewares and tabletop products that should be merchandised right alongside. Please join us in welcoming Laura to our team, and we hope you appreciate her knowledge and insight as much as we do.
In this issue, you will see more of what you have grown to love about our pub- lication, as well as being exposed to something entirely new for us – video content. If you are planning on attending the Winter Fancy Food Show (WFFS) and expect to have a little time to enjoy the sights and sounds of San Francisco, you must see the video tour of the Ferry Building Marketplace, hosted by James Mellgren. I am sure we will whet your appetite and inspire you to visit this specialty food haven in the city. We have also prepared a preview of products from exhibitors at the WFFS that you will not want to miss.
Your passport to fine cheese and charcuterie will need to be renewed, as James takes us to Spain to learn about one of the country’s great hams, Iberico, and what makes it so special. With a new year in front of us, we thought it would be appropriate to explore some of the challenges facing retailers today, from green initiatives to issues related to health and food safety.
This year, we also hope to have an impact on your business by helping create consumer awareness and excitement for the brands that you sell, helping pull the product through the distribution channel. Our vehicle for achieving this lofty goal is a new publication that we will introduce this quarter, called Mu*lange, where music, food and lifestyle come home. Our new consumer pub- lication has been two years in the making and will be an interesting mix of music, food and lifestyle ... a mélange of engaging content that will feature our brand ambas- sador Chef Bernard Guillas cooking in the kitchen of a musical artist. Many of the great brands in the gourmet space will be showcased in the stunning photography and video presentation that will accompany the feature in each issue.
We look forward to sharing our passion for the trade with you and helping you grow your business in 2013!
David Spencer
Publisher, Gourmet Business
President, HousewaresDirect, Inc.
dspencer@gourmetbusiness.com