By Allison Zisko
Prepara plans to take its healthy living message to an even wider audience this year, targeting more gourmet retailers in the better/best distribution category with a growing sales team.
The six-year-old kitchen tool and gadget company recently discontinued its relationship with Harold Import Co. and is handling all sales and distribution activities in-house. “Harold Import Co. has done a great job for us over the years with gourmet stores and specialty retailers,” said President and CEO Dean Chapman. “However, due to our recent rapid expansion, we have been putting more and more efforts into developing our own rep group force under the guidance of our vice president of sales, Russ Johnson.”
Johnson said he sees lots of opportunities at home, at both independent and specialty chain stores, as well as abroad. Business is starting to grow in the United Kingdom; in Australia; and in parts of South America such as Columbia and Brazil, Chapman told HFN. “The healthy living theme crosses all strata,” he said.
The company got its start with the Herb Savor in 2007, and followed up with several other products designed to complement a healthy lifestyle. Last year it introduced the Laurel Roaster, a bendable green silicone trivet that lifts food off the bottom and thus out of the fat in a roasting pan. The company has enjoyed “great success” with the Laurel Roaster, according to Chapman. “It’s fun to look at, great to touch and feel and works really well.”
This year, at the New York International Gift Fair and the Ambiente fair in Frankfurt, Germany, Prepara will introduce more products, including a new glass-based oil cruet with a no-drip spout, and a new juicer that has a stabilizing glass base and can seal and store juices in one vessel. More new products will be unveiled at the International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago next month. The company is also developing products with Keurig under its separate Capital Products brand, which offers licensed Keurig single-cup coffee maker accessories.
Chapman hopes that once consumers purchase their first Prepara tool they will seek out additional ones because “they sing together nicely,” he said. “There’s an item there for anybody.”