Buyers' Picks: October 2003

Sharon Pyle, Atkinson’s, Ketchum, ID
We’re located in a resort community and our business is dependent on tourism. We carry a lot of local products, such as Idaho huckleberry jam, as well as products from all over the world that appeal to our international visitors. We don’t do pre-made gift baskets, but display all holiday-related foods and let shoppers customize their own. My picks include:
• Local smoked trout
• Italian panettone
• Stilton and Black Diamond White Cheddar in holiday packaging
• Stonewall Kitchen jams

Justin Jaymes, Papa Joe’s Gourmet Marketplace, Rochester Hills, MI
Chocolates and confections are big gift items. We’ll bring in some different items especially for Christmas, such as Walkers Shortbread assorted packs. My picks include:
• Bogdon’s Chocolates Reception Sticks
• Walkers Shortbread
• Brown & Haley Chocolate-Covered Peppermint Squares
• Nikki’s cookie and confection line
• Panettone and torrone

Jan Weaver Marshall, Sur La Table, Seattle
Acetum has a four-pack of Balsamic vinegars with a leaf-rating system that teaches customers how to taste the variations. I think it’s an undiscovered great gift idea. We’ve also done very well with a gingerbread house kit that you build from Elegant Gourmet. My picks include:
• Numi Tea’s Tea Book
• Knip Schildt Chocolatier chocolates
• Elegant Gourmet’s Gingerbread House Kit
• Acetum Balsamico di Modena Four-Pack

Linda Ballard, Art Mart Foods, Urbana, IL
Confections and desserts always move for the holidays. Our private-label cookies are probably our biggest seller. Panettone is also popular for gift-giving as well as personal use. Last season we ran out of stollen, so we've doubled the order for 2003. We're also bringing in a torrone filled with mixed candied fruits that we'll sell in wedges like a brie. My picks include:
• Dainty Gourmet Dresden Stollen
• Italian Products’ Classic Panettone in Limoncello, Moscato, Pears & Chocolate, and Marrons
• Art Mart Foods cookies
• Italian Products’ Torta Macedonia Torrone
• Joseph Schmidt Confections holiday chocolates

Jim Ketchum, Andree’s, Fairhope, AL
We have a bark in Peppermint and Oreo flavor that is very different and should sell well. At $10 to $12, Aspen Mulling Spice’s holiday tins offer a good price point for teachers’ gifts. And we’re bringing in holiday chocolates and chocolate-covered graham crackers that we’ll use in gift baskets. My picks include:
• Granland’s Peppermint Oreo Bark
• Aspen Mulling Spice Company’s mulling spice and hot chocolate tins
• Xcell International’s Sea Salt and Peppercorn Grinders Boxed Set
• Mascot chocolates
• Ames International’s Santa Grahams

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