Specialty Food Magazine is the leading publication for retailers, manufacturers and foodservice professionals in the specialty food trade. It provides news, trends and business-building insights that help readers keep their businesses competitive.
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/110595
"Men can be daring and competitive in the kitchen," says Sergei Kuharsky, general manager of new business for the Food Network. "We applaud that, and this summer we even have a special issue of the Food Network magazine planned, which will celebrate men and cooking." which is also being marketed for Father's Day—includes rich, caramel-washed gouda, a Spanish nut mix in a mason jar and Creminelli Whiskey Salami, handcrafted of pork, salt, organic spices, garlic and High West Distillery's Son of Bourye Whiskey. "We got some chuckles over the name," says Deena Siegelbaum, Murray's marketing director, "but it sold really well." The Bromage Collection, included in Murray's mail-order catalog, has more of an online presence, but Murray's has seen more men walking into their brick-and-mortar NEW STORES AND MENU ITEMS GEARED TOWARD MEN M ale-targeted flavors are on the rise, especially in up-and-coming bakeries looking to re-imagine traditionally sweet, delicate treats like cupcakes. Here are three recent entries to the specialty food scene. Ranch Bakery in Houston is touted as the city's first "manly" bakery, featuring menu items with beer, bourbon, jalapeños, bacon and frosting seared with a blow torch. One such example, the Irish Carbomb cupcake, includes ingredients such as St. Arnold's Stout, Irish whiskey ganache and Bailey's buttercream frosting. ManCakes Bakery, Port Moody, British Columbia, offers such savory cupcakes as Buffalo Wing (spice base with baked blue cheesecake mousse, topped with hot sauce buttercream and crispy chicken-skin sprinkles) and Whiskey Lime (spice base with whiskey ganache, topped with white chocolate lime icing and lime sugar). Focused Marketing For the 2012 holidays, Murray's Cheese in New York played the "bromance" card by introducing the Bromage Collection for "snack time in the man cave." The ad copy touted "rugged, yet refined refreshments" as a "fine companion to a glass of whiskey or beer." The wood-crated gift package— PHOTO: BUTCH BAKERY tured playing with it in some way," she says, "and read articles about parents being more comfortable with boys cooking than playing with a doll. They see it as a life skill." There is also a social component. Men's Health's Kita has seen eating well before and during a sporting event become more prevalent. "It's socially acceptable for guys to come over and cook together," he says. "It's not only watching the game. We'll make six muffaletta sandwiches together as part of the entertainment." The Food Network brand has recognized men's interest in upping the ante when it comes to appreciating tasty food. Through its partnership with Delaware North, a sporting-arena concessions company, the network is offering branded items like Bacon Sloppy Joes and Buffalo Mac 'N Cheese at more than 20 stadiums and ballparks nationwide. Food shopping, cooking and eating well is seen as less feminine than in the past. "Men can be daring and competitive in the kitchen," confirms Sergei Kuharsky, general manager of new business for the Food Network. "We applaud that, and this summer we even have a special issue of the [Food Network] magazine planned, which will celebrate men and cooking." store since the summer of 2012, when 200 beers from around the world were added to the shelves. "Guys come in to check out the beers and ask us what cheese goes with it," Siegelbaum says. She notes that men's tastes are geared toward gouda and cheddar but the store's cheesemongers love to win them over to new flavors by offering tastes of other strong, funky, less well-known varieties. Cheese appeals to men for another reason, Siegelbaum notes. "Men who exercise think about protein and different sources to get it from. Cheese is great to fuel your workouts. We hear from lots of shoppers who are health-conscious and cutting back on carbs, but they'll have a cheese plate and salad for dinner." To appeal directly to the man who grills, Murray's promotes halloumi, a meaty Greek cheese that doesn't fall apart when seared. For the health-conscious man who Butch Bakery camouflage cupcake In New York City, Butch Bakery wanted to create masculine-themed baked goods beyond kid-oriented baseballs and basketballs. Instead, every cupcake is topped with a chocolate disc decorated with patterns such as camouflage or wood grain, and given names like Jackhammer, Driller and B-52. 26 ❘ SPECIALTY FOOD MAGAZINE ❘ specialtyfood.com Read more about these stores and other male-targeted products and menu items at specialtyfood.com/ onlinehighlights.