IHA News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Deborah A.Teschke
Manager, Media Relations & Communications
847-692-0110

GOHO GROWS FOR 2006 WITH SIZZLING LINE-UP OF CHEFS, LARGER COOK BOOK NOOK, NASFT SPECIALTY FOOD MARKETPLACE

Mario Batali, Alton Brown, Rocco DiSpirito, Ming Tsai Confirmed to Appear

ROSEMONT, ILL. (February 1, 2006)—Celebrity chefs including well-known TV personalities and famous cookbook authors will showcase their culinary skills in the all new GOHO District at the 2006 International Home & Housewares Show to be held March 12-14 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.

These culinary stars will appear in the GOHO Cooking Theater, the focal point of the Gourmet Home & Food District, home to the Show’s fastest growing section. On hand will be exhibitors of specialty and gourmet treats and the tools used to prepare them. GOHO also features the Cook Book Nook and the NASFT Specialty Foods Marketplace. The Cooking Theater is jointly sponsored by Wilton Industries/Copco, KitchenAid and All-Clad Metalcrafters LLC.

“ We are please to host these well-known chefs who support this year’s exhibitors of gourmet specialty foods and our new destination, The GOHO District,” said Phil Brandl, president of the International Housewares Association, the Show’s sponsor. “Our buyer audience has told us that they appreciate being able to shop the gourmet foods category in conjunction with the visit to the Show. This category offers traditional home goods retailers a significant additional sales and profit opportunity.”

Cooking Theater Hosts The Stars
The GOHO Cooking Theater will feature chef demonstrations on the hour beginning at 9 a.m. each Show day. The current line up of celebrity chefs includes:

• Jimmy Bannos – Ten Speed Press
• Mario Batali – Wilton Industries/Copco
• Alton Brown – Kershaw Knives
• Rocco DiSpirito – www.RoccoDiSpirito.com
• Todd English – Ingenious Designs
• Tyler Florence – Braun
• Kathy Ireland, Chef Andre & Nicholas Walker –Kathy Ireland Home by Hanna’s Candles
• Nirmala Narine – Nirmala’s Kitchen
• Steve Raichlen – The Companion Group
• Peter Robertson – Ecco La Pasta
• Steve Rocco – Wilton Industries/Copco
• Akasha Richmond – Hollywood Dish
• Eyup Kemal Sevinc – Turkish Pavilion - IMMIB
• Ming Tsai – Blue Ginger
• Dede Wilson – KitchenAid

Dates and times for each chef will be posted at the Theater.

Cookbooks Retake the Spotlight
Also located in the new GOHO District, the Cook Book Nook will feature just-released titles from many exhibitors around the Show and beyond. Buyers will be able to receive further information on any of the more than 100 titles and one lucky buyer who visits the Cook Book Nook will win the complete collection in a drawing held at the conclusion of the Show. Books will also be offered for sale to all Show attendees adjacent to the Cook Book Nook.

NASFT’s Window to the Specialty Food World
To make GOHO a must-visit destination again in 2006, the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT) will host its Specialty Food Marketplace. The Marketplace will feature the products of more than 40 companies. “Each company will average five products available for tasting,” according to Ron Tanner, NASFT vice president of communications and education. Buyers will be able to receive follow up information on all products.

The 2006 International Home & Housewares Show will feature more than 2,000 exhibitors from around the world, including more than 300 new companies, showcasing home goods, gourmet specialty foods and housewares products for every room in the home, inside and out. To register at no charge for the Show, visit www.housewares.org or call the Housewares Registration Desk at 800-752-1052 or 312-527-7294 (non-U. S) before to March 11, 2006.