The GC Buying Group presented its annual best vendor awards during the recent Inspired Home Show in Chicago.
The winners were selected by a vote of GC Buying group retail members:
- RSVP – Best in Stock
- Le Creuset – Most Creative GC Program
- Hestan – Best In-Store Signage
- Heritage Steel – Best In-Store Fixture
- Dreamfarm – Most Innovative Product: Fluicer
- Harold Import Company – Best in Customer Service
- Harold Import Company – Best in Shipping
- Harold Import Company – Best Overall Vendor
Also in Chicago, the GC Buying Group held its annual Retail Advisory Board meeting. Discussion topics ranged from individual top-selling vendor lists to online ADA compliance issues and the impact of PFAS on assortment planning.
GC Advisory Board members are:
- Angela Skogen – Cooks on Main
- Gregg Smith – The Cook’s Warehouse
- Art and Martha Nading – The Extra Ingredient
- Sean and Jennifer O’Hanlon – LeRoux Kitchen
- Stephen and Laura Havlek – Sign of the Bear
- Dan Hoffman – The Kitchen Shoppe
- Bob, Rick, and Ron Kratchman – Kitchen Kapers
“Timing for the Chicago Inspired Home Show works well for the GC team and our members as an excellent follow-up to the January Start the Year Member Conference,” said Janis Johnson, founder and president of Gourmet Catalog/GC Buying Group. “The face-to-face experience at markets reinforces the vendor/retailer relationship and reaffirms the strong business connection.”
