Top 40 supplier Gemline (asi/56070) has announced its expansion into the specialty foods category under the brand name, Gourmet Expressions, and will offer a range of gourmet gifts bundled with an assortment of totes, coolers and drinkware, as well as a collection of gourmet food gift towers and baskets. According to Gemline, the new food gifting division will offer customers one-stop shopping convenience for year-round gifting and branded marketing solutions.

“This was an easy choice for us,” said Jonathan Isaacson, president of Gemline. “There hasn’t been that much innovation in the food category, and it’s a place where we believe we can add a lot of value. For example, in the traditional food business, there often isn’t a keepsake to remind the recipient of where that gift came from. With our design-oriented bags and cases, we can solve that problem.”

Gemline is currently in the process of building out a HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) certified fulfillment center within its manufacturing plant in Lawrence, MA. HACCP is a management system in which food safety is addressed through the analysis and control of biological, chemical and physical hazards from raw material production, procurement and handling, to manufacturing, distribution and consumption of the finished product.

“Gemline is known for design, quality and compliance, and we will bring that to food,” Isaacson said. “Partnering with some of the highest-quality food suppliers, we can marry our design and packaging capabilities with their best-in-class food offering to provide a unique gift option for the industry.”

Sheila Shechtman will oversee Gourmet Expressions as vice president of specialty foods at Gemline. A 36-year veteran of the food gifting industry, Shechtman has developed gifts for large retailers like Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdales as well as online offerings for 1800flowers.com and ftd.com. Shechtman most recently held the title of CEO at Gifted Expressions.

“By utilizing Gemline’s first-in-class products, quality and service as a platform, Gourmet Expressions by Gemline will take the company one step closer to making it the ‘go to’ for all marketing, promotional and gifting needs,” Shechtman said.

Gourmet Expressions will make its debut at the 2018 PPAI Show with an introductory collection launching this March. Counselor ranks Gemline as the 17th largest supplier in the industry, after the firm reported 2016 North American promotional product revenue of $97 million. Click here to watch a video of Gemline president Jonathan Isaacson discussing his company’s new venture into the specialty foods category: