Local companies
snag major military
commissary business

Their products are among 120 selected during the American Logistics Association's Hawaii Food Show on Friday. The association represents companies that sell and provide products and services to the military retail system.

The Defense Commissary Agency agreed to carry the new items, many of which will start appearing on commissary shelves within 30 to 45 days, according to Nancy O'Nell, public affairs officer for the agency's western division.

Products from companies that are new to the agency will take a little longer to hit shelves. One of new commissary vendors is Kaiulani Spices, run by Kai and Don Cowell. Kai Cowell took part in the show a year ago, but failed to make a sale. She came back this year and hit a home run.

"Her tenacity to go and get the business proved to be very successful," said Sharon Zambo-Fan, a national director of the American Logistics Association.

To say that Kai Cowell is thrilled may be an understatement.

"I'm still on cloud nine," she said.

The commissary agency picked up her line of five rubs and spices in hot and medium-hot curry, Chinese five-spice, a blend for seafood and poultry and a Hawaiian Kona Coffee mixture, as well as a gift set packaged in a spice rack.

Stores such as Daiei, Fujioka's and Tamura's have carried Cowell's seasoning blends since her debut at the Kapiolani Community College Farmer's Market in 2003. Gourmet Express Catering at Kahala Mall prepares dishes with her spices, a practice Foodland's deli will soon begin.

She estimates the new deal will boost her business by 50 percent.

"This truly is a ma and pa ... food is my passion and the rest is just learning along the way."

Meanwhile, four fruit butter spreads produced by Hilo-based Liko Lehua Products also were picked up for commissary consumers.

"It's real creamy, which makes it different. It is FDA approved, it's shelf life is a year, where most other butters' is five to nine months," said Kimo Olds, president of Honolulu-based A Bit of Aloha For You, distributor of the Liko Lehua products.

People can put the spreads on ice cream, fish, vegetables and on fruit trays, he said.

"It's very habit-forming."

Olds and partner Bobbi Antone have gotten the sweet spreads into several specialty and gift shops, but the new commissary deal, struck at the partners' first ALA show, will give the product a new audience.

"Knock on wood, we're really fortunate. We're one of those really small companies," Olds said.

Other new Hawaii food stuffs that will hit commissary shelves include organic coffees and teas, snack items, 100 percent Kona coffee pods, glazes, marinades and salad dressings, kim chee, ice cream and yogurt and meat and soy products.

The logistics association show was strictly business-to-business, but the public will get a chance to taste and buy many of the products at the annual Made in Hawaii Festival at Blaisdell Center Aug. 19 to 21.