The Gourmet Market Debuts Gourmet Gold Awards
– Shared showroom to recognize the finest in 10 categories –

DALLAS – December 07, 2009 – Dallas Market Center, the world’s most complete wholesale
marketplace, today announced that The Gourmet Market will host the first annual Gourmet Gold
Awards during the Total Home & Gift Market, January 13–19, 2010. The Gourmet Market, the
25,000-square-foot shared showroom, features unique gourmet gifts and specialty food and
beverage lines, as well as housewares, cookware, tabletop, kitchen gadgets and wine
accessories from more than 150 companies. As the only gourmet showroom open daily in the
United States, The Gourmet Market serves as an excellent resource to showcase the newest
products from leading gourmet companies.

The Gourmet Gold Awards will highlight the best that Gourmet has to offer during the Total
Home & Gift Market. Award categories include: Best Chocolate, Best Candy, Best Dessert, Best
Snack, Best Condiment, Best Soup or Chili, Best Extra (seasoning, salad dressing or dipping
oil), Best Beverage and Most Innovative Kitchen Accessory. The Awards will also recognize new
companies and new products in the Best of Gourmet Rising Stars category. Entries will be
judged by a panel of gourmet enthusiasts on taste, originality and packaging. Judging will take
place on January 15 and winners will be announced at 6 p.m. during a Champagne Celebration
in The Gourmet Market.

Entries are limited to January 2010 Gourmet Market exhibitors. Participants may enter up to
three categories. Entry fee is $25 per category. Deadline for entries is Wednesday, December
30, 2009. For more information, contact Rosemary Goodman at rgoodman@mcmcmail.com.

In addition to the contest, The Gourmet Market will introduce a variety of new lines during
Market. Highlights include:
• Fire Wire – Innovative, flexible stainless-steel grilling skewers that hold more food and
stay cool on the grill
• Future Sticks – Easy-to-use, durable chopsticks for everyday use
• Handstand Kids Cookbook Company – Nationally known multicultural cookbooks for kids
• All U Can Handle – Whimsical tabletop
• Oh Sugar! – Fun colorful candies in custom packaging for all seasons and events
• Robert Rothschild Farm – Award-winning specialty dips, mixes, rubs and snacks

Dallas Market Center will offer a range of special events throughout market including discovery
tours, seminars, daily new buyer orientations, hospitalities and networking parties.

Each January, Dallas Market Center hosts the Total Home & Gift Market featuring multiple
markets held simultaneously so that buyers may select from the widest range of product
categories: Dallas Total Home & Gift Market (January 13-19), Dallas Holiday & Home Expo
(January 13-19), Dallas International Lighting Market (January 14-18), and the FINDS Dallas
Temp Show (January 15-18).

The Total Home & Gift Market offers more than 25,000 lines of gift products, decorative
accessories, lighting, floral, gourmet, furniture, toys, seasonal items and more.

Attendees may contact the Dallas Market Center’s in-house travel agency Market Travel®, for
substantial travel and hotel discounts by calling 1-800-DAL-MKTS.