GC Buying Group announced the retirement of its founder and president, Janis Johnson, who has sold the 44-year-old buying organization for independent housewares retailers to gourmet retailing veteran Doug Huemoeller.
Huemoeller, a past member of the GC staff, is the former owner of Kitchen Window, a longstanding gourmet housewares store in Minneapolis, MN.
“This is a natural evolution for GC,” said Johnson, who started the company in 1981. “Doug’s passion for independent retail and his deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in this industry make him the perfect person to lead GC Buying Group into its next era.”
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Janis Johnson
Doug Huemoeller
The entire GC Buying Group team will remain in place, ensuring continuity of service and support for its store and vendor members, according to Johnson and Huemoeller. While the organization’s core programs and goals will remain unchanged, they added, Huemoeller and the GC team plan to expand offerings with additional resources and opportunities.
“The GC Buying Group has always been more than just a business association,” Huemoeller said. “It has been a source of inspiration, innovation and community. As a GC member, I benefited greatly from the organization’s ability to connect retailers with top brands, provide support and strengthen the independent retail community. I am proud and excited to now carry that mission forward.”
Huemoeller’s career in housewares spans more than 30 years. He transformed Kitchen Window from a 1,200-square-foot store into a 20,000-square-foot culinary destination featuring three state-of-the-art cooking classrooms and a large event space. Known for creating a culinary community, Huemoeller built experiences that helped shape a model for independent retail success, according to Johnson.
“As GC Buying Group enters this exciting new chapter, the organization remains committed to strengthening independent housewares retailers, empowering vendor partnerships and fostering the kind of community that has defined GC for nearly half a century,” Huemoeller said.
