Meet the Judges: Meet our global

Meet our judges

Our prestigious panel of judges are truly international and are made up of the best buyers, retailers and experts in the tabletop industry.

Parousiasi

Mary Sarafidis, managing director of Parousiasi, a chain of 39 luxury tabletop and giftware stores in Greece. www.parousiasi.gr

Owned by the Sarafidis Group, which has the largest chain of retail stores in Greece, Parousiasi (Presentation) is a group of award-winning luxury tabletop and gift stores located throughout Greece, and was the first chain in the country to gather leading homeware brands under one roof. Today, Parousiasi offer more than 40 international tableware brands, including Villeroy & Boch, Lenox, Rosenthal and Wedgewood among others. The retailer also produces its own lifestyle magazine and runs a successful loyalty programme as part of their goal to provide customers with an enjoyable experience with substantial benefits.

Sam Hood,

founder and creative director of Amara, UK www.amara.com

Since launching leading online luxury interiors etailer, Amara, in 2005, Sam Hood has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry. From casual dining to barware to serveware, Amara offers a wide selection of products from over 300 unique and iconic brands. Still very much a hands-on buyer, Sam is keen to champion the best emerging talent and share it with Amara’s customers. Sam says: “The knowledge I’ve picked up along the way has enabled me to have a deep understanding of the industry and the many brands available.”

Dom Farfora

Elena Sokolova, commercial director and buyer, Dom Farfora, Russia www.domfarfora.ru

The 58-year-old Dom Farfora (House of Porcelain) is the Russian distributor for several global tableware brands, including Moser and Herend, and further owns a chain of multi-brand retail stores across Russia, selling premium tableware and giftware from global brands, including Lenox, Rosenthal and Alessi. The company is a tablesetting trendsetter in Russia, delivering regular in-store events and workshops and producing its own magazine.

Nick Holland Design

Nick Holland, creative director and CEO of product design consultancy Nick Holland Design. www.nickhollanddesign.com

One of the most experienced and successful international product designers in tableware and housewares, Nick was previously design director at various manufacturers, including Vista Alegre Atlantis for 13 years. Nick founded his own international product design consultancy in 1997 and has worked with tableware manufacturers from around the world, including the UK, USA, China, Italy, Germany and Vietnam. Nick has expertise in materials and manufacturing technologies, including all areas of ceramics, glass, metals, plastics and natural materials. Nick has served on multiple organisations for design in England, including the Design Council.

Hospitality Products

John O’Byrne, buyer for the Irish hospitality market. www.hospitalityproducts.ie

After graduating from the Dublin College of Catering with a degree in hotel & catering management, John spent time training with PV Doyle Hotels (now The Doyle Collection) and three years working at the five-star Westbury Hotel, which was part of THF’s Exclusive Group at the time. Returning to Dublin, John selected and sourced the items for two party rental businesses he helped set up. As a result of travelling to shows and factories all over Europe to source quality products, John saw a gap in the market for a specialist supplier to the fivestar hotel sector in Ireland that would offer tabletop, bedroom, banqueting and kitchen items. In 2011 he set up Hospitality Products and this company now supplies exclusive brands and bespoke products to the top hotels and restaurants in Ireland.

Goodfellow & Goodfellow

Valda Goodfellow, owner and MD, Goodfellow & Goodfellow, distributors of tableware to the UK hospitality sector with exclusive access to some of the world’s best tableware brands for the UK. www.goodf.co.uk

Starting out in January 2012, Goodfellow & Goodfellow (G&G) has established itself as the go-to company for anyone in hospitality looking for innovative tableware. Owners Paul and Valda Goodfellow have exclusive access to some of the world’s best tableware brands for the UK market, including Hering Berlin, Fuerstenberg, Narumi, Montgolfier, Figgjo and Bonna; and they also work with craft producers globally to design and commission projects, delivering unique products. G&G’s ability to create new tableware concepts for all aspects of the hospitality industry enables the company to lead the market in the UK, their ‘plate cave’ is in London’s Little Portland Street and offers tableware collections intended to provide originality and functionality.