News

Zwiesel launches United Tables

Zwiesel has expanded its portfolio by launching a full-service provider for table settings in the hospitality sector – United Tables by Zwiesel.

From April 2022, under the corporate umbrella brand United Tables by Zwiesel, extensive top-quality ranges from the Fortessa brand in the tableware and cutlery product categories will complement the wide range of crystal glassware and tableware collections under the Zwiesel Glas and Schott Zwiesel brands. This new subsidiary of Zwiesel Kristallglas AG showcased its product range for the very first time at Internorga in Hamburg recently.

The aim behind United Tables is not to just look at individual tableware categories, but to present the set table as one overall concept. It will focus on dine-out hospitality and promote the idea of "Get inspired - Get united" in gastronomy, with plenty of suggestions for pleasurable get-togethers round the table. The national and international sales divisions of Zwiesel Kristallglas AG will look after sales for the entire United Tables range.

Utopia combats logistics issues

Utopia has made moves to combat the ongoing supply chain and logistics issues facing the hospitality sector.

To ensure continuity of supply, Utopia set up additional agreements with leading tableware, glassware and barware designers and manufacturers in countries including Turkey, Poland and Portugal, while also sourcing more products from the UK.

Utopia will continue to offer products from around the world, including those sourced from countries such as China and India. “These are high quality products that deserve their place in the HoReCa market, but due to the current problems with global shipping we felt we had to offer our customers an alternative,” says Josh Rammell, marketing manager at Utopia.

“It was back in 2018 that RAK asked me to design a bone china range for them. I was very honoured that Studio Levien were being trusted with such an important task. It was clearly an ambitious and bold project for RAK to develop a bone china range for the HoReCa market. As bone china is the strongest of all ceramic bodies it did make complete sense. The brief called for a light and classical design but with a twist. Our challenge was to create a core range for volume sales but familiar yet modern. The fine bead on the edge of the plate is a key element of the design and brings a refined elegance. We were asked to design some flagship items that would be more expressive and capture the DNA of the whole collection. This is easier said than done, but we are really proud of the two podiums and the arching jug in particular.”

Robin Levien

Designer Robin Levien of Studio Levien discussing his work on Bravura, part of RAK Porcelain’s newest collection Le Ballet. See more of Le Ballet on page 24.

Inspired by the night sky

Koransha has used its signature colour Ruri (a shiny royal blue) on its Cobaltline series. By spritzing Ruri glaze over the surface, its unique design depicts the sky getting darker from evening into night. Koransha says the Cobaltline series goes with any type of cuisine and is one of the finest products.

Spotlight on… Zieher

Zieher’s stunning glass pieces were showcased beautifully at an Easter dinner hosted by acclaimed chef and Spicehunter Marcel Thiele in the Maldives. Zieher’s glass eggs were used to present dishes created by the chef who spent time at the resort creating tailor-made dining experiences and sharing his knowledge with guests at the Sun Siyam Iru Fushi resort in the Maldives.

Villeroy & Boch lends its name to culinary world cup

Villeroy & Boch has lent its name the prestigious Culinary World Cup. For the fourth time – after 2010, 2014 and 2018 – the company is putting its might behind the “Villeroy & Boch Culinary World Cup” as a co-operation partner. As well as defining the title, Villeroy & Boch will also be providing the porcelain for the restaurants in the contest. The prestigious international culinary contest will take place in conjunction with the gastronomy trade fair EXPOGAST from 26th to 30th November 2022 in Luxembourg-Kirchberg.

Behind the scenes, the preparations have already begun – Burkhard Schmidt, sales director hospitality, and Georges Schmitz, key account manager international, recently met with the organisers of the “Villeroy & Boch Culinary World Cup” in the porcelain manufacturer’s hospitality showrooms in Luxembourg. Ben Weber, president of the Vatel Club Luxembourg, and Alain Hostert, vice president, selected three different plates from the successful The Rock collection for this year’s event. The group are pictured above.

Ginori 1735 uses top chef in digital campaign

Chef Marco Corradi – also known by his alias Marco Assaggia – has starred in a digital campaign created by Ginori 1735.

Produced in collaboration with the chef, The Pleasure of Daring campaign features some amazing food installations that present ingredients from a new perspective.

A contemporary cuisine, rich in evocative suggestions and endowed with an intrinsic power of seduction, springs to life on the iconic collections of Ginori 1735: Oriente Italiano, Oro di Doccia, Contessa, and the new Arcadia collection.

The campaign ran on social channels and on the Ginori 1735 website.

Wilmax presents SandStone

Wilmax has launched a collection of coloured SandStone porcelain. The vitrified fine porcelain collection has been transformed into textured stylish matt sand-coloured tableware. The assortment includes rectangular, square, and round plates for serving aperitifs and main courses, salad bowls, serving dishes, and much more. All products in the series have a recognisable rustic design resembling the hot lines of sand dunes. Wilmax says while SandStone porcelain collection is attractive, it’s also practical. Designed for intensive daily use, it is suitable for cooking and heating food in a microwave and oven, and can be washed in a dishwasher without any loss of quality.