Housewares international may:june 2015

KitchenWare INTERNATIONAL Kitchenware Supplement May/June 2015

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The new STOCKHOLM collection is inspired by the ever-changing scenery of the Baltic Sea and the Stockholm archipelago. The bold, artistic pattern captures intensely the serenity and the dramatic expression of the sea. The pattern is presented in cold enamel on organically shaped aluminum based vases and bowls. Be seduced by the beauty of STOCKHOLM. STOCKHOLM bowl medium £ 130 / Vase large £ 180 / Vase small £ 60 www.stelton.com · www.steltonshop.com

Bernadotte & Kylberg is a Swedish creative design duo working within interior design, textiles and life style products.

The design philosophy of Bernadotte & Kylberg is to create iconic and inspiring designs that last.

C O N T E N T S 14

News A round-up of global news

10

Spotlight Food Storage products

12

Trend: Health How health-promoting kitchenware is trending

KitchenWare INTERNATIONAL

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Retail: Comment We talk to kitchenware retailers globally

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Retail: Chicago We profile US retailer The Chopping Block

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Feature: Coffeeware The latest trends and opportunities in this category

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Guide: Cookware We discuss the latest innovations and deliver the latest collections in cookware COVER Front cover illustration supplied by Alessi. For more information see the website www.alessi.com

KitchenWare INTERNATIONAL Kitchenware Supplement May/June 2015

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www.tablewareinternational.com

To subscibe to the magazine email: ROBERT THOMAS robert@lemapublishing.co.uk Published by Lema Publishing Ltd. 1 Churchgates, The Wilderness Berkhamsted Herts HP4 2UB PUBLISHING

At the heart Tel: 00 44 (0) 1442 289930 Fax: 00 44 (0) 1442 289950 of retail

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“And so it follows that as publishers in retail and in tableware, we too must follow suit… and like the tableware brands and tableware retailers, expand our international expertise to include complementary and relevant categories.”

s experts in the field of retail and in the category of tableware, in particular, we are well aware that the landscape of both is changing… that tableware retailers are expanding into cross categories, presenting complementary product areas such as kitchenware, cookware, gourmet goods and gifts; and that tableware manufacturers are similarly expanding their product mix, delivering not just tableware but also kitchenware, cookware and giftware.

As Rosenthal’s chief operating and sales officer, Gianluca Colonna, recently commented in reference to the expansion of Thomas into the kitchenware category, “Society is changing and so is Thomas!”

And so it follows that as publishers in retail and in tableware, we too must follow suit. We must also change, and like the tableware brands and tableware retailers, expand our international expertise to include relevant and complementary categories.

Enter Kitchenware International, our brand new publication, which like big sister publication Tableware International, is international in scope and will be delivered to all the major department stores, multi-brand tableware, cookshop and homeware stores and independent cooking and dining stores across the world.

And like its big sister publication, too, Kitchenware International will deliver all the latest news, views and reviews, but with a focus on kitchenware, on everything from cookware and storage products, to utensils and food prep tools. We will also feature retail interviews, industry expert advice and product and category-specific features.

In our first-ever Kitchenware International issue, which comes as a supplement with this issue, the May/June edition of Tableware International, we feature an overview of Chicago kitchenware retailer and cooking school The Chopping Block (page 18) as well as retailer interviews on page 16 with French kitchenware chain Culinarion, Asia’s biggest kitchenware retailer, ToTT in Singapore, and multi-brand kitchenware chain Cook Shop in Greece.

We also investigate how today’s healthconscious consumers are impacting the kitchenware industry on page 12 – what products they are demanding and which manufacturers are delivering; and we deliver investigative reports on the cookware category (page 24) and on the coffee category (page 20) product segments and present the latest launches in each category.

Finally, we deliver the latest industry and retail news (pages 4-8) and spotlight Food Storage products (page 10) that fuse functionality and fashion.

Let us know what you think about Kitchenware International and watch out for the second edition of the supplement, due out with the September/October issue of TI.

Kate Birch

The Team EDITOR KATE BIRCH kate@lemapublishing.co.uk

PUBLISHER MARK NAISH mark@lemapublishing.co.uk

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR PAUL NAISH paul@lemapublishing.co.uk

ADVERTISEMENT MANAGER PAUL YEOMANS pyeomans@lemapublishing.co.uk

MANAGING DIRECTOR MALCOLM NAISH malcolm@lemapublishing.co.uk

DESIGNER MARIAN MCNAMARA marian@lemapublishing.co.uk

news

Positive outlook

Alessi celebrates 25 years of Juicy Salif This year marks the 25th anniversary of one of the most iconic kitchen objects of the 21st century, the Juicy Salif citrus squeezer designed by Philippe Starck in 1990. To mark the anniversary, two special commemorative editions have been created – one in cast aluminium with an opaque white ceramic coating, alluding to the purity of intent by both designer and producer. The other is a limited edition piece (299 copies) in cast bronze, emphasising the special and artistically paradoxical aura the object emanates. We ask Alberto Alessi to tell us more...

How successful has the Juicy Salif been and why? In terms of sales, it has been incredibly successful since its launch, with more than one million pieces sold. The creation of the product

by Philippe Starck has been one of the few instances where, when I first saw it, I immediately understood it was great, though

perhaps even I didn’t expect such a long-standing success. I think our customers enjoy the playfulness, intelligence and provocative nature of Juicy Salif.

Why ‘provocative’? And why did you describe the Juicy Salif as “the most controversial lemon squeezer of the century”? Precisely become of its very special nature. With the help of writer Michele Cogo, I have come to understand that the citrus squeezer’s capacity to generate discussion on its nature and meaning resides in its excellent representation of what semiologists call the decorative veil, a notion that suggests there is always a certin degree of freedom in interpreting relationships between form and function. The continual play between form and function manifests itself in the legendary and aesthetic dimension of the object. Juicy Salif is playful, intelligent and provocative; for our company it represents an excellent example

of our role as an artistic mediator in the most turbulent areas of creative potential.

How important is the fusion of functionality with design in the creation of kitchen products today? Today, there are thousands of producers of small kitchen and table objects and many of them produce excellent housewares in terms of functionality. But I believe that none of them is quite like Alessi.

The fusion of functionality with design is crucial for Alessi and this approach is at the base of our practice – to produce objects which are not only designed to perform but that can respond to a desire for art and poetry.

Is consumer demand for statement design-driven kitchenware high today?

I would say that the public, on a general level, has become more demanding, especially from the aesthetic point of view.

Maturing millenials are leaving home, creating a demand for housewares that fit into an apartment, while Boomers are downsizing empty nests, looking for housewares that fit a smaller footprint, says David Elliott, general manager, KitchenAid. Either way, the housewares industry is looking good. IHA president and CEO Philip Brandl has said that a rebound from the recession has put wind back into housewares industry sales. “As the economy continues to improve, we’re seeing housewares manufacturers and retailers stretch in terms of innovation and design, while testing a shifting marketplace that has challenged brick and mortar with increased online sales and the ability to shop from virtually anywhere with a smartphone and the right apps,” says Brandl. Paul Rowan, co-founder of Umbra, says he feels positive about 2015 and believes China, India and Brazil will grow. “Brand name products have been too expensive in these emerging countries and that has led to rampant copying. Now that these economies are growing and brands have figured out how to deliver product to these markets and reasonable prices, business for global brands in emerging markets will continue to grow,” says Rowan.

The Cookware Company announces licensing agreement with OXO The Cookware Company, a UK brand which designs, develops and manufactures cookware products and also sells the GreenPan brand to its UK customers, has collaborated with US housewares brand OXO to develop a series of OXO cookware collections, with the ranges launching at London trade show Exclusively Housewares from June 9-10 and products available to retailers from August.

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WMF

Bialetti

Hot tech Thanks to new technology, consumers can now keep constantly updated on the temperature of their pans, so they can adjust to the most appropriate level, delivering the best-cooked food. Bialetti’s new Grill Diamante, with its die-cast aluminium body and non-stick coating reinforced with stone particles, has an innovative thermostat that offers indications on pan heat so you can adjust for optimum results, while also saving energy by avoiding excessively high cooking temperatures. WMF meanwhile has applied its new technology ThermoIndicator to its frying pans. The strip between the frying pan handle and the outer body turns green once optimal frying temperature has been reached and red when too hot. The chef knows when to start cooking or if the heat needs to be adjusted. The pans are robust, scratch-resistant and durable, made from aluminium with a non-stick coating.

Nambe delivers gourmet gifts At The New York Tabletop Market, Nambe introduced a number of new pieces and new packaging under its Nambe Gourmet line. Pieces include stainless steel measuring spoons and a sculpted peeler, both high-design kitchenware tools.

Both come in window boxes in new packaging making them highly giftable. The brand has also made its utensils open stock, boxing them in the same window-boxed packaging to make them affordable design gourmet gifts. www.nambe.com

Making the pressure cooker cool again Delivering quick, healthy, tasty and convenient cooking, the pressure cooker is having its moment in the spotlight once more, answering as it does all the demands of today’s young, busy, healthy consumers. To speak to such consumers, cookware brands are innovating with digitally-enhanced pressure cookers. German cookware brand Fissler is taking this target group seriously on the pressure cooker front, launching an innovative eye-catching marketing campaign for its vitavit pressure cookers and vitacontrol digital cooking assistant.

Targeting young nutrition-conscious time-strapped target groups, Fissler aims to show how pressure cooking is no longer antiquated but modern and can fit in with contemporary lifestyles. At the heart of the campaign are food bloggers testifying to the advantages of pressure cooking. “With the campaign, we will address new target groups that are enthusiastic about cooking and enable them to participate in the revival of the pressure cooker. For this purpose we will rely on an emotional and contemporary appeal and engage food bloggers as opinion leaders in order to help the topic of pressure cooking go viral,” says Fissler’s head of marketing Sabine Kratz. At the POS, high-quality wooden platforms will be used as exclusive product display units to attract attention – shelves with moving image modules will explain how the digital cooking assistant works. www.fissler.com

What the retailer says…? “Bestsellers for us right now in Singapore are our Cuisinart appliances like the Hot and Cold Blender and Waffle Maker – we carry the largest range in Singapore – and the SousVide Supreme due to its ease of use and consistent results.”

Grace Tan, director, ToTT (Tools of the Trade), the largest cookware store in Asia KITCHENWARE INTERNATIONAL 5

news

Thomas launches first kitchenware series Renowned for its porcelain tableware, Thomas has entered the kitchenware category with the launch of Kitchen by Thomas, a collection of 40 pieces that includes everything from cooking utensils and a pestle and mortar, to a lemon squeezer and cheese grater. www.thomas-porzellan.de.

We talk to Gianluca Colonna, chief operating and sales officer for Rosenthal...

Why has Thomas extended into the kitchen category? Society is changing and so is Thomas! Cooking together is trendy and the kitchen has turned into a place that mirrors individual personalities. The new Kitchen by Thomas concept, which can be combined with the Thomas porcelain series, is a complementary expansion of the Thomas portfolio reaching the preparation of food to consumption and storage in one complete line.

Who designed this series of products? We worked with two international design workshops. Several pieces were developed by designer Johanna Kleinert from Germany, while all other items originated from the Scottish-Swedish Office for Product Design think tank whose style of design features subtle simplicity and who are forward looking in terms of trends and design.

Multi-functionality, space-saving and high design in kitchenware are key. Was this important to Thomas?

Trendy design, functional cooking and stylish storage are the core elements of the series. The 40 pieces make an impression with their timelessly subtle design based on a low-maintenance and skilful mix of porcelain, glass, wood, metal and silicone, successfully adding highlights of grey and green. Design is a very important part of the brand DNA of Thomas and in creating new products we try to match functionality with design. The fact that we have already been awarded the Red Dot Design Award for Product Design 2015 says it all.

Any plans to extend this line? Yes, acceptance so far has been very good – we are working on extensions.

T&G celebrates 40 years! Blomus introduces the British family-run business T&G is celebrating 40 years this year. Beginning in 1975 with a small range of pinewood kitchen products, T&G’s range quickly developed and by 1979 they had the largest range of domestic woodware products in the UK market. Its iconic TV Chef’s FSC certified beech boards, born in 1979, remain a favourite of celebrity TV chefs today and have appeared on programmes like Masterchef. Today, more than 70 of T&G’s products are certified according to the FSC principles. 1990 saw the launch of a range of premium salt and pepper mills with the patented and subsequently award-winning CrushGrind ceramic mechanism, a technology that allows effortless grinding of whole dried herbs and spices and comes with a lifetime guarantee – in fact, T&G was the first company in the housewares industry to offer such a guarantee. Then, just last year, T&G teamed up with Sophie Conran to produce the Sophie Conran for T&G board collection. This year, T&G launches a number of new extensions and product ranges. www.tg-woodware.com

Tea-Jane German design brand ded its Blomus has expanded he new tea range with the Tea-Jane teamaker, a little sister to the Tea-Jay, which was introduced twoo years oasts a ago. The Tea-Jane boasts stem in patented brewing system d after the plastic filter and the brewing process iss done, ith hot the hot tea blends with i water. This is all encasedd in a sleek stainless steel body, providing a streamlined and minimalist aesthetic. There is an optional Oolong trivet, which provides a firm stand and heat protection for the Tea-Jane – made of silicone and stainless steel – and an optional Clippo tea stick, a cloth peg that makes it easy to grab the loose tea out of the packaging.

What the retailer says…? “The millennial generation is much more concerned with healthy food and they want to have the best materials to cook with at home, while we are finding more men are cooking and looking for technical equipment – pieces like specialist knives and barbecue products.”

Hermann Hutter, managing director, department store abt, Germany 68 12 KITCHENWARE TABLEWARE TABLEWAREINTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL

news

Vitamix to launch S30 at Exclusively Electrical The world leader in professional-grade blending equipment, Vitamix has chosen Exclusively Electrical as the platform for the launch of its new Vitamix Compact Blender. The S30 model is a versatile, portable machine combining Vitamix’s trusted performance levels and durability with a sleek, compact design that allows users to create smaller batches and individual servings. A range of colours.

Exclusively Housewares to see exciting debuts from The Cookware Company Exclusively Housewares will deliver lots of exciting new product from many kitchenware and housewares brands, including global cookware manufacturer The Cookware Company on stand 142, which will unveil new collections from the two brands it has for the UK market, GreenPan and OXO.

www.vitamix.co.uk

Exclusively Electrical launches This year not only marks the 14th edition of Exclusively Housewares, the key trade show held in London annually, it also marks the debut of sister show, Exclusively Electrical, scheduled to run alongside it from June 9-10 at the Business Design Centre in London. The ongoing levels of interest in the small electrical product sector from both suppliers and buyers led Exclusively Housewares to commit to increasing the number of small kitchen and domestic appliance (SKA/ SDA) suppliers at the show in 2014, with a view to featuring a dedicated hall for this project area at the show in 2015.

The growth in the SKA/SDA product market is continuing, led by sales of high-end coffee machines and co-ordinated food prep appliances along with juicers and blenders. All of these product areas will be well represented by the leading suppliers taking part in the sold-out launch of Exclusively Electrical.Exhibiting brands showcasing in the debut edition are Rowenta, Dualit, Tefal, Severin, Bugatti, KitchenAid and Vitamix, to name but a few.

GreenPan GreenPan will unveil the new Rome Induction cookware collection and 3D bakeware alongside new additions to its bestselling GreenPan Venice range. Also, new on-trend collections from Vita Verde in metallic tones and on-trend stone effects for autumn/winter 2015. www.green-pan.co.uk

OXO Good d Grips The show will see the UK premiere emiere of the two new OXO Good Gripss cookware collections created along with The Cookware re Company. Combining OXO’s thoughtful design philosophy with The Cookware Company’s y’s high precision engineering, the new Non-Stick and Stainless Steel Pro collectionss have been made to last and offer ffer various innovative features like stay-cool handles, smart shapes and drip-free edges. www.oxouk.com

www.exclusivelyelectrical.co.uk

Did you know…? Chicago 2015 sold out faster than ever Exhibit space for the this year’s 2015 International Home + Housewares Show, sponsored by the IHA and which took place in March, sold out faster than at any time in its 76-year history, an indication that housewares manufacturers and retail buyers are increasingly seeing the Show as more than a place to display new product ideas. “It is a must attend show for retailers and vendors. Increased attendance by both senior US retail executives and global retailers has significantly improved the productivity and impact of the Show,” says David Elliott, general manager, KitchenAid Small Appliances.

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Spotlight Products

Food storage solutions Food storage is becoming increasingly innovative and design-friendly, with brands launching products that make a statement, start a conversation or simply look amazing. According to the Ambiente 2015 trend report: “Storage of foodstuffs is turning into a design statement – products are clean-lined in terms of form and aesthetically sensitive in their use of materials.”

We round up the latest food storage products…

KINTO New this season is Bottlit, a range of food storage containers. A bottle-shaped canister is made of glass and the cork top provides an airtightness, ideal for storing dried foods. There are three sizes; 600ml for coffee beans or granola, 300ml for loose leaf tea or nuts, and 150ml for spices and herbs.

Bottlit is easy to grip with one hand.

ROBERT WELCH Robert Welch’s latest line of storage jars – the awardwinning Signature storage jar line – is made from a new-generation copolyester, Tritan, which delivers crystal-clear clarity, is impact-resistant and BPAfree. The line features three sizes, each with an elliptical design allowing the jars to be stacked.

The silicone and stainless steel lid is designed for an airtight seal to protect and keep foods fresh.

BLOMUS Clear lines and a timeless look on your table – the new Basic breakfast range from Blomus made from brushed stainless steel – does just that. It offers solutions for storage and serving for various occasions such as family breakfast or dinner with friends. Pieces include milk and creamer jugs, condiment or jam glasses, snack and sugar bowls and butter dishes which can be arranged on one of the different sizes of trays. They come with either a stainless steel or black plastic lid.

JOSEPH JOSEPH Known for fusing functionality and high design, Joseph Joseph offers clever food storage systems, including the FoodStore Carousel and Spice-Store Carousel, compact glass units with airtight silicone lids that help to keep food fresher for longer, while the rotating carousel provides easy access to every jar. They also come with a non-slip base. The FoodStore Carousel delivers six storage jars, while the SpiceStore, 10 storage jars.

ALESSI New from Italian design brand Alessi is a range of both innovative and contemporary design-led food storage containers – glass jars of different shapes and sizes topped with 18/10 stainless steel lids and decorated with the baroque-inspired relief decor of designer Marcel Wanders. The piece de resistance is the biscuit jar, which has a steel bell on the inside, which jangles when the lid is removed.

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Trend Health

Good health, great food With consumers increasingly healthconscious, the demand for tools that make healthy cooking a breeze is surging

G

rilling. Check. Steaming.

Check. Creating food from scratch. Check. The trend towards making healthy food at home and from scratch, rather than relying on processed foods, is one seeing phenomenal growth and this seems set to continue “Smart companies are answering the call with smart products that make healthy living easier,” says Mark Dziersk, managing director of Chicago-based industrial design agency Lunar.

“From juicing machines to smoothie makers to machines that work with pre-packaged recipes, anything that helps save time and ensures healthy choices is big right now,” adds Mark.

Add to this the growing passion for cooking at home, mix in the trend for locally-produced, artisan products and sprinkle in demand for a transparent approach to food preparation and you have a recipe for consumers desiring to ‘cook from scratch’.

According to The NPD Group, a Port Washington, New York-based leading global information company: “Consumers are getting involved in more scratch cooking and baking and products like meat mincers/ grinders are examples of appliances that address America’s desire to take more control of what is prepared and consumed in the home.”

Cooking from scratch

WMF Perfect Pro Pressure Cooker With its dynamic design, safety technology, easy cleaning and simple operation, the Perfect Pro cooks entire meals quickly, in a healthy way (it preserves vitamins) and in an eco-friendly way (70 per cent less cooking times, saving time and consuming less energy). It boasts an All-In-One control knob on the lid handle, controlling all functions. It features a TransTherm universal base for all types of hobs, comes with an inside scale for accurate dosing, flame protection on the pan handle and side handle, a clear cooking indicator and two pressure settings.

www.wmf.com 12 KITCHENWARE INTERNATIONAL

This means increased demand for kitchen prep tools and gadgets that help consumers prep fruit and veg.

OXO, Joseph Joseph and Kitchen Craft are brands known for creating functional tools for such prep, making the process of eating healthy easier.

OXO is seeing demand for products that enable consumers to cook from scratch. “The peelers are our most popular products and perform very well, while the salad spinner is also popular… in fact, all our fruit and veg tools are very successful,” says associate

brand manager, Anneliese Fraser.

Creating flavour is also key with consumers today, with demand for everything from garlic presses and herb mincers to spice grinders – as well as spice storage containers that keep spices fresher for longer.

“With the popularity of ‘dining in’ still driven by popular TV shows, the demand for exciting, functional kitchen products continues to grow, with consumers demanding such items to help them create their own masterpieces,” says Jenny Handley, head of marketing for T&G, a British brand that delivers a vast range of wooden chopping boards as well as seasoning products with its awardwinning CrushGrind Optic Mills.

“As such, we have found the demand for salt/pepper mills and spice mills has grown dramatically.

Consumers are keen to mix their own blends and these items enhance cooking and make the trend for healthier cuisine more tasty,” says Jenny, pointing to T&G’s premium mill range.

This mill range has become increasingly popular as it delivers design, function and quality and effortlessly grinds not only salt and pepper but also, using the same grinder, whole dried herbs and spices It seems some consumers may be increasing their use of spices in an effort to eat healthier. Food Channel, in conjunction with insights company CultureWave, identified ‘Spice Alchemy’ as one of 2015’s Top Ten Food Trends.

“People are experimenting with spices – becoming mixologists with spices, in a way,” the group said.

“The spice craze is also attributable to concerns over sodium intake, with the thinking that spices can replace the need for salt to some extent.”

German brand Finum is at the forefront of the current spice sensation movement with its award-winning spice grinder Look Touch Taste. It comes with a ceramic mechanism and

Finum German brand Finum has not justt won awards but is seeing great growth for its genius flavourenhancing spice grinder Look Touch Taste. Boasting a ceramic grinder mechanism, it has been designed esigned in such a way to prevent cooking vapours from entering the main body of the grinder, so spices stay fresh and dry. It has an adjustable coarseness of grinding to blend dried herbs and spices and create personal blends. This year it has launched the Mini version, a set of salt and pepper grinders on a tray, with the same design as Look Touch Taste but in black and white. grinds dried herbs and spices.

Using herbs is also more popular and prep tools now exist to make it easier. “Consumers wanting to create food using healthy fresh ingredients is popular and our prep tools are a growth category for us,” says Claire Budgen, marketing controller, Kitchen Craft, pointing to the brand’s new Savora herb cutter, already selling well.

Recently launched too is OXO’s Herb Mincer, which makes preparing fresh herbs simple and quick.

Rise of the barbecue The ability to cook food with cookware that demands less fat or oil is also a healthy cooking trend on the rise and both retailers and manufacturers are seeing the BBQ and grilling trend surge.

Eric Holzinger, CEO of EK France, which owns kitchenware retailer Culinarion in France, says cooking outdoor – barbecuing and Plancha, the latter a cooking tradition from south west France, is in growth across France.

“This trend is clearly in accordance with cooking healthy products, with less grease,” explains Eric.

Kitchen Craft say it is seeing this trend too and has recently spent a lot of time developing a new collection of grill-based dining solutions, which will form part of the brand’s autumn/winter 2015 launch in June at Exclusively Housewares in London.

Barbecues and the method of barbecuing is no longer the preserve of men, it has become an everyday method for preparing food, and at Ambiente 2015, the barbecue was certainly a trend with traction.

German brand Rosle said its

cookware proved popular with buyers at Ambiente and, in particular, its new pellet grills and entire BBQ segment.

New from Berndes in 2015 are grilling additions to its Professional line – a user-friendly grill plate and a grill pan; while Chasseur 1924 is focusing on grilling in 2015, delivering two new grills, the Sun Grill and Rectangular Grill.

French brand Cristel also delivered a new grill, the Plat a Four, while Emile Henry launched its On the BBQ range aimed at mastering the art of grilling with the most delicate of ingredients.

Made from BBQ ceramic, pieces can resist up to 500°c.

Full steam ahead Desiring to get the best out of healthy foods is also key, leading to increased consumer demand for products that aid in the preservation of vitamins.

This has seen a return to traditional cooking methods like poaching and steaming. This means pressure cookers or cookware made of materials like terracotta, which slow cook and retain vitamins, are seeing growth.

Of all WMF cookware sold in the US, 40 per cent are pressure cookers; and pressure cookers are so popular in China and Korea that cookware brand Fissler adapts them specifically for those markets, adding an extra level and higher pressure, for example.

Meanwhile, in Greece, Kostas Sarafidis, manager of Cook Shop, a chain of kitchenware retailers, says: “Pressure cookers are a very strong product category for the Greek market”.

Cooking food quickly in a pressure cooker not only saves you time but it’s a healthy way to cook too, preserving

the vitamins, say WMF, a brand that has recently launched its Perfect Pro pressure cooker, which comes with a gentle steam release function.

“Because ingredients retain their natural flavour, less salt is needed, making it suitable for preparing baby foods and foods for great health and special diets,” say the brand.

Fissler is seeing growth in demand for its pressure cookers worldwide and has created a campaign for its vitavit pressure cookers and vitacontrol digital cooking assistant to target young nutrition-conscious consumers.

“The great thing about the pressure cooker is that it produces the very best in tasty food, but it is also able to effectively maintain the high content of vitamins and minerals for healthier food,” says Fissler’s managing director Markus H. Kepka, highlighting how its vitavit retains 50 per cent more vitamins than regular cooking.

Also on the healthy menu is Kuhn Rikon’s new and patented digitallyenhanced Duromatic Comfort Pressure Cooker. It reduces cooking time by 70 per cent and retains vitamins.

Kitchen Craft says it has recently undertaken several product redevelopments to adapt to the promotion of healthy prep and cooking. “We have not only redeveloped our rice cooker due to the fact that more people are now cooking healthy grains like quinoa but we have re-developed our microwave cookware, which is based on more and more people using the items to cook things quickly, whilst retaining vitamins and minerals,” says Claire, Kitchen Craft.

Lekue has also launched a range

of products aimed at rediscovering healthy, easy and fast microwave cooking. The Steam Cooking Collection includes the Steam Case range, designed to cook veg, legumes, fish and meat with lower cooking times and in their own juices, facilitating the flavouring and meaning less need for oil, as well as preserving the nutritional benefits. “Since 2011, we have led research in collaboration with The Alicia Foundation to help retailers and consumers understand the benefits of microwave cooking, such as less use of water and oil, meaning microwave cooking has high nutritional benefits as the nutritive and organoleptic values of food are preserved in a very large measure,” explains Lekue.

Terracotta is a slow way of cooking that allows food to preserve its structure and nutrients and so is heralding a comeback. Kitchen Craft says it has seen growth in its World of Flavours Mediterranean range, which offers terracotta cookware.

From Sambonet to Kitchen launched a terracotta range Terra.Cotta last year and has seen it do well.

“In recent years we have seen a renewed desire for a more traditional and healthy way of cooking, which has led to a growing desire for new tools,” says head of international retail, Caterina Bernabino.

It also helps that with terracotta, less oil or butter is needed, meaning a double whammy of good health.

And finally, realising it needs to focus its efforts on the growing health-conscious market, Ballarini has just launched a light pan series for the vegetarian and vegan target market.

What the retailer says… “Having a healthy diet constitutes a strong growing trend in Greece, especially with young consumers. This has resulted in the continued development and success of appliances such as slow juicers, blenders, smoothie makers and products that promote good health like non-stick ceramic pans and pressure cookers.” Kostas Sarafidis, manager, Cook Shop, a chain of kitchenware retailers across Greece KITCHENWARE INTERNATIONAL 13

Trend Health

Cooking from scratch

T&G

We highlight the products that make the healthy process of cooking from a scratch a breeze

This year, T&G’s CrushGrind Optic Mills were not only a winner in the UK’s Gift of the Year Awards, but were endorsed by celebrity chef Delia Smith, leading to the launch of Delia Online CrushGrind Mills. These contain the superior CrushGrind ceramic mechanism and grind salt and pepper, dried herbs and spices to create perfect blends. Fully adjustable with some 12 settings from fine to coarse, they have Delia’s seal of approval.

www.tg-woodware.com

KITCHEN CRAFT Boasting four high quality fully rotating blades, the Savora Herb Cutter is simply rolled back and forth to quickly chop herbs. The cartridge removes for easy cleaning and you simply slot back on and slide over the protective cover.

www.kitchencraft.co.uk

OXO

PEUGEOT PEUGEOT FFus Fu using ng n gd de esi sig ign and d prra racti cti t ca cality tyy, Pep’s P ccle cl le lever er 2 er 2--in-in-1 n-1 mills deliliver ver a pep pe ep ep pperp and-salt saalt lt cco com combo ombo b – the bo the b bot bottom otttto o tom om half o for pepper, adjustable from coarse to fine like all Peugeot pepper mills, and the top half for salt. On offer are four bright colours in grey, red, yellow and green with a gloss finish.

Boasting stainless steel blades and a soft non-slip grip to keep hands away from the blades, the OXO Herb Mincer uses the front end as a scraper to gather herbs into a pile for efficient mincing. The mincer opens partially to wipe the blades free of collected herbs and separates completely into two pieces for easy cleaning.

It is dishwasher-safe.

www.oxo.co.uk

www.peugeot.com

KITCHEN

BY THOMAS A new brand from Thomas, kitchen prep collection K Kitchen By Thomas centres around cooking with a focus f on prep and enjoyment and delivers mixed material m pieces like this porcelainw two different pestles – one to Pestle & Mortar with c soft things llike pepper and herbs and one for crush h harder things like spices and nuts.

www.rosenthal.de

JOSEPH JOSEPH This 4-in-1 tenderising and flavouring tool Tenderiser delivers four functions in one, p perfect for preparing a tender and d li i i delicious piece of meat. It features two different surfaces for eithe either tenderising or flattening meat, a pestle end for gri grinding spices for rubs, and a citrus reamer for making ma marinades. Dishwasher-safe.

www.josephjoseph.com

RIG-TIG BY STELTON Designed to grind your spices and crush your herbs Crush-It Mortar is made from stoneware and rubber and rendered in pure white and warm grey. It boasts a generous capacity so you can even make your own pesto in it and delivers a rough inside to provide traction for herbs and spices. The silicon lid fits the base of the mortar to prevent it from slipping while in use.

www.rig-tig.com

What the retailer says… “Singaporeans are generally becoming more and more health conscious. At ToTT, products such as slow juicers, high-speed nutrient blenders and air fryers are well received.” Grace Tan, director, (TOTT) Tools of the Trade, Singapore 14 KITCHENWARE INTERNATIONAL

Preserving nutrients Specific types of cookware can help consumers get the most health out of their foods

FISSLER

Spice grinder LOOK TOUCH TASTE TM

Fissler’s latest vitacontrol digital is the digital cooking assistant for the vitavit pressure cookers.

Bluetooth and the Fissler Cooking App make cooking in the pressure cooker easier. From May, the enhanced version of vitacontrol digital is available, with further products with clever details and features planned.

www.fissler.com

Coffee grinder BEAN ME UP TM

GIRMI The brand new Girmi Slow Juicer CE85 from the Bialetti Group has been designed to extract juice and pulp from fruit and veg in a more delicate, efficient way, obtaining up to 30 per cent more juice than conventional juicers. Compact, quiet and powerful, it is also practical and easy to clean thanks to its automatic separation of juice and waste and new reverse function.

Coffee press CAN DO PRESS TM

www.bialettigroup.it

LEKUE Steamed cooking c has a number of benefits, say Lekue – the perfect retention of a food’s nutrients and the e preservation of flavours, textures and natural colours colours. Lekue Lekue’s Steam Case Collection includes the Steam Case, which steams veg, fish and meat in its own juices in the microwave, and the Deep Steam Case, ideal for cooking b bulky lk foods foods. The They come with ith remo removable able tra trays, s guaranteeing the perfect draining of liquids.

Tea maker TEA CONTROLTM

www.lekue.com .com/finum.style .com/finu KITCHENWARE INTERNATIONAL 15

Retail Comment

Kitchen corner We ask three international kitchenware retailers to tell us where they source products and what categories are performing ToTT, Singapore “Consumers are looking for precision in cookery” Grace Tan is director of Singapore-based ToTT (Tools of the Trade), the largest kitchenware store in Asia and a one-stop culinary haven with an expansive kitchenware retail space alongside two cooking studios, a bistro, gourmet food section, DIY baking counter and children’s corner. It stocks some 120 brands. www.tott.com Which categories are performing well right now? Multi-functional appliances such as Cuisinart’s Hot & Cold blender, which saves space as homes are getting smaller; experimental appliances such as sous vide machines, probably influenced by cookery programmes; and baking products like Nordicware baking moulds.

What particular cooking trends are you seeing emerge? Consumers are looking for precision when it comes to cooking. They seek perfect results and select appliances that give them accuracy in time and temperature, while simultaneously offering convenience. Meat thermometers, digital cooking thermometers, kitchen timers, infrared thermometers and appliances that allow for precise cooking, such as the SousVide Supreme, are selling really well.

What was the last trade show you attended and what did you discover? The last trade show the ToTT buyers attended was the IFFS (International Furniture Fair Singapore) in March 2015. There was a segment for EU Business Avenues, comprising a number of high-end European brands. There were some stainless steel and ceramic kitchenware products that we were quite keen on.

How do you draw customers into your stores? We offer hands-on and demo cooking classes, seasonal sales and promotions, loyalty memberships and customer reward schemes, plus a cafe, ToTT Bistro, where the menu is revamped every six months. We also have the ToTTtv channel on Youtube to showcase the use of products and we have opened a new store in a central location (Suntec City) to offer our customers greater shopping convenience.

“Cooking healthy products is a consumer concern”

Culinarion, France Eric Holzinger is CEO of EK France, a leading cooperative retail group dedicated to multi-branch activities. It owns Culinarion, a chain of 30 cookware and kitchenware stores located across France. Despite a declining market in the last two years (-4%), Culinarion has increased its market share due to new shop openings. www.culinarion.com Which categories are performing well right now? The category of products for cooking pastry is quite strong in this market and is today involving new customers like kids.

Linked to cooking pastry is also baking.

Cooking outdoor is also a trend with 16 KITCHENWARE INTERNATIONAL

BBQ and Plancha, the latter a cooking tradition originating from the south west of France but which is now widespread throughout the country.

What particular cooking trends are you seeing emerge? Cooking healthy products is a real concern for customers. That’s the reason why we are seeing an increase in sales in

products which allow you to reduce grease consumption or products that retain vitamins like slow juicers.

Inventions – a heat conducted butter knife and a defrost tray that speeds up the defrosting of frozen food.

What was the last trade show you attended and what did you discover? Ambiente in Frankfurt and Chicago Housewares Show were our last two. At Ambiente, we were interested in the new range of products for BBQ launched by Villeroy & Boch – this new line is clearly in the trend we mentioned before with beautiful but simple products in white ceramic. In Chicago, and I have to mention the high level of organisation at this show, we were looking for innovations and we found these courtesy of a small company That’s

How do you draw customers into your stores? In order to make our shops highly attractive, we constantly organise events or promotions for the benefit of our customers. For instance, right now, we are offering a special deal inviting people to bring back their old cookware to the shops and give them the opportunity to buy new items with a specific discount.

This promotion is named 1 kg =5 €. In addition, we also have loyalty schemes as 60 per cent of the turnover is done with customers having a loyalty card.

Cook Shop, Greece Kostas Sarafidis is the manager of Cook Shop, a chain of multibrand kitchenware stores with 55 outlets throughout Greece that is owned by The Sarafidis Group of Companies. www.cookshop.gr Which categories are performing well right now? BBQ appliances and baking accessories are now two segments of great importance in the Greek market. Although both segments featured seasonal variation in the past (BBQ appliances in spring and baking accessories just before Christmas), they are currently yielding very good results throughout the year and we are witnessing particular growth of the baking sector. This is due to a variety of reasons, including confectionery’s strong presence in the media.

Taking into account that confectionery is deemed to be ‘more difficult’ and that a successful result depends to a great extent on cookware and utensils, this specific sector is definitely promising for our stores.

What particular cooking trends are you seeing emerge? Healthy diet constitutes a strongly growing trend of late. Young consumers are increasingly seeking ways that will help them and their families to eat properly and healthily, so products like juices and blenders are popular.

What was the last trade show you attended and what did you discover?

Ambiente was the last trade fair we visited. Ambiente offers the chance to observe the new and dominant trends, to discover new products and gadgets

“BBQ and baking are of great importance in Greece” that our stores may be lacking, to get ideas and examine their implementation in our market, and of course, to meet existing as well as future business partners.

How do you draw customers into your stores? In Cook Shop stores we focus on actions that deliver consumer value for money. We organise cooking courses held by famous and acknowledged chefs and confectioners. Our cooking shows take place in two fully equipped facilities within stores in Athens and Thessaloníki and these get great feedback from consumers. We also have a specially-trained resident chef who visits the stores on specific dates and organises mini courses providing the consumers with advice and tips. Our website also includes a special section enabling consumers to contact the chef and ask for advice. We offer special promotion campaigns that vary from month to month, in order to strengthen consumer interest, and we hold in-store product demonstrations. A recent and very successful campaign was held to promote a smoothie maker product, offering consumers the chance to experience the product, receive a special recipe book and win a 30 per cent discount. We have also expanded our categories – the last few years we have stocked porcelain and bone china Maxwell & Williams tableware in our Cook Shop, with great results. By offering a complementary category, it has helped increase traffic to our stores.

THE BURBS COLLECTION Dine indoors or outdoors with this

NOD TO MID-CENTURY DESIGN. Offering dinnerware sets in carved or decal stoneware in core colors layered with whimsical mix-n-match patterned melamine, color rimmed glassware and flatware sets. All items in the collection are unified by their understated color palette and geometric accents. Offering something new while staying true to our heritage of Danish modern designs.

W W W. DA N S K .C O M

KITCHENWARE INTERNATIONAL 17

Retail

Chicago

Cut above the rest

T

he Chopping Block is Chicago’s largest recreational cooking school and gourmet retail store, and yet so much more to so many people.

From cooking demonstrations for newbies flexing their cooking wings to hands-on cooking classes where good home cooks can advance from their comfort zone, The Chopping Block is out to get everyone in the UK cooking confidently.

And for those who love food with wine, The Chopping Block offers wine classes so that customers can learn about different varietals and how to properly pair food.

The company also plays host to corporate team building events and organises private cooking parties.

No one is left out. Whether it’s learning about the basics in cooking; knowing how to cook for kids and mastering the art of healthy living, to enrolling in an intensive Boot Camp of cooking, The Chopping Block is as flexible and inspiring as it is innovative and forward-thinking.

“Our mission it to ‘Get this Country Cooking’,” says owner and founder of The Chopping Block, Shelley Young.

18 KITCHENWARE INTERNATIONAL

“We are not a store that teaches cooking classes to improve retail sales. We are a school that sells product that supports our customers achieving optimum results in the kitchen as efficiently as possible.”

Celebrity chefs and TV shows revolving around cooking have exploded across the globe over the past decade, and the phenomenon continues to gain momentum. In its wake, it has inspired millions of people around the world into having a go in the kitchen, and a mass of others into enthusiastic home cooks.

As more people embrace cooking and then become more serious about the ingredients and what they eat, it becomes more of a competitive industry by the day. So Shelley knows that she has to keep on her toes to keep The Chopping Block at the forefront of the scene.

“We do a lot of research to keep ahead of the pack,” she says. “We are always looking for new product no matter where we are, including when we travel. The Internet is also a great resource. We don’t do a lot of specific travel for buying, but rather incorporate our research into our personal travel.”

Shelley also makes the point

Fusing cooking classes and private events with a well-curated gourmet retail product mix The Chopping Block in Chicago is a business on a mission to get the US cooking that her business does not have a focus on celebrity chefs as she is more interested in providing her customers with great cooks who know how to pass on their knowledge.

The worldwide boom in cooking, and the subsequent focus on produce and where it comes from has also led to more products and produce being available to the average person, because there is more demand for it.

“We don’t need to carry as many exotic ingredients as we once did because they are more readily available to the public now,” explains Shelley. “For instance you can get Mirin at a nice supermarket these days. And people prefer more handson classes now, rather than watching demonstrations.”

Shelley also differentiates The Chopping Block from the rest of her potential competitors by not being another store with a focus on new

gadgets. “We don’t carry gadgets,” she says with passion. “We carry tools and products that our customers need and truly make a difference in the kitchen. We prefer products with a purpose, so tools instead of gadgets. We carry things that are beautiful as well as functional.”

Such tools include everything from quality cookware, bakeware and knives, to cookbooks, oils, vinegars and speciality salts; from a Robert Welch Chef Knife to an Epicurean cutting board and Rosle Crosswise Peeler.

And every product carried by the store has been tested by the company’s chefs and culinary staff based on quality and functionality.

“The instructors’ hands-on knowledge of each product adds a great dimension to the retail store.

So when someone is looking for a sauté pan, we can talk to them about what they are going to use it for, and how to use it best and care for it to

“We are not a store that teaches cooking classes to improve retail sales. We are a school that sells product that supports our customers achieving optimum results in the kitchen as efficiently as possible.” ensure it lasts a lifetime,” says Shelley.

It’s not just about keeping people cooking that will keep The Chopping Block growing, but also about keeping them inspired and informed, and knowing that they can rely on The Chopping Block to keep them on trend in a time when there is so much saturating the Internet.

“Our cooking classes, private events and retail product mix provide a plethora of new ideas and stories to tell,” says Shelley.

“Whether it’s a new ingredient, class or cooking trend that is happening or that we want to happen, we certainly like the idea of starting our own trends in Chicago.”

Being a trendsetter is something that will always keep customers coming back to The Chopping Block, but Shelley is also very aware that she and her staff need to keep focused on their mission statement, as it is so easy to incorporate many more ideas into a business and for the core to then become diluted.

“Being in a company like ours where there are a million new classes to offer, new products to carry, new culinary trends to explore and business ideas to chase, it is very easy to get sidetracked from what

your core business is,” she says.

“Everybody has ideas for what you should be doing in your business. The challenge is to keep laser focused on your core business.

There have been many times over the years where I have gotten sidetracked chasing a new idea, and I have learned to be very careful with that as you can lose valuable time and money chasing cool ideas that haven’t been well thought out.”

In fact, that is the advice that Shelley gives to anyone who is considering starting a business.

“If I ever start another business, I would never do it without creating a Mission Statement – a vision for the company – and then spend the time, and put in the effort to identify the core values of the company. If I had done that in the beginning, it would have saved me tons of time and money!”

Another crucial facet that continues to help the growth of The Chopping Block is social media, because let’s face it, you only need to look at Facebook, Instagram and blogs these days to see that a lot of people like to post photos of the meals they’ve cooked, the cakes they’ve baked or the food they’re

eating. “Social media is a wonderful way to engage in meaningful communication with our customers and to learn what they are interested in,” says Shelley.

And although many businesses find negative social media commentary disheartening, Shelley loves it. “I actually love the negative feedback,” she says.

“Most of the time you don’t get to hear what your customers are not happy about, and they tend to feel more free when it comes to feedback online. No matter how crazy some of it is, there is usually a thread of truth in it if you are open enough to hear it. If you actually do something about it, it is a golden opportunity. It allows you the chance to offer a response, which helps you to articulate who your target customer is and weed out

others who are not.”

The Chopping Block is not just a business – it’s the foundation of a community that has a healthy approach to living, as its people are continually learning about good food and where it comes from.

“I think the cultural element of the work we are doing is the most rewarding,” says Shelley.

“It is also the most misunderstood and perhaps least appreciated. We have been focused on building a healthy organisation for years now, instead of focusing on growth and revenue.

“We think that meaningful, rewarding and lucrative growth can only happen on top of a solid foundation, and the biggest part of that is a healthy organisation.”

Learn more about The Chopping Block, www.thechoppingblock.com

For information about more unique concept stores and housewares retailers in Chicago and for detailed Chicago housewares retail maps, see www.housewares.org/show/ attend/nonUS.aspx. To learn more about the International Home + Housewares Show and to pre-register for the 2016 Show, taking place March 5-8, 2016, at McCormick Place, Chicago, US, visit www.housewares.org.

KITCHENWARE INTERNATIONAL 19

Feature Coffeeware

Good coffee counts With consumers demanding increased aroma and flavour, making coffee from scratch at home and to a professional standard is popular. This means coffeeware is going back to the future, delivering traditional methods but with innovative new designs

W

ith increasing numbers of coffee purists and the rise of traditional brewing methods comes an increase in sales of traditional coffee-making equipment like the Cafetiere (aka French press) and coffee grinder, delivering maximum flavour and aroma and a considered approach.

“In France, consumers are used to Nespresso machines and/or filter coffee machines, but we are seeing new coffee shops opening in Paris offering ‘slow coffee’. This movement seems to be making its first steps in France, though we are not selling any slow coffee products in our cookshops… yet,” says Eric Holzinger, CEO of EK France, which owns French kitchen retailer Culinarion.

Café culture brand La Cafetiere has conducted extensive market research worldwide into trends for making the perfect cup of coffee and is seeing a, “real focus on traditional brewing methods that are suitable for making that perfect cuppa at home”, says Katrina Lawton, marketing manager for Creative Tops, which owns the coffee brand.

“With this in mind, we are developing products for the beginner coffee drinker, and for the connoisseur, both of whom appreciate carefully considered products, as well as to meet demand for traditional brewing method trends,” says Katrina.

Design brand Kinto has responded to demand for traditional brewing methods with its recently launched Japanese-style Slow Coffee Series. Presenting a more organic and relaxed way of living, this collection offers products designed to deliver the pour-over Japanese way of preparing coffee, where the coffee is brewed in a stainless steel filter, then dripped into a gently formed coffee carafe.

Cold Brew is another traditional

Alessi

brewing process seeing traction.

Currently all the rage in the US – in New York, Starbucks offers consumers a Cold Brew option – the Cold Brew process is known for delivering smooth, low-acid coffee. Since the grounds never come into contact with hot water, the result is a less acidic, less bitter flavour. Steeping the grounds in cold water instead releases only the most aromatic flavours and the concentrate created from the Cold Brew process stays fresh longer than regular coffee.

Simplifying the cold brew process at home, OXO has launched the Cold Brew Coffee Maker. Its patented Rainmaker ensures water is distributed evenly over coffee grounds, while the Brew Release Switch allows you to stop and start the draining process. It also comes with a removable stainless steel ultrafine mesh filter for easy cleaning. All consumers do is add coffee grounds and water – once you have the concentrate, add ice and water for iced coffee or hot water/milk for hot.

Back to basics Such demand for traditional brewing methods, as well as the desire to create professional-grade coffee at home, is also seeing increased sales of coffee presses and grinders and barista-style jugs and cups.

“For the age groups 25-30 onwards, we are seeing significant changes in how consumers make and drink coffee. It needs to be ‘good coffee’ with a fresh ground the starting point,” says marketing controller for Kitchen Craft, Claire Budgen, pointing out that Kitchen Craft has introduced a new coffee grinder into its range.

Brands are therefore delivering such products, albeit with more innovation and better design, making it easier for consumers to enjoy properly made coffee at home.

Designed by Jasper Morrison, Marne – coffee in Japanese – is a coffee filter reduced to its essential parts. Absent of any metal frame, the cylindrical body Is made entirely of glass emphasiSing its clean lines and minimalist structure. Morrison has played with the theme of coffee, decorating the glass with small pictograms of coffee Beans silk-screen printed in an iridescent shade.

According to Morrison, the coffee beans decoration offers the “necessary atmosphere for drinking a good cup of coffee and a more friendly Cafetiere”. The cylindrical body is made of heatresistant, thermal shock-resistant glass and boasts a large handle.

20 KITCHENWARE INTERNATIONAL

www.alessi.com

OXO Good Grips Coffee purists rejoice! The OXO Good Grips French Press is a fuss-free way of making real coffee at home. Sturdy stainless steel housing contains a traditional glass carafe to ensure a pure and stylish serving experience, while soft comfortable nonslip grips on the handle and the top of the filter plunger make brewing and pouring easy. It also has a removable silicone ladle – a Groundskeeper, which once finished, removes the brewed grounds in one simple step so you just rinse and dry. It also offers convenient measurement markings on the glass carafe.

Kinto

www.oxo.com

www.slowcoffeestyle.com/en

Finum has launched Bean Me Up, a new-generation coffee grinder that is three to five times faster than the average one due to its highly efficient ceramic mechanism, delivering the optimum aroma and real flavour of whole coffee beans.

OXO say coffee purists have long preferred the French press over conventional brewing devices but that the enjoyment inevitably fades after the last sip when it’s time to clean up. It has therefore launched the OXO Good Grips French Press with Groundskeeper, which takes the labour out of the love with an innovative ladle that catches brewed coffee grounds and removes them in one easy step.

Design is also key as the kitchen increasingly becomes a focal point in the house. La Cafetiere has recently launched a strikingly modern French press, Monaco, which boasts an enamel frame that comes in stylish retro shades of blue, pistachio and cream, as well as red, and looks stunning alongside the glass carafe and stainless steel plunger.

Bialetti has given its coffeeware a colourful makeover. Aimed at

millenials, it has given its legendary Fiammetta cafetiere all-new design handles and knobs featuring bright colours like red, green, pink and blue.

In addition to retro shades, copper accents on stainless steel cafetieres are trending, offering a sophisticated yet minimalist option, while tapping into the current copper trend.

“Copper is a big trend for autumn/winter this year and we will be looking at the use of different materials and how they are combined within products,” explains La Cafetiere’s Katrina Lawton.

Copper can be seen on Kitchen Craft’s new Le’Xpress Copper Effect Espresso Maker, a striking new stainless steel copper effect espresso maker with flip top lid, as well as on Dualit’s new Classic Kettle, which sports sophisticated copper accents.

Technology strikes Innovation seems to be currently reigning supreme in the coffee field, with brands delivering all manner of innovative coffee products, from technology that keeps coffee hotter or colder for longer, to technology that offers a longer lifespan.

Celebrating the Slow Movement, Japanese brand Kinto launched its series Slow Coffee Style, delivering the pour-over Japanese method of preparing coffee. The coffee is brewed in a stainless steel filter, then dripped into a gently formed carafe, either 300ml or 600ml. The stainless steel filter leaves coffee oil delivering a rich aroma, while the disposable cotton paper filters make a round and clear taste. Other pieces include a stainless steel kettle, porcelain brewer, plus porcelain mugs and coffee servers.

I Grunverg has launched Café Ole Cafetiere, which is not just king-sized, holding 12 cups (most hold 8) but has a mirror-finished double wall insulation, keeping coffee hotter.

Creators of the award-winning Quick Pop Maker, Zoku, launched its Iced Coffee Maker earlier this year. A genius product that turns piping hot coffee or tea into a chilled beverage, it works with any brewing method to deliver single portions without watering down the drink.

Dualit has launched a multi-patented kettle with a groundbreaking replaceable element leading to a longer lifespan and reduced boiling noise. And Bialetti has unveiled the world’s first and only floating coffeemaker, a heart-shaped piece that is matched by cutting-edge technology, delivering a new patented brewing system that guarantees optimum coffee extraction.

Finally, lots of brands are getting in on the coffee capsule market. With consumer demand high for single origin coffee that can be traced to a particular region, Dualit – the brand that revolutionised the coffee

capsule market – has launched single origin patented coffee capsules Origins Café Grand Crus, which uses the highest quality beans carefully selected and harvested from the finest coffee-producing regions. Benefiting from distinctive regional characteristics, diverse tasting profiles similar to wine and a strength rating, the new collection features two capsules from different locations in India and Indonesia.

And several brands have debuted clever capsule holders. “We are seeing growth in capsule dispensers to support the rise of the coffee machine,” says Claire, Kitchen Craft.

Bialetti’s new Tower Capsule Holder boasts six columns for each of the six Bialetti blends, with enough space for 36 capsules and a rotatable base.

Meanwhile, Nambe recently picked up the prestigious Red Dot Award 2015 for its Ridge Coffee Pod Carousel. A stainless steel carousel inspired by the forms of coral reefs, it boasts a rotational acacia wood base, turns at the touch of a fingertip and holds 25 coffee pods or K-cups.

What the retailer says… “The coffee segment in Greece is much more dynamic than the tea segment as coffee here is associated with pleasure and company. The top positions in the market belong to Greek coffee (50%), instant coffee (25%), filter coffee (15%) and espresso (10%). Espresso has entered the market in a dynamic way in the last few years, with lots of companies selling coffee capsules and espresso machines at very low prices.”Kostas Sarafidis, manager, Cook Shop, a chain of kitchenware stores across Greece KITCHENWARE INTERNATIONAL 21

Feature Coffeeware

Finum Bean Me Up is a brand new product from flavour specialists Finum aimed at delivering the very best aromas and flavours of freshly ground coffee.

Due to its highly efficient ceramic mechanism, it grinds three to five times faster than average grinders and because the ceramic material is natural, there is no risk of any metal taste. It offers an adjustable coarseness of grinding and can be easily dismantled for cleaning. It has an elegant outer design and comes in various colours. It holds 1 ounce of coffee beans.

www.finum.com

Ilsa Nambe Designed by Karim Rashid, the Bulbo Coffee Canister is made of porcelain and acacia wood with a stainless steel alloy scoop. Nambe Gourmet also delivers other high-design coffee pieces, including a Flight Thermal Carafe, Bulbo Coffee Press, Bulbo Kettle and the Chirp Kettle.

www.nambe.com

Ilsa is specialised in producing stainless steel and non-stick coated Cappuccino Jugs that deliver a more intense flavour. The lower adhesion the milk encounters against the inner wall of the jug means more oxygen in the cream, making it thicker, while prep time is reduced and cleaning easier. For its 60th anniversary, Ilsa has launched the Anniversario series, a line of professional coffee hollowware. The shape of the mouth permits a precise flow, the slant of the handle allows easy wrist movement for whisking, and the flaring of the upper rim allows gradual pouring.

www.ilsa-italy.it

Bialetti Bialetti has given several of its product lines a colourful makeover. Its Moka Induction, which has all the dependability and style of a traditional cafetiere but is compatible with all cooking hobs, is now available in two new colours, white and red; while its Fiammetta now boasts a new handle and knob design featuring four bright shades. Also new is a mini Moka; Mokina has all the characteristics that make the Moka so iconic but is condensed, producing a 40ml coffee. Finally, Bialetti has launched Cuore, the world’s only floating coffee maker. Featuring a new patented brewing system, this heart-shaped espresso machine has a 20-bar supply pump.

www.bialettigroup.com

WMF Tasteful, modern and elegant, the new French coffee press from the WMF Coffee Time collection makes brewing coffee even easier. It features a double-walled body made of heat-resistant glass and a rod attached to the black plastic lid holding a sieve with a honeycomb structure. The strength of coffee can be adjusted to suit individual tastes.

www.wmf.com

Duralex La Cafetiere One of the UK’s leading tableware and kitchenware brands Creative Tops owns La Cafetiere, a café culture brand that is a one-stop-shop for coffee lovers, whether beginners or connoisseurs, and as such boasts an array of coffee products, from cafetieres and manual coffee grinders, to milk frothers, mugs and other accessories.

They offer a huge collection of cafetieres to suit all, from authentic French presses to contemporary stovetop Espresso pots. In addition to its classic chrome cafetiere, the brand offers Monaco, a striking 8-cup cafetiere with simple, crisp lines creating a geometric design with an enamel frame that comes in various on-trend shades, including pistachio, retro blue, red, black and cream.

This spring, the brand launched a stunning range of coffee essentials including stoneware embossed ceramic espresso, latte and cappacino coffee cups in three core colourways – cream, red and black. For autumn/winter the brand has a number of exciting new product and technology launches, including a focus on copper.

www.creative-tops.com

Specialists in tempered glass, French brand Duralex has recently launched two new products in the hot drinks range. The 35cl mug is ideal for lattes or hot chocolates, while the Caprice 9cl cup is perfect for espressos. Both come with matching saucers and the 22cl size will soon be available. With the trend for fluted shapes and understated curved lines, these two transparent cups allow consumers to appreciate the sight of their drinks before tasting.

www.duralex.com

Stelton Stelton is known for its iconic and award-winning EM 77 vacuumn jug, which remains one of the brand’s bestselling designs and is produced twice a year in the season’s fashionable Scandinavian colours (this season, colours are inspired by Danish nature). It has also recently launched the Emma coffee vacuum jug, which brews traditional filter coffee. Its stainless steel body has a high-gloss finish and beechwood handle. It has a practical easy-click lid that makes it simple to use with one hand. There is also the Emma thermo milk jug, a double-walled porcelain jug that keeps milk warm while the jug stays cool on the outside.

www.stelton.com

Kitchen Craft

I Grunverg Café Stal Swirl (pictured) is I Grunverg’s sexy new trendsetting cafetiere, boasting a unique swirl design that is stylish and modern. It has a stainless steel frame and filter and a heat-resistant glass beaker that is dishwasher-safe. It comes in both 3-cup and 8-cup sizes. Meanwhile, its Café Ole Cafetiere is a 12-cup straight-sided cafetiere with a mirrorfinished double wall insulation and looks like a design piece.

sales@grunverg.co.uk

New from Kitchen Craft is the re-branding of its Le’Xpress Collection with redesigned packaging reflecting a more organic, natural feel to coffee products. Enter the stunning Le’Xpress Copper Effect Espresso Maker. Oozing contemporary sophistication, it features a sleek stainless steel cylindrical body with copper effect, contemporary handle and flip top lid.

Practically, it offers a durable silicone gasket and generous 10-cup capacity. Also new this season are frothers, latte and espresso serving sets, espresso makers, cafetieres and a ‘love coffee’ sign, epitomising Kitchen Craft’s view on how importantly consumers see their coffee.

www.kitchencraft.co.uk TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL 23

Guide Cookware

from Sambonet to Kitchen

Cooking revolution

From digital enhancements to health-promoting properties, we look at what consumers are demanding from their cookware today and what manufacturers are delivering

T

he kitchen of the future will become high-tech in addition to being sustainable and healthy.

This was the message from Italian lifestyle show Homi in January.

And certainly, high functionality, convenience, health-promoting, sustainable and good design are key concerns of consumers today and, in particular, younger consumers who want to cook professionalstandard food from scratch that is healthy, tasty and quick.

“In general, the market for cookware is stagnating but there is strong performance and growth in the premium segment driven by an increasing number of consumers focused on cooking professionally at home and demanding high quality, high-performance professional cheflike pieces,” says managing director of Fissler, Markus H. Kepka.

Health and design matter In addition to the cooking methods of grilling and steaming that are currently taking the cookware market by storm (see page 12), the new generation of ceramiccoated cookware is a technological innovation that continues to surge – it has become one of the fastest growing segments in the non-stick category – and develop. Not only do ceramic coatings offer a scratchresistant surface, they look beautiful and eliminate the need for oil or fat, 24 KITCHENWARE INTERNATIONAL

delivering a healthier way to cook.

“Products that help consumers to cook more healthily, such as non-stick ceramic pans and pressure cookers are more requested than ever today,” says Kostas Sarafidis, manager of Cook Shop, a chain of kitchenware stores across Greece.

GreenPan was one of the first brands to deliver ceramic non-stick cookware and was recently listed as one of the top 25 housewares products by leading US industry magazine HomeWorld Business, describing the brand as, “having helped to change the face of the US retail cookware market with its ceramic non-stick coating marketed as a natural, effective alternative to long-standing polymer non-sticks”.

“Half of US consumers now opt for ceramic non-stick cookware and we’re confident that we’ll reach a similar situation in the UK given time,” says GreenPan UK’s trade sector manager, Darren Murley, highlighting how its Thermolon ceramic non-stick coatings can withstand high heat and so are great for methods like searing.

The award-winning cast aluminium pans from Sophie Conran for Portmeirion feature an innovative non-stick ceramic coating with highly effective nonstick properties, ideal for low-fat cooking techniques; while Salter’s aluminium bodied Click, Cook and Serve range boasts a ceramic

coated interior similarly allowing for cooking with little or no oil.

The latest technological feat in this area, however, is the combination of stainless steel with a non-stick ceramic coating.

“We are increasingly seeing stainless steel cooking vessels and casserole dishes in other materials equipped with non-stick surfaces,” stated the Ambiente 2015 trend report.

Ballarini has seen its range of aluminium pots and pans with non-stick coatings becoming so popular that it has expanded them to include the new Pisa series; think stainless steel incorporating the competency of a non-stick coating.

Frieling, meanwhile, has introduced its Black Cube Stainless Non-stick product, a high-performance fry pan with an exclusive textured surface that similarly combines stainless steel with a non-stick coating. This innovative construction provides the traditional longevity and browning capabilities of a stainless steel pan and the low-fat cooking options of a non-stick surface.

Cookware with a stone finish is another innovation making its presence felt in the non-stick coating cookware category.

Ballarini launched three product lines with a stone finish this year, including the Bari series, a robust black matte exterior and stone interior; while Italian brand Pensofal delivered a collection of pots

with a patented non-stick lining in stone, reinforced with hard natural minerals for high-heat, hypoallergenic cooking.

Finally, Bialetti has launched its Donatello Petravera collection of non-stick pans – the pan is reinforced with stone particles to increase its resistance and heighten its anti-scratch properties; and Aeternum has debuted its revolutionary particle-based internal coating Madame Terracotta, delivering not just a stunning effect and heightened resistance to use but also eliminating the need for oil.

Rise of digital cooking Consumers, intrigued by the idea of saving time and money without sacrificing convenience, are becoming more interested in smart home appliances.

“Mintel’s research finds that interest is high since 59 per cent of US consumers would consider using an app or website to control their home,” says Consumer Goods Technology, which discusses trends identified by Mintel.

“The world of synced devices, including smart home appliances, will mainstream as trusted retailers and manufacturers satisfy consumer appetite for collecting data and controlling devices.”

Despite being 170 years old, German brand Fissler has embraced the digital transformation at the

5 minutes with… Fissler With the innovative heritage cookware brand celebrating its 170-year anniversary, we talk with managing director Markus H. Kepka.

How would you define Fissler? We are experts in cookware, positioned in the premium end of the category.

The Cookware Company

on the pan communicates in real time with the smartphone and signals when the temperature has to be adjusted or the steam released.

Cast iron comeback

Ballarini

heart of cooking. “Digital is a part of our lives today – it is not a trend and Fissler as an innovator in the cookware industry must see how we can transfer this digital technology on to old-fashioned products like pots and pans,” says Markus of Fissler, pointing to its recently-launched vitacontrol digital, the digital cooking assistant for the vitavit pressure cookers.

Bluetooth and the associated Fissler Cooking App make cooking in the pressure cooker easier than ever. From May, the enhanced version of vitacontrol digital is available, with further products with clever details and features planned.

Kuhn Rikon has also turned to digitilisation with its new and patented Duromatic Comfort Pressure Cooker. The cookware is connected via Bluetooth using a specially developed free app – you select all ingredients, their sizes and quantity on the app and the corresponding cooking times are calculated automatically. The sensor

Despite digital advancements, there is simultaneously demand for tradition with a thirst for retro materials and styles, driven by nostalgia and a desire for better health and sustainability.

While stainless steel has always been a cookware mainstay and has numerous benefits, other materials have resurfaced – traditional materials like stoneware, terracotta and porcelain especially, as non-stick and aesthetically-pleasing coatings, have made a comeback.

The French have always appreciated cooking in cast iron, with French brands like Le Creuset, Staub, Chasseur 1924 and Emile Henry producing cast iron cookware for decades. Such products are becoming increasingly popular in international markets, too, and other cookware brands are getting in on the cast iron action, either launching, re-launching or repositioning cast iron collections.

“There appears to be a flood of materials like stoneware and porcelain in the market, all with very similar attributes, so at Kitchen Craft we have remained focused on the popularity of cast iron cookware and re-launched our Master Class cast iron cookware with new features, such as self-basting lids and new cost prices to make this more affordable to the mass market,” says

Kitchen Craft’s marketing controller, Claire Budgen, highlighting the product’s success. “It lasts ages – we offer a 15-year guarantee – and it looks great and has additional user benefits and a great price.”

German cookware manufacturer Berndes has this year widened its premium product line Professional to include a range of cast iron cookware; British kitchenware brand Typhoon Housewares has launched an oven-to-tableware range Skandi, which combines dark cast iron with white porcelain; and from Sambonet to Kitchen has this year extended its launched-last-year Terra.Cotta line to include a capsule cast iron range.

“In response to demand for more traditional ways of cooking, we have added other materials to our stainless steel offerings, the latter having historically been the protagonist of our productions,” says head of retail, Caterina Bernabino.

Recognising too that cast iron delivers a certain message and creates an emotional connection with consumers, Fissler has introduced cast iron and will be further launching a new Cook ‘N Serve collection of five cast iron pieces later this year.

The 170-year-old German brand says it is seeing consumers demanding more traditional, therefore natural, materials and that they are more willing then ever to try cast iron or pans with ceramic coatings or oven porcelain as they want to use more sustainable, goodlooking materials.

What the retailer says… “Japanese consumers love the Dansk cookware products because of their Scandinavian design. In cookware, consumers in Japan appreciate the unique shapes and forms of the welldesigned and unique Dansk cookware designs.” Hideki Fujino, Dansk section manager and buyer, Sato-Shoji Corporation, Japan, one of Dansk’s largest/oldest retailers

How international is the brand? Fissler is very international distributing to 80 countries and with six subsidiaries in different countries, including Japan and China. Our export share of total revenue is at 75 per cent and our biggest market is Korea, followed by China and Germany. Our growth rate worldwide is between 8-12 per cent year-on-year.

Do you change products for the Asia region? Yes, we take regular products like our stainless steel pot and change elements – like the base or handle or lid – so they fit the demands of the market. We have people in these subsidiaries analysing country-specific demands and then making adjustments. So, for example, Koreans and Chinese mainly cook rice in their pressure cookers, so we added a higher pressure and three levels instead of two.

How is the cookware market performing? In general, I would say it is more or less stagnating, with the mid-class segment suffering.

However, with increasing numbers of consumers focused on cooking professionally, there is definite growth in the premium segment.

What demands are you seeing from consumers today? They are looking for a mix and match offering – they no longer want to buy a 5-piece or 10-piece set because they don’t need it and it just takes up space. We are also finding consumers are more open to cooking with new materials and are looking for more natural materials and more sustainable products like cast iron, ceramic coatings and porcelain.

What’s next for Fissler? We are always innovating and recently introduced digital cooking via our pressure cooker with vitacontrol digital, allowing consumers to manage their cooking remotely. We are developing the Cook ‘N Serve collection which will feature just five oven-to-table pieces in cast iron and will launch later this year or early next year.

KITCHENWARE INTERNATIONAL 25

What the retailers say…

Guide Cookware

Cookware confidential We ask three brands what consumers want from their cookware today Caterina Bernabino head of international retail, Sambonet

Sambonet

On consumer cookware demands “When choosing cookware, the modern consumer looks for the balance between functionality, performance and price.

There are other factors that can affect their choice – linked to the brand’s reputation, style or design – but we find these are only taken into consideration when the prices are similar.”

On multi-functional cookware “Versatility and multi-functionality are key for many companies in this sector as well as the lever by which some brands have emerged into the market. Ideas, new concepts of use, multi-purpose, etc. will always be well received, especially if supported by quality, style and functionality.”

On new materials “With growing interest in healthy eating and the rise of the slow food movement, we launched Terra.Cotto in 2013, unveiling an entire collection of terracotta casseroles. While innovative in its design and colour, this collection, created by

Portmeirion Group Phil Atherton sales and marketing director, Portmeirion Group On the cookware segment “Cookware remains one of our best performing categories and we will be investing in the development of new products in the year ahead.”

On multi-functional cookware “We are seeing somewhat of a dichotomy here. There’s a strong market for multi-functional pieces, demonstrated by the success of our Botanic Garden and Sophie Conran for Portmeririon ceramic cookware ranges. However, there’s also demand for specific pieces, such as tagines and soufflé dishes. Whilst we ensure all our cookware products have the latest innovations, we also offer cookware functionality in other lines – when one of our Sophie Conran for Portmeirion candles is fully burnt, the pot can be used as a ramekin.”

On the brand’s bestsellers “Our classic Botanic Garden and contemporary Sophie Conran for Portmeirion cookware collections continue to perform exceptionally well with the ceramic-coated cast aluminium cookware range being a multi-award winner.”

26 KITCHENWARE INTERNATIONAL

Italian designer Stefania Vasques, focused on reintroducing the material of terracotta and its cooking philosophy to the market in response to the desire by consumers to return to the good and slow way of eating. These casseroles have revealed the many benefits of cooking in terracotta to the world – the material has the capacity to allow gradual heat distribution in order to bring out the flavour of the dishes, while using the right amount of seasoning. This year we have added a cast iron capsule collection.”

On the brand’s bestsellers “The Kikka collection has been the leader in the stainless steel cookware market for years because of its traditional and rounded forms, while Menù has been particularly appreciated in the English market due to its more contemporary design. Certainly the Terra.Cotto line, both in terms of sales and media marketing, has achieved particularly interesting results in such a short time because of the union between its ‘healthy’ essence and the youthful and innovated design that sets it apart.”

Denby Hayley Baddiley senior brand manager, Denby On the cookware segment “Denby cookware is performing well. Denby is a trusted brand with consumers who desire premium cookware that performs well, looks good and is designed to complement our established tableware ranges. As a nation, the UK is entertaining at home far more frequently and with the growth in cookery programmes in addition to online recipes and food blogs, our desire for quality cookware with both style and function will continue to grow.”

On multi-functional cookware “All of our cookware is versatile and designed to go from the oven to the table, both important to consumers. It cuts down on work in the kitchen and on washing up. It means the pieces you buy work harder and can also save on space.”

On the brand’s bestsellers “The small and large oblong dishes are our biggest selling cookware pieces and appear in almost all our ranges – this is about the versatility of these items and the fact they can easily go from oven to table. Our bestselling complete cookware range is our Cherry Cook and Dine range.”

“Cooking healthy products is a real focus for consumers right now and because of this we are seeing an increase in sales of cookware products like grills or ceramiccoated pans that allow consumers to reduce their grease consumption and oil use as well as products like slow juicing machine that retain the vitamins.”

Eric Holzinger, director of French kitchenware retailer Culinarion.

“Traditionally, non-stick frying pans are bestsellers but the ceramic non-stick category is really fastgrowing for us here in Greece.”

Kostas Sarafidis, manager of Cook Shop, a chain of kitchenware retailers throughout Greece “Multi-functionality in cookware is key in Singapore. Homes are getting smaller and consumers want to know they are getting value for money, so cookware-cumserveware is successful.

Also, kitchens are now more social spaces, meaning aesthetics in the kitchen is important.

Stainless steel, cast iron and terracotta are most popular due to their functionality, practicality, durability and design. Our bestsellers in cookware include Lacor and Safico pans and pots and Jamie Oliver’s range.” Grace Tan, director, Tools of the Trade (ToTT), Singapore

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PIONEER OF TEMPERED GLASS SINCE 1945 PIONNIER DU VERRE TREMPÉ DEPUIS 1945

www.duralex.com

Guide Cookware

VILLEROY & BOCH In response to the strength of cookery as a lifestyle choice, Villeroy & Boch launched its professional porcelain cookware collection Cooking Elements for the home. It boasts a range of 28 pieces that serve multiple functions – cook, serve and store – for supreme versatility, helped along by additions like silicone lids and heat insulation mats. The shallow dishes can also be used as lids, stands or drip trays. The range can be frozen down to -60°c and is heat resistant up to 260°c. A highlight is the portion-based sizing system with dishes available for one, two, four or six portions.

www.villeroy-boch.com

SALTER With the Salter Innovate Click, Cook and Serve W cookware range, creating meals is effortless.

The detachable, soft-touch handle makes moving the cookware from the hob to the oven to the table and even to the freezer simple. The ceramic-coated interior allows ffor cooking with little or no oil, making meals healthier, whilst the forged aluminium body means the cookware is engineered to last.

www.upgs.com sales@upgs.com

SAMBONET Last year the from Sambonet to Kitchen launched the Terra.Cotta collection. “This is a line about rediscovering the roots of healthy living through the wholesome cooking of a time gone by,” says head of international retail, Caterina Bernabino. “The material has a capacity to allow gradual heat distribution bringing out the flavours, while using the correct seasonings.” This year, in line with the same ‘healthy kitchen’ philosophy, a cast iron capsule collection has launched. “The optimal thermal conductivity of glazed cast iron casseroles and plates slowly diffuse heat which gets evenly distributed, staying warmer longer and encouraging a healthy cooking style that brings out the flavour,” says Caterina. There are oval and round casseroles of different sizes, including a cocotte.

www.sambonet.com

THE FRENCH CHEFS Lenox has teamed up with three French but US-based award-winning chefs to create a new brand aimed at the culinary connoisseur and delivering a new line of cookware, bakeware and dinnerware. The cookware is created with 5-ply stainless steel and is available as a 10-piece set. “The chefs were heavily involved in the development of the cookware and demanded restaurant quality cookware, so this line was designed for high performance and controlled distribution of heat,” says Kevin O’Malley, Lenox. Packaging includes recipe inspiration.

www.lenox.com

LE CREUSET New from French cast iron brand Le Creuset is the Toughened Non-Stick 20cm Saute Pan. Truly versatile and ideal for everyday cooking, it features a wide base and straight sides, ideal for sautéing of potatoes and veg. The easy-to-clean non-stick interior and exterior surfaces and special hardened body create a durable and long-lasting pan that can be used on any heat source, in the oven or under the grill. Le Creuset has also launched its colour of the year, a retro-inspired Cool Mint (pictured).

www.lecreuset.co.uk 28 KITCHENWARE INTERNATIONAL

DANSK Danish brand Dansk designed the Kobenstyle cookware back in 1956 and today, it is more popular than ever. The cookware is recognisable for its clean, contemporary design and its 3-point welded handles and inventive lids that double as trivets and stack. Dansk recently updated its Kobenstyle range, changing its Butter Warmer by adding a lid, which can be used as a stand, and unveiling its new three-quart Kobenstyle pot with the handle on the side centred for easier use.

DURALEX

www.lenox.com

BIALETTI Bialetti’s journey in the world of non-stick pans continues with the latest version of Donatello Petravera. Now with an even more effective non-stick surface, the pan is reinforced with stone particles to increase its resistance and heighten its anti-scratch properties. It includes everything from a milk pan to lasagne tray to casseroles.

Renowned for the pioneering of tempered glass technology, French brand Duralex produces tableware and ovenware in tempered glass, delivering virtually unbreakable glass with high resistance to impacts and thermal shocks. This gives all its glassware durability and means they can move from freezer to microwave. It has recently launched a new category, Ovenchef. Made from reinforced tempered glass, the ovenware range, which includes an assortment of oval and rectangular dishes, is resistant to a thermal shock of 200°c and can withstand temperatures between -20°c and 300°c.

www.bialettigroup.com

www.duralex.com

CRISTEL In the premium category of the cookware segment, Cristel is known for its top-end pots and pans with removeablehandles. Its Mutine Collection offers a minimalist and practical design with a shiny finish and thick heat diffusing base and comes with both fixed and removable handle versions. The removeable handles are made from heat-resistant thermodure resin and come in a range of colours. New is the Stainless Steel Roaster, a 3-ply rectangular roaster with an adjustable roasting rack.

www.cristel.com

SOPHIE CONRAN FOR PORTMEIRION The cast aluminium cookware collection, an extension of the award-winning porcelain range, boasts a selection of casseroles, saucepans and frying pans. The range, which comes in black and white, reflects the organic contours of the core ceramics range and features the same tactile, ribbed texture. It offers a non-stick ceramic coating and a heavy gauge base for an even spread of heat. Lightweight, it has all the benefits of cast iron. The brand also boasts porcelain bakeware, with the latest additions, a small rectangular roasting dish and mini oval dishes.

www.portmeiriongroup.com KITCHENWARE INTERNATIONAL 29

Guide Cookware

ALESSI KITCHEN CRAFT The latest addition to the newly revitalised cast iron cookware range, now under the Master Class brand, is a shallow casserole/braising pan. With new-style packaging and self-basting lids added to all casseroles, the impermeable scratch-resistant vitreous enamel interior and exterior colour choice of classic red or black remains as consistent hallmarks of a successful collection.

Designed by Richard Sapper and dedicated to enthusiasts of intelligent and creative cooking, La Cintura di Orione is produced in special dual lamina, consisting of an extra thick copper exterior and 18/10 stainless steel interior, offering a professional performance. The copper aids with effective heat distribution.

www.alessi.com

www.kitchencraft.co.uk

BergHOFF

DENBY Denby offers premium cookware that performs well and is designed to complement its established tableware ranges and go from oven/hob to table. Its Cook and Dine range boasts a complete collection of cast iron oven-to-tableware in various colourways – pieces include baking dishes, roasters, casseroles and griddle pans. They offer a 10 year guarantee on most items within Cookshop and offer stainless steel pans and Hard Anodised Pans for the professional cook.

www.denby.co.uk

BergHOFF is set to launch its stunning new range of contemporary cookware.

The beautifully designed collection consists of four distinctive styles, which suit a plethora of culinary techniques. And to complement its versatility and the mix and match principle the Ron-line is designed as one stylistic unity: BergHOFF’s in-house designer Pieter Roex has lovingly created each piece using complementary colours and contrasting materials. The collection includes cast iron oven-to-tableware, 5-ply cookware, a stainless steel cookware set and a range of black steel knives featuring a titanium and non-stick coating with either contrasting ash wood handles or matching black handles. The cast iron oven-totableware serves as the foundation to the range, making it easy to explore even more adventurous cooking techniques. Completely in line with its philosophy, the traditional cast iron cookware can be turned into a tagine or steam cooker with the addition of just a couple of beautifully assorted extras.

www.berghoffworldwide.com

OXO

Designer, developer and manufacturer of cookware products The Cookware Company has collaborated with American housewares brand OXO to develop a series of new cookware collections for the UK markets. The new Non-Stick and Stainless Steel Pro Collection has been made to last and offers innovative features like stay-cool handles, smart shapes and drip-free edges. The range features a black ceramic exterior with a three-layer PFOA-free non-stick coating and a patented Magneto base, suitable for all hob types and offering superior heat distribution. “This new licence agreement is a significant development for the brand and sees OXO enter the cookware market with three equally strong ranges,” says UK sales manager at OXO, David Titerington.

www.oxouk.com; ukorders@cookware-co.com

Award-Winning ceramic coated cookware Casseroles, saucepans and frying pans available in black or white Suitable for all stove tops, including induction Ultra non-stick ceramic coating inside and out Oven safe Quick and even heat distribution Exceptionally strong yet incredibly light Easy-view toughened glass lids Dishwasher safe PTFE and PFOA free

For further information please contact Portmeirion Group UK Ltd. London Road, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 7QQ England. Tel: +44(0)1782 744721 Portmeirion Group USA Inc. 105 Progress Lane, Waterbury, CT 06705-3830 USA. Tel +1 (203) 729-8255 Portmeirion Canada Inc. 20 Voyager Court South, Toronto, Ontario, M9W 5M7 Canada. Tel: +1 (416) 675 3755 www.portmeiriongroup.com Portmeirion is a registered trademark of Portmeirion Group