TableWare

from Tableware International March April 2023

Brand focus

PUBLISHER PAUL YEOMANS pyeomans@lemapublishing.co.uk

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Welcome to the April issue of Tableware International. How refreshing to bring you a magazine on the back of attending Ambiente and hosting the Tableware International Awards of Excellence 2023, which were held – for the first time in three years – in real life, in person, face-to-face, hand-tohand. It was joyous, truly.

CHAIRMAN

MALCOLM

In fact, Ambiente was joyous. It was the first trade show that I, personally, had been in a position to attend (although my able colleague Paul Yeomans has made it to all of them) and it was a breath of fresh air for me to see collections I had previously only read about. The product does come to life. It is important. Our review of Ambiente is on page 52 and we hear from several exhibitors who give their honest opinion of the show. All in all, reviews are positive – bar mentions of transport, food outlets and general show layout. We can’t move forward without constructive feedback and I’m sure Messe Frankfurt welcome exhibitors’ largely positive views. For more thoughts on Ambiente turn to page 96 where our columnist Valda Goodfellow gives her, as usual, thoughtful insight into the products she uncovered at the show.

Of course, the Tableware International Awards of Excellence is held at Ambiente, and we have the full list of our winners – along with images from the night – from page 60, so go take a look at what was a really lovely event. The date has already been set for Ambiente 2024 – 26 to 30 January – how many of you have already booked your hotels?!

Moving on, we are absolutely thrilled to feature a very exciting new launch in this month’s magazine –none other than the brilliant designer Kit Kemp who has collaborated with Spode on a new collection.

Kit Kemp x Spode has its global launch at The New York Tabletop Show this April and when I say this is a truly involved collaboration, I mean it. Kit Kemp, who you will, of course, know as being an accomplished designer is also the founder of the high-end Firmdale Hotels group and has worked hand-in-hand with the Portmeirion Group’s CMO North America, Lou Scala, and Lisa Archambault, global design director at Spode to bring about this incredibly exciting collection. They have thought of everything –dinnerware collections, cutlery, glassware, giftware, Christmas – this is an assortment which speaks to gift retailers as much as it speaks to online and brick & mortar tabletop sellers. Turn to page 26 to read our interview with Kit Kemp and to get a flavour of the products themselves.

Of course, we feature our annual Guide to Glassware on page 36 while our columnist Michele Trzuskowski has her eye on melamine on page 34… is melamine chic now?! There is lots more in the magazine too from previews of the upcoming New York Tabletop Show (page 102) to Exclusively (page 100) and not forgetting our friends at The Inspired Home Show, we review their event on page 98. And with that, we close out the April issue and look forward to the summer. Keep your news, views and exciting product launches coming. If it is happening in the industry –we want to know about it.