Column: HoReCa Valda Goodfellow takes stock

Column HoReCa

Reflecting on the year

Valda and Paul Goodfellow enjoyed supporting Kristina Rugland (MD of Figgjo) at their showcase in the Norwegian Amabssador’s Residence , London. Pic: Pål Christensen, Stavanger Aftenblad

As we wrap up 2021, regular columnist Valda Goodfellow takes a look at the year that was, offering her top ten moments of note

About G & G

Founded by Paul and Valda Goodfellow, G & G Goodfellows is a highly creative design & Distribution Company with an amazing showroom in Little Portland Street. Offering a truly hands-on service, Goodfellows passion is to bring new and exciting, bespoke food presentation concepts to the UK’s culinary scene. As well as offering a wide variety of the world’s best branded tableware, kitchen equipment, clothing and machines, Goodfellows also collaborates closely with UK craft producers for totally unique products. It works with all sizes of restaurant and catering projects, happy to supply anything from an individual plate to a full restaurant concept. If, like me, you are determined to look at the past year positively, then you will realise that we have a lot to be thankful for and this might just help get you in the mood for a sparkling 2022! So, let’s hear it for the hits of 2021.

With a little help from my

friends: We are incredibly lucky to work with some of the UK’s best chefs and restaurateurs, who have been on a very big rollercoaster. It was a joy and a privilege to help them generate awareness and income in supporting their online cooking ventures with commission on tableware sales, through our Goodfellows at Home website. It was really inspiring to see them pivot their capabilities and their brands to online activities. They created ‘Meal Boxes’ for home delivery, bringing fun and joy to many households, while at the same time cooking and delivering meals (for free) to hospital and healthcare workers. It is amazing that these enterprising chefs continue with these meal boxes, as they are a lucrative form of income and reach people who cannot either travel to the restaurant, or who really enjoy cooking along to the videos in their own homes. This is an important new development and will undoubtedly evolve.

Let’s get together: There was sheer joy in restaurants opening. Our London showroom was inundated with excited chefs and restaurateurs wanting to actually deliver more in terms of

experience, quality and enjoyment than ever before. They wanted to excel and exceed customer expectations desperate for memorable experiences. Thankfully for us, and our industry, they really value tableware as a big part of that experience.

Mamma mia, here we go again:

I thought diners might be a bit reticent about sharing menus. Boy, was I wrong! Returning with a vengeance with Italian food leading the charts as the most popular cuisine, Italian flavours seem to signify joy. There is no holding diners back when it comes to sharing delicacies around the table. It seems to signify the basic human inclination to socialise and just be with each other. Sharing is very much on the menu again.

Don’t stop me now: The sheer determination of amazing tableware manufacturers who kept

Never before have we seen such a demand for blue tableware

on producing through the most challenging times in most of our living memories is astounding. Many have survived and some have thrived, with online sales bouncing back in a huge way, particularly in retail. We recognise that lead times have never been tougher to predict but we are so grateful that you just keep going and nothing will stop you. We can’t forget the casualties, but those stalwarts who go on are their torchbearers. I am so grateful that my suppliers strive every

Daniel Watkins Costa Nova

day to navigate a new business landscape. If there was ever a time to recognise that the these relationships are based on mutual trust and respect (not on greed and domination); then that time is now.

Blue Velvet: The colour of the year for ceramics was blue. Never before have we seen such a demand for blue tableware. Gone is the safe styling of muted colours. Bring on the big blue. If it was just a reaction to what we have been missing, then it will be a shame. Blue-toned tableware is “lookat-me, I own this” sassiness that diners love. We want confident chefs, who aren’t playing the averages, but really going for what they believe in. There is a new boldness that was maybe lost in the critic-pleasing seriousness of ‘before’ (I will not mention the word). Our bold, new, dining scene, and what it wants means for tableware, is really exciting.

Change the world: We are all aware that we need to save our world. As designers, producers, distributors, clients and consumers; we have our part to play. Sustainable products, socially responsible and thoughtful approaches to venues, experiences and supply chain, are now our mutual goals. We can change the world, bit by bit. Now is the time for action.

Holiday, let’s celebrate: Given many of us have not holidayed the way we want, let’s look forward to what we now want from holidays. The rise of multi-generational holidays, apart-hotels and private jet travel will transform how hospitality reacts to the new demands for tableware.

Food, glorious food: Need I say more! Let’s just eat; anywhere and everywhere. The current supply issues will be sorted; and as long as we all work together to satisfy demand (which for us means people wanting interesting food experiences), then we can look forward to a bright future.

Showtime: As we emerge bleary-eyed, into the sunshine of showing-off what we can

Sharing Food concept by G & G

do, let’s face it, the exhibitions so far have been more about seeing people again, rather than showing new products. Now we can all look forward to 2022 as the start of something new, when we can strutt our stuff, shake our tail feathers and go big with innovation. For me, one of the most pleasant showtime experiences was supporting our partners Figgjo, with their showcase at the Norwegian Amabssador’s Residence in London. Quirky, personalised and a true statement of collaboration.

Something new: There is very much a sense of expectation in the air. We are all ready for the future and while producers are just recovering their strength; we can look forward, eager to build on what we have learned, and I will cerainly be ready to embrace any new ideas that creatives, producers and visionaries can offer.