Progressive Housewares July/August 2024

WELCOME

Below: Exclusively was a vibrant, busy show.

It already seems a lifetime ago, but since I last wrote, BHETA pulled off another incredible Exclusively show, with increased attendance, great features, a wonderful buzz, a plethora of exciting new products and lots of very happy exhibitors and visitors alike.

The team is now working hard, as always, on building on the success of the 2024 show for next year’s event, which returns to the Business Design Centre on 10 and 11 June 2025. You can read more about it in the news pages.

The mood in general is also looking a little more positive both in our industry and further afield. The interest rate has finally been cut and inflation is settling, hopefully boosting consumer confidence and spending power as we edge towards the fourth quarter.

Next on the trade show calendar, is Brand Licensing Europe from 24 to 26 September 2024 at ExCeL London, a must visit for any supplier considering a licensed partnership, or indeed looking for its next brand collaboration.

Later in the issue we chat to the organiser about licensed housewares and find out the recipe for success in the category from some of the leading suppliers in the area.

Also included in this issue is a focus on the bakeware sector and tools and gadgets and we found out about the hopes and expectations of some key retailers and our trade associations, now that the new Labour Government has been elected, in the food for thought pages.

The summer months bring huge excitement to the Progressive Housewares team, as the extensive, in-depth judging process for the annual Excellence in Housewares Awards begins to take place. Our esteemed judging panels have poured over the abundance of wonderful product, supplier and retail entries and nominations, to settle on the finalists for this year.

Huge congratulations to all who made the cut, but also to those who didn’t. The calibre of entries this year was, as always, outstanding and the judges had their work cut out to settle on the finalists.

If you haven’t already, please do make sure you’ve booked your tickets for the Excellence in Housewares Awards on Wednesday 2 October, 2024 at The Royal Lancaster London, to avoid disappointment. Tickets and tables can be booked via our ticket office, Createvents, on 0118 334 0085 / clare@createvents.co.uk

MEET THE TEAM

Recognising just how busy life can get, Beldray is encouraging us to laugh at the daily chaos and embrace a much more fun attitude towards our chores. With products to tackle everything household from pethair covered sofas, to the endless pile of laundry, there’s no need to stress. From bagless vacuum cleaners to rubber brooms, Beldray’s innovative ranges will make household tasks and chores quicker, easier and much less hassle. With an exciting new look and feel coming in 2025, Beldray is really standing on side with the consumer as it states in its new tag line, between us, we’ve got this.

TOP STORY

Industry raises concerns over online marketplaces

Suppliers in the housewares industry have been voicing their unease about the impact Chinese online marketplaces such as Temu, Shein and Alibaba are having on the sector, as well as third party sellers on platforms like Amazon.

With low prices and free shipping , sites which deliver direct to consumers from China via UK sites, are presenting a range of issues, including counterfeit products, lack of import duty implications, safety compliance and more.

Some sites are reported to be offering copies of other brands’ products without restriction and therefore often without safety compliance checks.

Simon Maghnagi, commercial director at Forma House has found copies of a number of the DreamFarm innovations online. He explained:

“Amazon has a lot of third party sellers who are selling knock-off goods. For instance, our Fluicer is now getting copied left, right and centre on Amazon. There’s three or four copies that come up when you type in Fluicer. Also when you type in Dreamfarm Fluicer into Google, it comes up with a Temu version.

“Many products on these sites in our industry don’t have food safety certificates . The consumers aren’t always aware of this, or assume the products have been tested as they are being sold by a UK site.

“These products are often using cheaper materials that haven’t got past the food safety tests. This will become a massive, massive problem if no one stubs it out.”

Ben Grunwerg, managing director of Grunwerg, added: “Chinese companies have little regard for intellectual property rights and are encouraged to copy Western designs and ideas. We have had a few issues, but usually contacting the offenders has resulted in the items being removed. The ability to copy Western designs and not to have to invest in R&D, is another cost saving for them.”

Bryony Dyer, managing director of Dexam, has seen a reduction in Amazon sales, but sees the copyright issue as a more longstanding situation. She said: “We have seen a noticeable reduction in our levels of business with Amazon. There are a multitude of reasons why this may be the case – general lower consumer spending due to cost-ofliving crisis for example, but we have noticed a significant increase in the number of products that Amazon are sourcing themselves . They obviously have the capacity to manipulate their algorithm to push their own products and achieve the ‘buy box’.

“We have not really been affected by counterfeit products, but similar items to ours are available. This has always been the case and we back ourselves with a great sales team and marketing to encourage retailers and consumers to buy ours rather than those of our competitors – that’s how it works and has done for years.”

Housewares suppliers are also calling for fairer duties to be applied to imports to the UK . Last month, the EU began to explore scrapping its ‘de minimis’ package € 150 threshold. In the UK, the threshold is £135, enabling the sites to ship small packages and avoid import duty

Ben commented: “There are multiple issues I have with Shein, Temu etc. Firstly, are the grossly unfair tax advantages these Chinese warehouses get over UK

importers and retailers. Items from these companies are not subject to import duty, plastic packaging tax, or a host of other taxes that we as importers have to pay.

“These are Chinese companies based in China, albeit with a UK website. They don’t pay UK salaries, are not subject to the complete UK taxation system as retailers (bar VAT), including business rates.

“Large companies in the UK are also expected to have a Modern Slavery Statement. As these Chinese businesses are based abroad with less strict regulations, there are huge cost savings that can be passed onto the consumer, thereby giving them an unfair advantage.”

There are also issues being raised around customer data. Claire Budgen, commercial and marketing director, Lifetime Brands Europe, explained: “Temu's marketing strategy to offer almost 100% discount to customers who encourage their network to download their app and become a Temu customer, has ensured it has become one of the fastest growing and prolific new marketplaces

“That on top of exhaustive advertising focused on rock bottom prices has tempted a lot of customers to try it. And it is genuinely admirable marketing.

“But, there are reported concerns on the likes of Trustpilot, etc around lack of security around consumer data and also poor serviceability generally Consumers need more transparency when it comes to what they are getting, to make informed decisions.

“With a myriad of marketplaces and online retailers vying for consumers’ attention, service propositions become very blurred for consumers and this traditionally is where our industry excels. Consumers need to be propelled to read reviews and ratings to make informed decisions.

“In addition, the media and consumer watchdogs need to ensure that consumers are fully aware of the short and longer term elements which may be in play and weigh that up when considering what to purchase and from whom. It may not be the cheapest but it could be the less costly route.”

Simon concluded: “I think these issues need to be bought to the forefront and perhaps we need to put pressure on Amazon a bit. Perhaps as an industry, we need to sign an open letter to bring this conversation to the fore.”

Above: The housewares industry has raised multiple concerns over marketplaces like Temu.

WHERE THE INDUSTRY CONNECTS AROUND INNOVATION AND INSPIRATION

“ The Inspired Home Show ® 2024 built on the success of last year’s Show with total square feet of exhibition space being slightly higher. We introduced a revised layout, making the Show incredibly efficient – moving between the three primary Expos, now consolidated into two halls rather than three, was very well received by both exhibitors and buyers.

We’re excited about next year as 2025 marks the 125 th edition of the Show as well as the 25 th anniversary of the gia Global Innovation Awards – we have a lot to celebrate and look forward to seeing you in Chicago, 2 – 4 March!”

— DEREK MILLER, President & CEO, International Housewares Association

“As a retailer, The Inspired Home Show in Chicago was an invaluable opportunity to connect with new and existing suppliers and discover the latest trends in home organisation. From innovative storage solutions to stylish housewares, this event provided an enriching experience that will undoubtedly elevate our offerings and delight our customers.”

— CHARLOTTE EASTAFF, Buyer Homebase

Burton McCall becomes sole UK distributor for GreenPan

Burton McCall has entered into an agreement with The Cookware Company to upgrade its current partnership, with Burton McCall taking on full UK distribution for the brand.

For the last year, Burton McCall has serviced the independent and key account sector for The Cookware Company. Burton McCall assumed full UK responsibility from July 2024, including its D2C site for the UK.

Lore Pieters, sales director of The Cookware Company said: “Our collaboration with Burton McCall represents a major step forward in our expansion strategy, we are incredibly excited to work together to spread the message of PFAS-free living and provide UK consumers with high-quality, non-toxic cookware options.

“As the demand for healthier and more sustainable kitchen products continues to grow, we believe this partnership will significantly enhance our ability to meet that demand.”

Mohamed Hajat, head of sales, commented: “We are delighted and excited to continue to strengthen our partnership and take responsibility for the full distribution of Greenpan cookware, bakeware and SDAs in addition to KitchenAid Cookware and Bakeware for the UK and continue to build on the depth and growth of these brands with both existing customers and new partnerships.”

All orders and communication should be directed to Burton McCall. For more information, visit www.burtonmccall.co.uk.

Dunelm reports strong final quarter

Dunelm sales increased 5% to £399m in the fourth quarter, ended 29 June, 2024.

Total sales for the full year increased by 4% to £1,706m, while full-year gross margin is expected to be 170bps up yearon-year. Full year profit-before-tax is expected to be slightly ahead of market expectations.

The new store opening programme is on track with six new stores opened in FY24, including one relocation. Looking ahead, Dunelm remains confident in its ability to deliver further market share gains over the medium term. The company said it was excited by the opportunities ahead.

Nick Wilkinson, ceo, commented: “We delivered another strong performance in Q4, with continued volume-driven sales growth across both store and digital channels. Amidst ongoing consumer caution, our unrelenting focus on value and choice means the Dunelm proposition has continued to resonate with customers, and we saw both full-priced and discounted lines trade well during our summer sale period.”

BHETA builds on strong 2024 Exclusively show

Exclusively enjoyed a 5% growth in visitor numbers in 2024, added to the 10% increase from 2023 and the team at BHETA are now working hard to build on that success for the 2025 show.

Will Jones, chair of Exclusively and chief operating officer of BHETA, the show owner, commented: “Considering the challenges of the current market, we’re extremely proud of what has been achieved. We are definitely seeing a return and desire for more face-to-face meetings and industry networking.”

The Brand Showcase was a hit at this year’s show, with a 41% increase in media overall. The volume and quality of international retailers has also started to climb back to preCovid times.

Will continued: “The international meet the buyers event was very successful. Buyers from over 20 international retailers from South Africa to the Channel Islands met with over 45 exhibitors in a sell-out Meet The Buyer (MTB) event and drinks reception on the first evening of Exclusively.”

Overall, show attendance was strong, with a mix of new and longstanding visitors, with whom BHETA will be developing ideas for the future. Will said: “We are currently in the review stage and it’s too early to point to any one area [for the 2025 show]. I am confident that the team will yet again focus on what we know works and I am sure there will be some new ideas put forward for next year as well.

“I’m delighted to say that bookings for 2025 are already ahead of where they were for 2024 this time last year.”

Source Home & Gift announces advisory board

Source Home & Gift has announced the formation of an advisory board comprising dynamic thought leaders and experts.

The board features execs from BIRA, John Lewis, Longleat, Natural History Museum and PepsiCo, who are dedicated to promoting responsible and ethical production in the home and giftware industry.

The advisory board will guide the future direction of Source Home & Gift, ensuring the show continues to deliver cutting-edge content across the entire supply chain.

The board members are committed to building and sustaining responsible and ethical practices within the industry, drawing on their extensive experience from large home and gift brands, retailers, and industry associations.

The board is comprised of Nicola Kirby, head of UK sourcing, John Lewis; Claire Bevan, head of retail, Natural History Museum; Alison Maynard, head of retail, Longleat Enterprises; Andrew Goodacre, ceo, British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA); and Hayley Shore, design director, PepsiCo.

Suzanne Ellingham, director of sourcing, Source Home & Gift said: “Source Home & Gift was created in response to industry feedback. The formation of the Advisory Board is a thrilling development for the show. As we rapidly grow, it is crucial that our direction is guided by the community we serve. I am eager to collaborate with this exceptional board of experts and leaders.”

Source Home & Gift takes place on 1 – 4 September at NEC Birmingham.

Above: Exclusively 2025 takes place on 10 and 11 June 2025 at the Business Design Centre, London.

Above: Burton McCall has taken on full UK distribution for GreenPan.

Above: Dunelm delivered ‘another strong performance in Q4’.

Above: (l-r) Alison Maynard, Andrew Goodacre, Claire Bevan, Hayley Shore and Nicola Kirby.

24-26 September

Groupe Seb and Meyer establish the Cookware Sustainability Alliance

The Cookware Sustainability Alliance (CSA) is a new 501 (c)(6) non-profit organisation which fosters robust policy discussions and enhances public understanding of the safety of cookware, based on scientific research and verifiable data.

Innovation in cookware manufacturing has advanced numerous consumer benefits, however, in recent years, the industry has witnessed what the CSA terms ‘sensationalised claims and unfounded fears surrounding cookware manufacturing processes’.

An immediate priority for the alliance is engaging in the policy-making process surrounding Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and the unnecessary inclusion of fluoropolymer nonstick cookware in PFAS bans.

The CSA believes that proposals to ban fluoropolymer nonstick cookware ignore science and policy that underpins its safety. The alliance includes technical experts who bring science and perspective to the process, news reporting about the sector and consumer education.

“A core principle of the Cookware Sustainability Alliance is to ensure that discussions and decisions concerning cookware are grounded in scientific fact and data-driven analysis,” said Steve Burns, president of the alliance. “Policymakers and stakeholders will benefit from technical experts that can discuss and answer questions about the safe and stable use of PTFE in cookware products.”

The alliance will work with industry stakeholders, policymakers, scientific experts and consumer advocates to address issues such as material safety and product durability

“As industry leaders, we have a responsibility to protect the health and safety of our consumers. Our goal is to continue delivering the highest quality materials for performance and convenience,” said a spokesperson for Meyer Corporation.

“Fluoropolymers have a proven decades-long safety record recognised by regulatory bodies worldwide. Their formidable properties have made cookware products essential for millions of consumers and businesses. The Cookware Sustainability Alliance will provide stakeholders with all the material they need to make well-informed decisions,” said a spokesperson for Groupe SEB.

Lifetime Brands partners with Jamie Oliver

Jamie Oliver has announced a new serveware and dinnerware collection, Big Love, developed with Lifetime Brands. Designed to celebrate Jamie’s favourite tableware essentials and elevate the everyday, as well as special occasions, Big Love comprises thoughtful design with durable stoneware and mango wood for today’s homes.

The simple statement pieces created with Lifetime Brands are designed in organic, fluid shapes to inject existing homeware collections with new and useful design. Inspired by Jamie’s years of creating cookbooks, as well as consumer insights which reveal home cooks increasingly want to add to existing collections, Big Love offers well crafted additions to bring joy.

The range includes items such as large platters, big salad bowls and serving boards all able to be slotted into a lazy trivet to make feasting easy.

Products will be available globally from January 2025. Jamie commented: “I’ve always wanted to design a [tableware] set that I could use in my books and TV shows – and so my new collection, Big Love, was born.

“When you’ve poured all that love into making delicious, beautiful food, you need something equally beautiful to serve and eat it from, right? My table is all about that effortless, eclectic feel – I love it when the whole set doesn’t quite match – and that’s exactly what you get here, so whether you buy one piece or the whole lot, mealtimes will always be special.”

Matthew Canwell, Lifetime Brands international president, said: “I’ve always been a huge admirer of Jamie Oliver, so when the opportunity came along to work with him on developing a collection of his favourite serving pieces, it was a dream come true. Authenticity and practicality were the watch words and we are both so proud of what this collection represents. We are super excited and cannot wait for this to land. Big love indeed.”

Above: The CSA is engaging in the policy-making processes surrounding PFAS.

Below: The Jamie Oliver Big Love range is designed to encourage people to enjoy food together.

TOP STORY

John Lewis to expand home offering

John Lewis is set to launch 36 new lighting, kitchenware and furniture brands in September, The Telegraph has reported. New collections are set to include Stanley Tucci’s Greepan range, which will add to the 130 new homeware brands launched by the retailer over the past 12 months.

John Lewis’ range of homeware, furniture and lighting is reported to become around 15% larger than it was last summer following the launches.

Camilla Rowe, head of home accessories, said the company is ‘reinvigorating’ its ranges with plans to ‘significantly grow the business’.

The move is reported to have been driven by Peter Ruis, who joined John Lewis in January as executive director and has been tasked with reviving its shops. He has identified home as an area for growth, according to The Telegraph.

John Lewis is also set to invest in updating homeware concession stands and fixtures, making around 180 improvements across its homeware departments. This includes installing more ‘shop within a shop’ concepts, where brands take over space, as OXO recently demonstrated at the Oxford Street London store.

New Salter branding launches to consumers this summer

Following a full brand strategy review, Salter is introducing its new brand evolution to consumers this summer.

The consumer launch follows a successful soft launch with trade customers of the new brand strategy for Salter, which is designed to drive sales and awareness across all product categories.

Tracy Carroll, brand director at Ultimate Products, commented: “We approached Salter as an evolution of the brand as it was too risky to completely rebrand due to the brand’s high equity. We began the process by qualifying consumer brand perception and quickly saw that our brand was primarily associated with trust and reliability and viewed as a loyal brand, known mainly for scales.

“Our research also pointed to the fact that many viewed it as a masculine brand, which doesn’t accurately reflect our customer base. So, it was time to enhance the positives and change the negatives with discreet changes to our identity to better reflect our mission, values and vision.”

Nick Mellor, head of brand design, added: “The blue and red palette reflects our long-standing British heritage and moves us away from being too masculine. Our heritage is such a huge part of our story that we also made more of the 1760 date, which also speaks to reliability and quality.

“The new dial icon connects the brand to our iconic product, the scales, but in a discreet way, with our new tagline, experts in everyday, focusing in on the wider product range.”

The Salter brand team has implemented brand tracking to measure the ongoing effectiveness of the campaign, tacking key benchmarks such as awareness, sentiment and reach to inform the future direction of the brand. The brand evolution will be rolling out across packaging, digital, video and trade assets this summer.

Zwiesel Glas acquires Daff

Zwiesel Glas has further expanded its product portfolio into placemats and coasters with the acquisition of Daff.

Founder, Carin Benter is actively involved in the integration process and will continue to be available for all customer contacts and sales-related questions.

In the B2B sector, United Tables by Zwiesel, the professional subsidiary of Zwiesel Glas, will now also offer a range of placemats and glass coasters made of high quality and sustainable materials, in addition to its glasses, porcelain and cutlery categories.

In 2022, Zwiesel Glas expanded by joining forces with its longstanding US partner, Fortessa Tableware Solutions. The resulting Zwiesel Fortessa Group is a leading international group in the tableware sector. The acquisition of Daff is the next logical step in the company’s development.

Company owner, Prof Andreas Buske, explained: “We want to offer brands worldwide for all moments that make life special. With the Fortessa brand products, we have already been able to significantly expand our range for the professional sector under the umbrella of United Tables by Zwiesel and thus already offer a comprehensive range for the laid table.

“The fact that we are now expanding our portfolio to include important table accessories such as placemats and coasters in both sales areas is the next logical and strategically important step.”

Marie Kondo to headline at Clean & Tidy Home Show

Marie, founder of the KonMari Method, will take to the stage on Saturday 19 October for a keynote speech and Q&A. Over the weekend, there will be other opportunities for visitors to connect with Marie and expert KonMari Consultants –professional organisers who are trained and certified in Marie’s method.

KonMari will host the first course in Europe in five years at ExCeL London, in partnership with the Clean & Tidy Home Show.

The Clean & Tidy Home Show’s partnership with KonMari and Marie Kondo holds significance in the UK, as it will be the first time that the KonMari Consultant course will be taught in Europe in over five years.

“We are absolutely delighted that KonMari will return to the Clean & Tidy Home Show for the third consecutive year to spark joy in our community. This strategic partnership thrives due to our shared values, commitment to community, and belief in the transformative power of home optimisation,” said Penny Moyses, founder of Clean & Tidy Home Show.

Marie Kondo, founder of KonMari, added: “One of the most beautiful parts of our KonMari Consultant Programme is the sense of community it creates. There’s something magical that happens when people with a shared love of organising and a passion for changing lives come together in one place. While we’ve managed to find ways to bring that feeling to virtual gatherings over the last few years, a chance to gather together, in person, fills me with gratitude.”

Above: The new Salter identity better reflects its mission, values and vision.

Above: Marie Kondo will host a keynote speech at the show on Saturday 19 October.

Above: Stanley Tucci’s Greenpan range is set to join the expanded John Lewis home offering.

Above: Daff’s products are made from sustainable and/or vegan materials such as PET felt, recycled leather and LAV.

Studio Ramsay Global invests in HexClad

Studio Ramsay Gobal is making a $100m investment in kitchenware brand, HexClad.

Studio Ramsay Global, a joint venture between the chef and Fox Entertainment, will provide a mix of cash and media commitments to acquire a minority stake in the company, which specialises in cookware, cutlery, cutting boards, aprons and more.

The transaction sees Gordon expand his relationship with the company after he originally invested as an equity partner in 2021.

The companies said the deal “reinforces [HexClad’s] official cookware sponsorship across a wide range of Fox and Studio Ramsay Globalowned food series and content worldwide.”

The investment is the first in a consumer products brand by Studio Ramsay Global.

“Since forming Studio Ramsay Global three years ago, Gordon and his team have identified innovative new ways to bring his iconic food brand to life, creating great original entertainment and platforms from Next Level Chef to Bite, while showcasing incredible new culinary talent,” said Fox Entertainment ceo Rob Wade.

Gordon added: “We’ve already had successful brand collaborations across many of my Fox series, and now we’ll expand that partnership into something even more meaningful to food fans and consumers everywhere.”

TOP STORY

DK Household Brands announces new era of growth

DK Household Brands, a subsidiary of the Diethelm Keller Group, has announced a transformative milestone in its journey.

The company has integrated its six brands, including its recent acquisitions of AdHoc, Swissmar and Brandlands, to form a unified DK Household Brands Group. The strategic merger and refreshed company naming and branding signal an integrated, revitalised and reenergised organisation.

Jane Mason, managing director UK of DK Household Brands, explained: “In this new era, our mission is clear: to build brands and enhance our effectiveness as a multi-brand company across all our core markets. For the UK market, this translates to a sharpened focus on expanding our internationally acclaimed brands—Zyliss, AdHoc and Swissmar—while also capitalising on further opportunities with Cole & Mason, Culinare and Ken Hom.”

Jacob Oesterhaab, group ceo of DK Household Brands, continued: “Our refreshed approach is about winning in more categories and to do so as a larger, multi-brand partner for the trade. This is a declaration of our ambition to not only participate but to lead in more markets.”

DK Household Brands is committed to enriching homes. Jacob added: “This strategic evolution positions DK Household Brands not just as a leader in existing categories, but also signals our readiness to expand and diversify our portfolio further.”

Next reports better-thanexpected Q2 sales

In the second quarter ended 27 July, 2024, Next sales were up 3.2% year-on-year, exceeding the retailer’s expectations by £42m. Given an exceptional summer trading period last year, Next had forecasted that sales would be down 0.3%.

In the first half, full price sales were up 4.4% year-on-year, compared to Next guidance of +2.5%. Total group sales, including markdown, subsidiaries and investments in the first half were up 8%.

Next has increased its profit guidance for the full year by +£20m to £980m, up 6.7% yearon-year.

For the rest of this year, Next is maintaining its guidance for full price sales in the second half to be up 2.5%. Although this seems cautious when looking at the first half, Next says compared to two years ago, growth in the first half and the forecast for the second half are almost identical.

Above: The investment is the first in a consumer products brand by Studio Ramsay Global.

Above: The merger and refreshed company image signal an integrated, revitalised and reenergised organisation.

Above: Next Q2 sales exceeded the retailer’s expectations by £42m.

BHETA’s Exclusively Show raises over £20K for charity

More than 30 suppliers who were exhibiting at the Exclusively Show, have collectively raised £20k for industry charity, The Rainy Day Trust (RDT), by donating products from their stands. Exhibitors were asked to donate products at the end of the event for the charity to pass on to families in need, or to sell and raise money for the same purpose. Suppliers responded in style and pallet loads of stock were promised to RDT.

Rainy Day Trust ceo, Bryan Clover commented: “We have now had chance to value the donated product and it’s clear that Exclusively exhibitors have contributed £20k to the charity, just from their donations at the show. Everyone at RDT is immensely grateful to all the donors and to the Exclusively Show as a whole for supporting us.”

BHETA’s chief operating officer and Exclusively Show chair, Will Jones said: “It is always a pleasure to help RDT with the very good and much needed work it does for people who work - or have worked - in any avenue of the home and garden industry. More suppliers than ever donated this year with more product than any previous year, and this amazing monetary result is the impressive result of their generosity.”

BHETA hosts Amazon brand lifecycle webinar

BHETA business service provider, RT7Digital presented the webinar and the company’s Jack Cooper talked delegates through the four phases of the strategic framework designed to guide brands in establishing and growing a presence on Amazon.

This comprises:

1: Establishment – the primary goal to gain traction.

2: Acceleration – gaining share and establishing profitable lines

3: Defend and Grow – optimising or adjusting strategies

4: Yield – maintaining dominance

BHETA marketing director, Steve Richardson commented: “Whether you are an experienced Amazon seller or new to the platform, this was an invaluable opportunity to learn how to strengthen position and build for the future.”

CRIMPiT joins BHETA

Snack maker brand, CRIMPiT has joined BHETA. Launched in late 2021, the company supplies a range of products enabling consumers to create ‘food parcel’ snacks. Now stocked by the likes of Lakeland, Robert Dyas and Oliver Bonas, CRIMPiT also sells online. The company is a member of Made in Britain. Seema Grantham, BHETA’s sector manager for housewares said: “CRIMPiT is an entrepreneurial success story which has really made a difference to the snacks market. Its products have great family appeal and tie into healthy lifestyle choices. I am delighted to welcome the company to BHETA.”

Tesco to update BHETA members on packaging policy

BHETA is welcoming back Tesco’s senior packaging manager, Paul Earnshaw, to update members on its plastic packaging targets and strategy.

The webinar, which will take place on 4 September at 10.30am, is the latest of its series of events focusing on packaging legislation and tax, extended producer responsibility and carbon footprint.

Rinkit joins BHETA

Online distributor, sourcing and brand creation company, Rinkit has joined BHETA.

Founded in 2008, Rinkit started on Amazon and eBay, sourcing products positioned to ‘help customers transform houses into homes’. Now a multi-million-pound West Sussex based SME, it operates as an import retailer offering seven homeware and garden brands to retailers and consumers. Rinkit.com started by supplying Rink Drink glasses. The kitchenware range includes everything from dining tables to cookware and cutlery. Rinkit has also created brands like Harbour Housewares and Nicola Spring. One of its newest brands, Tiny Dining, focuses on products for children's dining. Seema Grantham, BHETA’s sector manager for housewares said: “Rinkit is an entrepreneurial success story with a great housewares range, as well as garden products. I am delighted to welcome the company to BHETA.”

Ian Humm, Rinkit’s director of new business added: “I am delighted that we have joined BHETA. I am passionate about our industry and BHETA is second to none as our trade association. The support they give to members is great and then of course there is Exclusively, the UK’s premier trade event for housewares.”

Below: Tesco will update on its progressing sustainability plans.

Paul will bring delegates up to speed on Tesco’s progressing plans in the area, which will affect all suppliers. This will include an update on the company’s ‘red/amber/green’ approach. Following the presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to pose questions to Paul.

BHETA’s marketing director, Steve Richardson commented: “Sustainability is a critical topic from every point of view and packaging solutions are a big part of the solution and of the debate. Tesco is a pioneer in this area, so it will be very useful for all supplier companies to see how its strategy is evolving – not least as a benchmark for others.”

Below: Crimpit recently launched the Crimpit Wrap.

Above: 11 pallets of stock have been donated to industry charity, The Rainy Day Trust.

The King’s speech

As the King's speech unfolds, outlining the new Labour government's priorities, one aspect stands out for independent retailers: The New Deal for Workers. This comprehensive reform package promises to reshape the landscape of employment law in the UK, and as ceo of BIRA, I want to ensure that indie retailers are prepared for these impending changes.

The proposed Employment Rights Bill introduces ten key areas of reform that will significantly impact how we manage our workforce.

Let's break these down:

Employment status: The introduction of a single 'worker' status aims to simplify the current system, potentially affecting how we classify our employees and contractors.

Day one employment rights: Expanding rights from the first day of employment could increase our responsibilities to new hires.

Zero-hour contracts ban: This change will require us to rethink flexible staffing arrangements, particularly for seasonal peaks.

End to fire and rehire: We'll need to review our restructuring strategies to ensure compliance with new regulations.

Fair pay: Changes to the National Minimum Wage and Statutory Sick Pay could affect our payroll and budgeting.

Equal pay: Strengthened measures for pay equality will necessitate a thorough review of our compensation structures.

Family-friendly rights: Extended rights for working parents and carers may require adjustments to our leave policies.

Equality measures: New protections against discrimination will demand a fresh look at our diversity and inclusion practices.

Redundancy and TUPE rights: Enhanced protections during business transfers and redundancies will add complexity to these processes.

Trade union rights: Stronger union powers could alter how we engage with employee representatives.

These changes are sweeping and complex. As independent retailers, we often operate with lean teams and tight margins. Adapting to these new regulations will be challenging, but it's crucial for our businesses' long-term success and compliance.

Now, more than ever, access to expert legal advice is paramount. That's where a BIRA membership proves invaluable. Members have free access to our team of legal experts, who are already analysing these proposed changes and preparing guidance tailored to our sector.

Our legal helpline is standing by to answer your questions and help you navigate these new waters.

Whether you need clarification on the new 'worker' status or advice on adjusting your contracts, we're here to support you.

Moreover, BIRA members have exclusive access to up-to-date documents and templates that will be crucial in implementing these changes. As the legislation evolves, so will our resources, ensuring you're always compliant and informed.

The retail landscape is changing, and so are the rules of employment. But remember, you're not facing these challenges alone. BIRA is committed to supporting you through these transitions, providing the tools and knowledge you need to adapt and thrive. While change can be daunting, it also presents opportunities. By staying informed and prepared, we can create fairer, more productive workplaces that benefit both employers and employees.

BIRA publishes special podcast following General Election

Independent retailers across Britain are calling on Keir Starmer’s new Labour government to prioritise high street revival in a special episode of BIRA’s ‘High Street Matters’ podcast.

The ‘General Election special’ episode features a panel of independent retailers sharing their hopes and concerns for the high street under the new Labour administration. Hosted by journalist Steve Dyson, the podcast includes insights from BIRA ceo Andrew Goodacre and prominent retailers.

Andrew said: “Labour has come in on a vote for change. We will be asking the Labour government to deliver positive change for our sector by reducing the burden of business rates, reducing retail crime and increasing investment in our towns and high streets. We also hope that a new government with a large majority will bring about stability, which in turn will boost consumer confidence and consumer spending.”

The podcast features several independent retailers, each highlighting critical issues facing the high street. Andrew summarised BIRA’s campaign priorities, which align closely with the concerns raised by these retailers. These include reforming business rates, implementing policies to drive economic growth, and accelerating investment in high streets.

Andrew Goodacre, ceo, BIRA (British Independent Retailers' Association)

Below: New episodes of High Street Matters will be released throughout the year.

Below: The new Labour government’s New Deal for Workers will impact how retailers manage their workforces.

BETWEEN US,

WE’VE GOT THIS.

2024 marks a new beginning for Beldray, and the chance to be braver, be brighter and be a lot more fun. Beldray is stepping into the limelight with bold colours, a tongue-in-cheek marketing plan and products to make those daily chores quicker… easier… and far less hassle.

There were many different considerations when deciding to rebrand Beldray, but every approach led the team to the same conclusion; this heritage brand had so much more to give.

Tracy Carroll, brand director at Beldray, explains: “We kicked off the project by turning to our consumer. The market research clearly showed a love for Beldray products, with key purchasedrivers being the product features, performance and product quality. Yet it also highlighted a slight disconnection between the overarching look across our portfolio that left consumers lacking a cohesive brand experience.”

This gave the Beldray team a real sense of opportunity; if they were to build on the existing product portfolio and performance, but fine-tune that clear brand identity, they could really drive the brand forward even further.

Tracy continues: “Alongside the research, we were led by a desire to unify our touch points including packaging, online, and marketing. We recognised that we could simplify and sharpen our brand image, creating a strong brand to really resonate with consumers.

“We also found that much of the cleaning electrical, household and laundry markets had become rather clinical and masculine and felt that there was a potential gap for Beldray to fill.”

The new branding takes some risks and breaks the mould a little, featuring bright colours and a bold look to bring some fun to everyday chores. Jennifer Dodd, head of marketing, outlines: “While some love cleaning, many do not, so we wanted to ensure we were attracting consumers to a fun, brighter way of viewing the weekly to-do list. We also recognised that everyone is busy and that cleaning the home can consume precious hours, so

again chose to really play into this with our efficient products and ease-of-use messaging.”

A fun, brighter way of viewing the to-do list

The colour strategy was designed to bring joy back into the household, with four vibrant colours, underwritten by a consistent use of bright yellow – the brand’s (Beld) ‘Ray’ of sunshine. The

messy dog walk, to keeping windows fingerprint-free. Beldray products make the chaos of daily life easier for everyone.

Encompassing a sense of togetherness

The new guide also introduces the Beldray pets – ‘Belle’ the cat and ‘Ray’ the dog, two iconic new faces to spot across Beldray packaging and wider touch points.

Wanting to go much further than just a new look, Beldray wanted to delve deeper to solidify a full brand identity that put the consumer at the forefront of every decision, including the implementation of new brand values, mission and vision.

The tagline also acknowledges that cleaning tasks can be a chore, but with added value from Beldray, consumers can take their to-do list from aspirational to achievable. “Whether it’s speed, efficiency, ease-of-use or improved results, we are committed to developing quality products that add value to our consumers’ daily routine. This is something we allude to across our product packaging and all touch points,” Tracy explains.

Adding value to the daily routine

Following a sneak peek in summer 24, the new packaging will hit stores in 2025. Tracy says: “We really feel that the new packaging will brighten the in-store experience for shoppers and offer a clear and coherent brand that takes them from aisle to aisle.”

A refreshed Beldray logo further signifies the new brand values, offering a softer look to align with the new approachable and dependable brand personality. Jennifer tells us: “We want to encourage our consumers to laugh at the chaos of everyday life, something that we will instil through our marketing activations and wider touch points. We really feel that humour is undervalued and that by adding this, we can show our consumer that we are on their side and encourage them to laugh at the craziness, rather than feeling overwhelmed.”

We’re embracing the chaos of everyday life

Jennifer continues: “We have carefully considered our messaging, with a focus on earning the trust of the everyday consumer and emphasising that Beldray understands how they feel.”

The new tagline, ‘Between us, we’ve got this’, encompasses this shared experience with the consumer and highlights a sense of togetherness. Beldray recognises that a problem shared is a problem halved and that it is here to halve it with its consumer –from mopping the kitchen floors after a

Tracy concludes: “It’s a really exciting time to be part of team Beldray, as we continue to deliver products that our consumers love using, alongside a brand that really understands their routine. Keep your eyes peeled for our innovative relaunch campaign coming in 2025 that will really amplify our messaging.”

Holly Wilson’s From The Frontline

The summer holidays are here and with that comes the juggle of shops and children. As tricky as it is though, I’m trying to embrace it. My youngest is just finishing primary school and so they will both now be lost to secondary school and their own social lives, so this holiday more than most I am clinging on to the moments that they still want to hang out with me and I’m not a total embarrassment.

Summer holidays also bring our quiet period in the stores as our customers flee London for sunnier climes. And we could do with them just sticking around a little longer as sales this July have been tough. Again I’m going to harp on about the weather, but it’s really not helping. Come on summer, stick around a little longer. Although it does, in theory, give me a little time to regroup and make sure we are prepared for the last quarter. We have certainly seen a reduction in footfall on our streets. And it’s not just me, all my neighbours are feeling it too. Weekends have become like just another day and we rarely see the boost in sales that we used to. To balance that out, the weekdays can be stronger than in the past, but there is a definite quietness. Stores are still closing in Stokey, another couple went last month. For now, other businesses are springing up in their place, but whether they last is another matter and we will have to wait and see. I went away for a girls’ weekend to a seaside town on the south coast and the amount of empty units shocked me. It’s so frustrating to see and we have to hope our new government is prepared to do something about it. It feels like there is so much opportunity being wasted. There is so much opportunity to give start-ups a chance with risk free units that would otherwise sit empty. But only time will tell what they have in store.

have made a couple of mistakes. So back to the drawing board we go and I’m hoping I find my next long-term team member. Recruiting is definitely one of the hardest parts of the job and even with interviews, followed by trials, it’s hard to know if they are the right fit.

On paper it’s a pretty straightforward job and I think people go into it thinking how lovely it is to work in a small local shop, but the reality is that it’s a varied job with lots of juggling and different skills for each task and I think people underestimate it.

So I’m going to take my time and make sure I get

the right person. In the meantime I’ve cobbled together a team of part timers and friends and acquaintances, who are pulling a few shifts. It’s not ideal, but they have saved my bacon and will get us through the summer.

under resourced and the minute you get a contact, they are moved somewhere else. Two PCs have already moved on in the couple of months that I have been talking to them. So there is very little consistency. We spoke a lot about the area’s theft issues and the police team do try to get out to all reported thefts, but without really good CCTV footage that they can download and take away, they can’t even begin to investigate, so for many shops, that ends their process before it starts. Also, they get pulled out of area for bigger things, so local issues take a back seat. We didn’t really find a way to move forwards other than to try and keep some kind of dialogue open, but we will keep on trying.

So I’m taking a well-deserved 10 days off in August and I’m going to try and see if I can completely switch off - probably not with my temporary staff situation - but I’m going to try. Stock is building over the next month, ready for the last quarter and I’m hoping I’m more prepared than last year. I hope you all manage to get some R&R this summer and see you at the trade shows in September.

Holly Wilson is the owner of two North London cookshops: PREP in Stoke Newington and Richard Dare in Primrose Hill.

Inset: Holly is recruiting for a store supervisor at PREP.

The Excellence in Housewares Awards returns on Wednesday 2 October, 2024 at The Royal Lancaster London. The finalists have been announced and judging is underway to crown the best of the best later this year.

From an overwhelming number of entries, the esteemed judging panel has managed to whittle down the deserving products into finalists in 11 product categories, 12 retail categories and three supplier categories.

The product judging panel included buyers from John Lewis, Tesco, Harrods, Next, TK Maxx, Robert Dyas, Harts of Stur, Salamander Cookshop, Potters Cookshop, Divertimenti, Currys, Lawsons, Morleys, Garsons, Trevor Mottram, Borough Kitchen and Aldiss, as well as a full slate of specialist independent retailers from across the country. Meanwhile, the retail entries were judged by suppliers from major names across the industry.

The Excellence in Housewares Awards 2024 product finalists are:

Excellence in Cookware

l Chambray from Le Creuset

l Circulon A1 Series from Meyer Group

l Culinary Fiveply range from Kuhn Rikon

l Fissler Phi from Eddingtons

l MasterClass Recycled Aluminium Bakeware from Lifetime Brands

l Scanpan Black Iron range from HAUS

l Space from Joseph Joseph

l Stellar Verve from Horwood Homewares

l The Hairy Bikers HexGuard range from Eurosonic Group

Top Tool or Gadget

l Cole and Mason London Mill from DK Household Brands

l Flegg from Dreamfarm

l Just The Thing accessories from Captivate Brands

l Line Electric Mills from Peugeot Saveurs

l Microplane Professional Avocado Tool from Burton McCall

l Multi-Prep Compact Multicolour 4-piece Grater & Slicer from Joseph Joseph

l Rechargeable USB Electric Pepper Mill & Spice Grinder from FinaMill

l Wine Aerator from Airtender

l Zyliss Gourmet Drum Grater from DK Household Brands

EXCELLENCE IN HOUSEWARES AWARDS SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS INCLUDE:

Excellence in Home Organisation

l Beldray SpotBuster Pro from Ultimate Products

l Calypso Compost 2.0 from Mepal

l CleanStore from Joseph Joseph

l Mirage Plus Multi-compartment Sensor Recycling Bin from EKO

l Scrub Daddy PowErase Gel from Scrub Daddy EU

l SmartStore Collect Biowaste from Orthex

l Steamery Cirrus X Handheld Steamer from Beam Group

l Tota 90L Laundry Basket with Jonathan Lawes from Joseph Joseph

l Tower Ozone Sensor Bin collection from RKW

Plugged In Award

l 10-in-1 Countertop Oven from Smeg

l CASO Design VinoCase Tabletop Wine Cooler from Beam Group

l Cocoatiser Hot Chocolate Maker from Dualit

l Design Espresso Piccolo Pro M from Gastroback

l Electric Kettle from Aarke

l Greenpan Small Domestic Appliances from Burton McCall

l KitchenAid Go Cordless collection from Whirlpool

l Salter RapidCook400 from Ultimate Products

l Tower AirWave Pro 2-in-1 Air Fryer and Microwave from RKW

THE EXCELLENCE IN HOUSEWARES AWARDS

Cutting Edge

l Alfredo Knife Stand from Georg Jensen

l Flapple from Dreamfarm

l Folio Icon Steel 4pc Board Set from Joseph Joseph

l Katana Saya Flame from Grunwerg

l Kitchen Shears from Kuhn Rikon

l School of Wok by Dexam Cleaver range from Dexam

l Stellar Form range from Horwood Homewares

l T1 Kitchen Knife Sharpener from Tormek l Tanrei from ZWILLING

Excellence in Homewares

l Insulated Travel Tumbler from Black + Blum

l KitchenCraft Idilica collection from Lifetime Brands

l Klean Kanteen Rise Food Boxes from Whitby & Co.

l Lékué ICE Box from ESA Sales

l LocknLock ‘NestnLock’ range from Meyer Group

l Mason Cash Home to Roost collection from The Rayware Group

l Printer Johnson Kitchen Textiles from Elitetins

l Salter Timeless Scale from Ultimate Products

l Stanley Quencher from Burton McCall

Top of the Table

l Abstratta Dinnerware from Tramontina

l Anton Studio Designs Empire Blue Glassware from The DRH Collection

l Cath Kidston Strawberry Garden Range from Captivate Brands

l Halloween collection from Le Creuset

l Kiln Blue from Denby Pottery

l Mikasa x Tipperleyhill collection from Lifetime Brands

l Minerals collection from Portmeirion

l Silueta Outdoor Tableware from Mepal

l Sintra collection from Dexam

The Licensing Award

l Cath Kidston Spring Summer 2024 collection from Captivate Brands

l Disney Home x Prestige Mickey & Friends

Inspired Bakeware from Meyer Group

l Disney Signature collection from Thermos

l Eleanor Bowmer Electric Coast collection from Pure Tabletop

l Emma Bridgewater Wildflowers collection from Elitetins

l The Snowman Alpine Adventure range from Eddingtons

l V&A Kitchenware range from Museums & Galleries

l Vintage Kellogg's by Dexam Pop Art range from Dexam

l Yvonne Ellen Spring Summer 2024 collection from Captivate Brands

Eco Award

l Kilner Herb Keeper from The Rayware Group

l La Cafetière The Beanie from Lifetime Brands

l ReBorn Kitchenware from ReBorn

l S'well Tumbler XL from Lifetime Brands

l Sintra Recycled Glassware from Dexam

l Swedish Dishcloths from Dexam

l Tritan Renew Angled Measuring Jugs from OXO

l Water Filter Bottles from BRITA UK

l Zyliss Utensils from DK Household Brands

The Innovation Award

l Airtender Clip Top Jar Vacuum Set from Airtender

l Eggler from Dreamfarm

l Fissler Phi from Eddingtons

l Fresh & Save Cube from ZWILLING

l Goldie from Sourhouse

l KitchenAid Go Cordless collection from Whirlpool

l Ozest from Dreamfarm

l Space from Joseph Joseph

l Tower Silicone Tray Air Fryer Accessories from RKW

The Icon Award

l Aerolatte Original Steam Free Frother from Eddingtons

l Chambord French Press Coffee Maker from Bodum

l Cole & Mason 505 Salt & Pepper Mills from DK Household Brands

l Culinare Magican from DK Household Brands

l Emma Bridgewater Black Toast Collection from Elitetins

l Heritage Bundt Pan from Nordic Ware

l Ken Hom Wok from DK Household Brands

l MasterClass Bakeware from Lifetime Brands

l Paris Salt and Pepper Mills from Peugeot

l POP Containers from OXO

l Prestige Hi-Dome Pressure Cooker from Meyer Group

l Salter Mechanical Bathroom Scale from Ultimate Products

l Swan Vintage Teasmade from RKW

The Excellence in Housewares Awards

2024 retailer awards finalists are:

Best Supermarket Retailer

l Asda

l Lidl

l Morrisons

l Sainsbury’s

l Tesco

l Waitrose

Best Garden Centre Retailer

l Barton Grange

l Bents Garden & Home

l Blue Diamond

l Dobbies

l Frosts

l Garsons

l Webbs

l Yarnton Home & Garden

Excellence In Online Retailing

l Amazon

l Art of Living

l Borough Kitchen

l eCookshop

l Harts of Stur

l John Lewis

l Next

l Philip Morris & Son

l Sous Chef

Excellence In Retail Training

l Art of Living

l Fenwick

l Harrods

l John Lewis

l Lakeland

l Morleys Group

l Potters Cookshop

l Salamander

l TK Maxx

l Voisins

Excellence In Retail Display –Independent

l Aldiss

l Bakers & Larners

l Cooks Boutique

l Divertimenti

l Harrods

l Harts of Stur

l The Kitchen Range – West Wickham

l Philip Morris & Son

l Potters Cookshop

l Salamander Cookshop

Excellence In Retail Display –Multiple or Department Store

l Blue Diamond

l Borough Kitchen

l Camp Hopson

l Elphicks

l Elys

l Fenwick

l Housing Units

l John Lewis & Partners

l Lakeland

l Selfridges & Co

Excellence In Retailer Initiative

l Borough Kitchen for its Big Green Egg outdoor demos

l Cooks Boutique for its School holiday workshops

l Fortnum and Mason for its Supper clubs and chef's table events

l Jarrolds for its Cheese festival weekend event

l John Lewis for its Evening with KitchenAid

l Lakeland for its 60th birthday campaign

l Potters Cookshop for its Summer event

l Potters Cookshop for its An evening with Ken Hom

l Robert Dyas for its Low Cost Lou's social media

l Upstairs Downstairs for its Free home delivery and gift wrap

Retail Employee of The Year

l Alison Hobbs – visual merchandiser, Potters Cookshop

l Andrew Stevenson - senior buyer, TJX Europe

l Anne-Dominique Blackey – shop manager, Borough Kitchen

l Chris Parsons - cookshop manager, Jarrolds Department Store

l Jason Somers – general manager, Divertimenti

l Jeanne Bluett-Duncan – sales assistant, Art of Living Cookshop

l Matt Toussaint - buying manager, Tesco

l Sandie Jenkins – group buyer, Elphicks

l Sara Hunt - general manager, Trevor Mottram

l Yvonne Salisbury - customer service, Harts of Stur

Best Department Store – Independent

l Aldiss

l Arnotts of Ireland

l Bakers & Larners

l Barkers

l Downtown Stores

l Elphicks

l Harrods

l Housing Units

l Voisins Department Store

Best Department Store – Multiple Branch or Group Member

l Morleys Stores

l Fenwick

l House of Fraser

l Jarrolds

l John Lewis

l Leekes

l Marks & Spencer

l Selfridges

Independent Cookshop of The Year

l Cookmate, Worcester

l Cooks Boutique, Letchworth

l Cooks Galley, Abergavenny

l Divertimenti, London

l Harts of Star, Sturminster Newton

l The Kitchen Range, Market Harborough

l Potters Cookshop, Hockley

l Prep Cookshop, London

l Salamander, Wimbourne

l Simmer & Slice, Stoke on Trent

l Trevor Mottram, Royal Tunbridge Wells

l Woodbridge Kitchen Company,

Woodbridge

Multiple or Small Group Retailer of The Year

l Abraxas

l Bert’s Homestore

l Borough Kitchen

l Charlies Stores

l Dunelm

l Lakeland

l Lords at Home

l Morleys Stores

l Robert Dyas

l Season Cookshop

The Excellence in Housewares Awards 2024 supplier awards finalists are:

To arrive at the finalists for these three awards, PH conducted a comprehensive poll of housewares retailers, asking them to state which housewares suppliers they feel deserve recognition when it comes to marketing, product development and service.

The Supplier Awards are sponsored by BHETA, the industry’s trade association for manufacturers, importers and suppliers of housewares products.

The association thrives on championing product innovation, marketing initiative and quality service to retailers.

Excellence In Product Development

l Captivate Brands

l Core Home

l Dreamfarm

l Joseph Joseph

l Le Creuset

l Lifetime Brands Europe

l Meyer Group

l RKW

l SharkNinja

l Ultimate Products

Excellence In Marketing

l Burton McCall

l Captivate Brands

l DK Household Brands

l Groupe SEB

l Horwood Homewares

l Joseph Joseph

l Le Creuset

l Pyrex

l SMEG

l SharkNinja

Excellence In Service

l Burton McCall

l Dexam

l Eddingtons

l Haus

l Horwood Homewares

l Le Creuset

l Meyer Group

l OXO UK

l RKW

l Ultimate Products

The winners in each category will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony on Wednesday 2 October, 2024 at The Royal Lancaster, London. To book your tickets or table, visit www.max-tickets.net, or contact Clare Hollick on 0118 334 0085 or clare@createvents.co.uk. For sponsorship enquiries, please contact Rob Willis on robw@max-publishing.co.uk

EDDINGTONS LICENSED

RANGES

NATIONAL TRUST LICENSED COLLECTION

Eddingtons Ltd continues its collaboration with the National Trust (Europe’s largest conservation charity) by producing a stunning new range of nature inspired organic cotton tea towels and plant-based cleaning cloths. These will join the already available National Trust Nature and Alfriston Clergy collections of glass worktop protectors.

The textiles and plant-based cleaning cloths feature watercolour illustrations of countryside scenes, native flora and fauna, animals and insects reflecting the conservation work undertaken by the Trust and its team of rangers.

There are seven single organic cotton tea towels in the new range featuring illustrations of the hare and pheasant, dragonflies, bees’ butterflies, puffins and a kingfisher, with each towel retailing at £5.95.

The plant-based cleaning cloths feature all the same designs as the organic cotton tea towels and are sold as a set of two. Each one is made using 70% cellulose (from FSC managed forests) and 30% cotton fibres from textile byproducts. The National Trust plant-based cleaning cloths replace the need for other cloths and paper towels which often contain plastics. The inks used to create the designs are waterbased and environmentally friendly. The cloths retail at £7.95. 10% of net sales from this collection will go to the National Trust, and so by investing in the licensed range, consumers will help look after the countryside, coastline and hundreds of special places across England, Wales and Northern Ireland that are in the Trust’s care.

THE SNOWMAN ALPINE ADVENTURE

The Snowman, Alpine Adventure licensed collection from Eddingtons features illustrations of The Snowman accompanied by the alpine fox, made famous in illustrations from the Raymond Briggs story books.

The kitchen textiles (featuring a repeat pattern in a soft grey and white) are available as a set of two cotton tea towels, double oven gloves, single oven mitt and adult apron featuring an extra special on trend bobble decoration across the top of the front pocket. The set of two baking spatulas features the same repeat pattern and a second complementary design in the assortment of 12. Finally, a glass worktop protector feature James and The Snowman together on that snowy, winter’s night.

STAINLESS STEEL & SILICONE MIXING BOWLS

Whip, marinate and mix with flair in RIG-TIG's delightful stainless steel mixing bowls – function with style. With a silicone-coated base for stability and scratch prevention, they come in three sizes - 3.5 litres, 2.5 litres, and 1.5 litres - ensuring you have the right bowl for every task. The uniquely designed pouring edge allows you to pour from any side. The inside of the bowl features handy measuring units. The anti-slip ring base features small channels to drain off water following cleaning.

PILASTRO OVEN TO TABLE BAKEWARE

The new Pilastro collection of glass oven-to-table bakeware by Scandinavian brand Stelton is inspired by the art-deco era, with elegant grooves and an aesthetic that harmonises perfectly with the rest of the beautiful series of glass drinkware also available. Not only visually impressive, but also versatile thanks to the carefully selected materials, the collection is suitable for the oven, freezer and microwave and radiates elegance when serving on the table. Give your cooking a touch of refinement and serve with style using these durable ovenproof dishes from the Pilastro line.

1: Beldray All in One Floor

Cleaner

Vacuum, mop and dry hard floors with Beldray’s All in One Floor Cleaner. A time saving solution for busy households, the 3-in-1 cleaner lifts stubborn dirt and spills without the need for multiple cleaning tools. Delivering 25 minutes of operating time and 180W of motorised cleaning power, the All in one Floor Cleaner is suited to both deep cleans and quick clean ups. A self-cleaning function provides hassle free maintenance and ensures that the device is ready for next use.

Beldray

E: sales@upplc.com

W: beldray.com

2: Beldray SpotBuster Pro

Lift spills from carpets and upholstery and deep clean high traffic areas with the Beldray SpotBuster Pro. A development on the original Beldray Spotbuster, the new innovation has been designed to combat bigger cleans, with large capacity clean and dirty water tanks which allow for deep cleaning larger areas, including sofas and stairs. Ideal for pet owners and parents alike, the SpotBuster pro offers an integrated scrubbing brush and built-in spray function to aggravate stains and effortlessly lifts even larger spills with 450W of powerful suction.

Beldray

E: sales@upplc.com

W: beldray.com

3: Aspen range

The Aspen collection combines classic design with practicality in a sleek silver chrome finish. The collection comprises coordinating kitchen electrical appliances including a 5L Stand Mixer equipped with eight speed settings and a pulse function, six capacity Egg Cooker and the classic NutriPro Blender with a powerful 1000W motor. The Aspen collection's timeless aesthetic enhances any kitchen decor, with a wide range of new items providing solutions for a range of household needs.

Salter

E: sales@upplc.com

W: salter.com

4: Kuro ActiFusion

The Kuro ActiFusion Blender combines functionality with convenience. The blender's stainless steel blades ensure versatility, crushing fruits and vegetables for smoothies, dips and dressings. The ActiFusion includes two BPA-free 600ml sports bottles and two 400ml bottles, all equipped with leak-proof lids, perfect for an active lifestyle. Featuring non-slip feet to provide stability during operation and a user-friendly one-touch button operation, the Kuro ActiFusion Blender combines functionality with convenience, making it a valuable addition to any kitchen.

Salter

E: sales@upplc.com

W: salter.com

5: Tower AIRX Digital 10.4L Dual Basket Air Fryer

Products New

The AIRX AI Digital Air Fryer uses an intelligent sensor and AI technology to analyse the volume of food inside the chamber to determine the optimum cooking temperature to create perfectly cooked meals for the family to enjoy. Exclusive to Tower Air Fryers, Vortx technology rapidly circulates hot air around food. Cooking up to 30% faster than a conventional oven and using 99% less oil, allowing consumers to save up to 70% on their energy. Two 5.2L baskets provide a spacious 10.4L capacity, to cook full meals for the family. The High Definition TFT screen offers an enhanced user experience, with crystal clear images and one touch functions that make mealtimes fuss-free. A manual mode enables consumers to test out unique recipes and tailor meals to suit different tastes for versatile cooking. The dual cook mode will match settings in both drawers for convenient and fuss-free cooking, while sync cook ensures both baskets finish cooking at the same time so there is no need to juggle cooking times. Choose from six cooking presets including chicken, fries, fish, prawn, cupcake and steak to take the guesswork out of cooking.

RKW

T: 0333 220 6070

E: sales@rkwltd.com

W: rkwltd.com

OF STRENGTH RKW’S SHOW

TOWER

Tower’s latest air fryer launch, AIRX, analyses food type and volume to determine the optimum temperature and cooking time. This takes the guess work out of cooking and makes air fryers accessible to everyone. There will be a range of single and dual baskets featuring this technology on display at IFA.

Across linen care, Tower will launch a powerful Pure Steam Infinity Xpress Steam Generator with infinite filtered steam power. The model features an AI Auto Limescale Attack System with dual tank self-cleaning systems to flush dirty water and limescale into a separate tank. This eliminates limescale build-up and stains on clothes, without the need for filter replacements. The high performance Ceraglide Nanoelite sole plate is an easyglide self-cleaning ceramic soleplate, which creates a fast glide across fabrics, with active steam holes providing 100% maximum steam distribution. The Steam Generator is part of Tower’s extensive linen care range, including best-selling cord-cordless models.

range of blenders, stick blenders and hand mixers is powered by one universal battery which is rechargeable by USB C. This new range will be on display for the first time at IFA.

GOOD FOOD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TOWER

The success of cord-cordless doesn’t just stop there, as an ever-innovative brand, Tower is set to further revolutionise cooking in the kitchen with its new range of cordless kitchen food prep products, Omni. The portable products offer flexibility for cooking enthusiasts. The

The Good Food in partnership with Tower collection is set to shake up the market, launching a range of feature rich SDA including air fryers, bread makers and multicookers, as well as accompanying housewares. The partnership will launch a range of air fryers including the GF17015, 10L Dual Side Oven & Basket Air Fryer with Vizion Viewing Windows. Specially designed to be used with the Good Food recipe library, the air fryer offers two cooking chambers, one an oven and one a basket.

SWAN

Swan is set to expand its Scandinavian-style Nordic and classic Retro collections with new air fryers. The Nordic collection is known for its minimalist

RKW is set to unveil groundbreaking innovations from Tower, Swan, Sur La Table & Laura Ashley at IFA Berlin from 6 – 10 September at Messe Berlin on stand H8.1-107.

Scandinavian design and soft colours. Meanwhile, the Retro collection will introduce air fryers with a vintage look, pairing nostalgic design with modern cooking capabilities.

Along with new product introductions in the current Retro collection, it will also see a new era: Retro Revive. This revamped range draws inspiration from the Retro collection, but infuses it with a contemporary twist. The range of SDA will be on display at IFA in on-trend colours including Breeze Blue, Timeless Cream and Stainless Steel.

Swan will also display a collection of new high spec coffee machines, along with a range of heating and cooling solutions across Nordic and Retro collections.

SUR LA TABLE

Sur La Table has been a staple brand throughout the US for 50 years, bringing to market its ethos: ‘Make good food. Invite people. Do it daily’. A passion for food and educating the home chef has evolved the retail brand into a trusted institution, which, this year, will enter a new partnership with RKW. Together, they will introduce products which strive for aesthetic excellence and durability across housewares, cookshop and SDA.

RKW will also showcase a range of new products across floorcare, heating and cooling categories along with new designs and innovations from Laura Ashley by ViewQuest.

Inset: RKW has entered a new partnership with Sur La Table to offer products across housewares, cookshop and SDA.

Below: The Good Food in partnership with Tower 10L Dual Side Oven & Basket Air Fryer with Vizion Viewing Windows.

Left: Swan’s Retro collection will also see a new era: Retro Revive, drawing inspiration from the Retro collection, but infusing it with a contemporary twist.

Below: Tower’s latest air fryer launch, AIRX, analyses food type and volume to determine the optimum temperature and cooking time.

1: Swan Retro Revive

Traditional Kettle

Bring your kitchen to life with the 1.7L kettle from Swan’s Retro Revive. Inspired by the vibrant tones and unique colour palettes of the 1950s and 1960s, consumers can create an exciting collection that perfectly complements both modern and traditional décor. The large capacity makes it possible to serve up to seven cups from just one fill. Boil dry protection will prevent the kettle from boiling when empty so it doesn’t get damaged, while the auto shut-off feature ensures the kettle turns off when it finishes boiling for added peace of mind. The filter can be removed for simple cleaning, to enable any excess limescale to be rinsed off to leave cuppas tasting fresh. The 0.7m power cord prevents worktops from getting cluttered. Complete the look with the full Retro Revive Range.

RKW

T: 0333 220 6070

E: sales@rkwltd.com

W: rkwltd.com

2: Tower Cordless Steam Iron

Make light work of the ironing with the 3100W Cord/Cordless Steam Iron with XL Soleplate from Tower. The non-stick ceramic soleplate glides across garments to remove creases and leave them looking their best every time. The XL Soleplate covers a larger surface area and ensures every inch of material is taken care of. The 45g/min of continuous steam ensures light work of most fabrics, while the powerful 200g steam boost tackles stubborn creases with ease. One Temp Technology keeps the soleplate at a constant temperature, allowing the iron to be used on any garment. The no steam function adds an extra level of versatility and is ideal for use with materials prone to water damage. The large 350ml water tank prevents constant refilling and the anti-drip and selfclean functions prevent build-up of harmful limescale and prolongs its performance. The vertical steam function tackles creases in larger hanging garments, such as curtains and bed sheets for full versatility. The cordless function offers full freedom of movement and will tackle daily ironing tasks without getting tangled up in wires.

RKW

T: 0333 220 6070

E: sales@rkwltd.com

W: rkwltd.com

3: 2-in-1 Iced Coffee Machine

Introducing a new way to enjoy coffee at home, Salter's 2-in-1 Iced Coffee Maker offers the versatility to brew both hot and cold beverages and is compatible with ground coffee or coffee pads. The Coffee Maker includes a 420ml double-walled stainless-steel travel mug which maintains the perfect drink temperature, making it ideal for enjoying coffee on the go. Additionally, it includes a plastic iced coffee cup with a straw, offering a stylish and durable option for enjoying a refreshing iced coffee on the go.    Salter

E: sales@upplc.com

W: salter.com

4: Beldray AirGo

Cordless Vacuum

Cordless freedom meets bagged convenience with the new Beldray Airgo Cordless Vacuum Cleaner. The first bagged vacuum in the Beldray range, the AirGo offers a lightweight, cordless design. Boasting a 45minute operating time and a 2-in-1 handheld unit, efficient cleaning is guaranteed throughout the home. The innovative Vacube technology allows users to enjoy dust free and hygienic emptying, making the model ideal for allergy sufferers. The AirGo also features a wall mount, providing easy and spacesaving storage.

Beldray

E: sales@upplc.com

W: beldray.com

5: Beldray 3200W Digital Iron

The new Beldray Digital Steam Iron takes the guesswork out of ironing. With a clear-to-read LED display and four preset functions, steaming through the ironing becomes a breeze. The 3M power cord allows for ultimate flexibility, while the auto shut-off technology ensures the iron is never left on too long when idle. The 3200W Digital Steam Iron introduces new innovation to Beldray’s extensive ironing range and offers impressive performance for tech savvy consumers.

Beldray

E: sales@upplc.com

W: beldray.com

Products New

THE ICING ON THE CAKE

Be it bread, cakes or cookies, consumers are still getting their bake on at home and suppliers are continuing to innovate and create new lines to keep sales strong. PH finds out what the latest trends are and what’s important to both consumers and retailers when making their purchasing decisions.

Housewares retailers reported in the Progressive Housewares 2023 Retail Barometer, that sales of bakeware were either stable (64%) or increased (36%), with none seeing a decline, showing that the popularity of home baking is here to stay. Suppliers are also seeing strong demand. Pauline Clements, sales and marketing UK at Nordic Ware, said: “We are seeing continued growth across all our bakeware ranges, but especially in the everyday items like our Naturals and Prism baking sheets, cake pans and loaf tins. This growth is driven by several factors, including the continued popularity of home baking and home baking shows, consumers’ desire for homemade and

healthier options and our ongoing engagement with industry influencers.”

Head of UK sales at Fackelmann Brands UK, Simon Rees, agrees: “The bakeware sector is experiencing growth this year as over the last years, driven by increased consumer interest in home baking. The market is benefitting from innovations in materials and designs, with products like silicone and non-stick gaining popularity for their usability and durability.”

Brands, tells us: “The market continues to pose challenges, but we’ve witnessed a steady growth in bakeware. The baking boom that came out of the pandemic has created consumers who want to trade up, with longevity being key, while the cost-of-living crisis has increased focus on cooking from scratch.

“Every year the Great British Bake Off remains an eagerly awaited focal point for bakeware and baking, giving an undeniable category boost for us and our partners.”

The current economic crisis has in fact helped bakeware sales for many. Jayne O’Donnell, head of UK independent sales at Lifetime

Tightened purse strings influence retailer and consumer purchasing decisions, as Tony Grimshaw OBE, director of What More UK explains: “The trend as far as the end customer is concerned in times of a financial crunch, is towards quality and value for money. What More bangs both those gongs loudly. As far as our retail customers are concerned, it’s those two factors, plus service.

“Replenishing stock that is selling fast is high on their agenda, capitalising on the sales potential of good sellers.”

Inset: What More recently launched its Betterware range with the aim to ‘blow the socks off the market place’.

Below: The new Crisper Tray from Tala features a new wider rim meaning it’s easier to hold without taking up too much extra space in the oven.

Below left: Nordic Ware has a number of new everyday bakeware ranges launching in autumn and spring 2025 and continues to promote its Naturals and Prism ranges.

Pauline furthers: “Products that offer a balance between affordability in the current economy, but allow profitability for the retailer with a quality product, are key.

Products that maintain integrity over time and continue to give consistent results are a must for consumers. Even heat distribution that delivers consistent baking results, nonstick properties during baking and products that are easy to clean are highly valued.

“High quality, durable bakeware that guarantees customer satisfaction and reduces returns, is critical. While affordability is key, consumers also look for value for money.”

Pauline goes on to discuss product choices: “Offering a diverse range of bakeware, including innovative and multifunctional items, helps retailers attract a wider customer base and meet consumer needs.”

For Simon, innovation is crucial. “Advances in bakeware materials, such as silicone and nonstick coatings, are enhancing the usability and appeal of bakeware. Aluminium and carbon steel are also popular for heat conduction properties and durability. Products with innovative features such as unique designs, attract consumers looking for convenience and professional quality results.”

In terms of consumer trends, usability and design are also important. Katie Maxwell, buying director, Salter, comments: “On Salter bakeware, our newest ranges always offer something additional for the consumer, such as our stacking sets, which save cupboard storage space, or our two- and three-piece coordinating sets, which promise an easy-tobuy matching solution. We also now include a cooling rack within some of our bakeware ranges, a nice touch for a baking fanatic.

“In terms of colour, our Salter Bakes is available in either black or gold, offering an on-trend colourway option, as well as something a little more typical for everyday. Our baking trays, roasters and pizza trays are always a firm favourite, especially when we are able to coordinate with a wider cookware or kitchen electrical range.”

Pauline continues: “Brands are producing bakeware in coordinated colour schemes and

Kitchen heroes

patterns that include electricals, gadgets and tools and accessories. Consumers will purchase bakeware that is aesthetically pleasing. However function over fashion still wins with product performance still key.”

As always, sustainability plays a role. Jayne explains: “We are all becoming more conscious of the environmental impact of any purchase, consumers are adopting a ‘buy once and use forever’ mentality. There has been much conversation surrounding toxins and cookware and this has spilt over into bakeware, consumers will only accept bakeware that is 100% toxin free.”

Nick Squire, managing director of Dayes, furthers: “Not only is Tala Performance bakeware produced in the most environmentally friendly, carbon neutral factory, but our non-stick coating has been tested to the highest standard both in liquid and in finished form, is PFAS-free and continues to perform time

Given the popularity of bakeware in Q3, supported by The Great British Bake Off, Lifetime Brands wants to enliven the category and support retailers with its recently launched MasterClass Kitchen Heroes brand campaign.

Jayne explains: “Our retailers can benefit from a range of MasterClass Kitchen Heroes printed POS, starting with a focus on bakeware, plus a full pack of ecommerce assets including banners, videos and GIFs. We’re also supporting the launch of the campaign with a free gift with purchase to further support sell through.

“Our heroes are our fabulous independent sales team, they’re a joy to work with and we’ve equipped them with some Kitchen Heroes accessories while they’re out on the road – think capes and look out for them. We’d love to see some snaps of our hero team with your hero products in-store.”

Made in Britain

What More has its own manufacturing resource in the UK, following its acquisition of Firsteel, which allows the company to control its supply chain and to experiment with different coatings.

Tony explains: “This year sees a continuation of building on the success of the previous year. We have our own two tool rooms, working full on, trying to keep up with our design team and our continuous new product drive. We launched our new Betterware range at Exclusively and it went exceptionally well.

“Our mantra on manufacture, of having unused capacity to grow into, works for both our plastic manufactured and our bakeware/cookware products. We will always have capacity to fill. We can cope with extra demand and react very quickly to replenish fast moving lines. We are manufacturing in Burnley, not Beijing.”

after time. This is your assurance for enduring performance and low environmental impact.”

Simon furthers: “There is a growing demand for eco-friendly and sustainable bakeware. Companies are focusing on reducing carbon emissions and using sustainable materials to meet consumer preferences.”

Trends in other areas of housewares also have an impact. Pauline outlines: “Air fryers seem to be in a category all of their own with sales continuing to climb. With energy efficiency and fuel costs still a big issue, the air fryer will continue to be a big part of the UK kitchen market. This means there is a need for bakeware that fits and for recipes that are designed for use in the air fryer. “

To find out what else is new and trending in bakeware, simply turn the page.

Inset: The Seven Piece Stackable Bakeware Collection from Salter Bakes provides the consumer with the added benefit of saving precious cupboard space.

Inset: Lifetime Brands recently launched a range of 100% recycled and recyclable bakeware. Made from certified recycled aluminium, it’s toxin free, as well as rust and warp resistant.

Inset: The Dr Oetker range from Fackelmann offers a variety of shapes and sizes of tins.

1: Dayes Bakeware

Dayes has developed exclusive tooling with a new wider rim meaning bakeware is easier to hold without taking up too much extra space in the oven. Portion markings have been added on key pieces such as loaf pans, brownie tins and pizza trays. Dayes continues to use the best non-stick available. Not only is Tala Performance bakeware produced in an environmentally friendly factory , but its non-stick coating has been tested to the highest standard, is PFAS-free and continues to perform time after time.

Dayes

T: 01728 833400

E: Sales@dayesuk.com

2: Salter Bakes 7-Piece Stackable Bakeware Set

Part of the Salter Bakes range, which offers full coordination across kitchen electrical and bakeware, the 7-Piece Stackable Bakeware Set provides a versatile solution for baking and roasting. Featuring cake tins, brownie pans, roasting tins and cooling racks designed for compact storage, all seven pieces fit together, minimising storage space. The set includes a PFOA-free non-stick coating, ensuring easy release of baked goods and effortless cleanup. Crafted with quality materials for durability, this set combines functionality with a sleek matt black design, making it a practical yet stylish addition to any kitchen.

Salter

E: sales@upplc.com

W: salter.com

Products New

3: Progress Bakeware and Ovenware

Healthy food preparation is made easier with this collection of ovenware from Progress. Cooking requires little to no oil due to a premium non-stick coating, allowing the creation of low fat, nutritious meals. Featured in the collection is a 36.5cm Roaster, 37cm Baking Tray and Pizza Pan. Each is PFOA-free and made from strong and durable carbon steel, for long lasting quality.

Progress

E: sales@upplc.com

W: progresscookshop.com

4: GreenPan PFAS-free Ceramic NonStick Bakeware

The GreenPan PFAS-free Non-Stick Bakeware range is made of quality, strong 8mm aluminised steel (to avoid warping) with a two-layer PFAS-free ceramic non-stick coating for scratch-resistant performance, extreme durability and easy release.

Oven safe up to 230°C, the black range (PFAS-free non-stick layer inside and silicone polyester outside) can be used for a multitude of baking recipes. The range is dishwasher safe (except the spring form and muffin pans).

For 17 years, GreenPan has been the original pioneer of Thermolon, a healthy, ceramic non-stick coating with all the advantages of traditional non-stick, but without harmful toxins such as PFAS. Thermolon is used in a wide range of healthy, sustainable cookware and bakeware.

Burton McCall

T: 0116 234 4611

E: sales@burton-mccall.com

5: NoStik Bake Liner

The ideal solution for keeping cooking appliances clean, the NoStik reusable Bake Liner is an alternative to disposable baking paper. This reduces the need for fats or oils, resulting in healthier meals. Simply cut to size and it's good to go. The Teflon non-stick coating is suitable for use in all types of ovens and with all types of bakeware, including oven trays, racks, stainless steel, glass and porcelain. Heat-resistant up to 260 °C and easy to clean.

Bakeware

NoStik has been manufactured in Belgium since 1990, with sustainability being its key selling point. Its products are characterised by durability and versatility, catering to both home and professional kitchens. NoStik products can be reused again and again, reducing waste and promoting ecofriendly cooking practices.

Burton McCall

T: 0116 234 4611

E: sales@burton-mccall.com

6: Luxe Kitchen

Luxe Kitchen is a professional durable hard anodised bakeware collection from Captivate Brands – abrasion-resistant and metal utensil-safe and with everything from loaf tins and springforms to tarts, Yorkshire tins and roasters. Oven-safe to 240°˚C, Luxe Kitchen bakeware will not peel, flake or rust and is stovetop-safe for all hobs except induction. Items are PTFEand PFOA-free and there is mini bakeware (10cm springform, 8 cup loaf and 24 cup muffin pans) to create individual bakes.   Captivate Brands

T: 01386 421622

E: info@captivatebrands.co.uk

W: www.captivatebrands.com

1: De Buyer Elastomoule silicone bakeware

Experts in all aspects of professional patisserie equipment, De Buyer’s Elastomoule collection revolutionises silicone bakeware with its combination of silicone foam and metal powder – this results in exceptional heat-conduction for even caramelisation and browning every time. Added to this are world-beating non-stick qualities for easy turning out of cakes and desserts – professional results from domestic kitchens. Ovenproof to 300 degrees Celsius, every item can be cut into two or three segments for airfryer use. Dishwasher safe. Made in France.

Haus

T: 01782 572910

E: info@inthehaus.co.uk

W: www.hauswares.co.uk

2: De Buyer refillable baking nozzle display

Satisfy increasing customer demand for durable and reliable steel baking nozzles with De Buyer’s extensive and easy to display collection. Used by professional pastry chefs worldwide, the comprehensive range contains 88 different styles and size variants – this space-saving display is filled with the 24 most popular of these to kickstart an offering –each can also be individually replenished when needed. Made in France. Dishwasher safe.

Haus

T: 01782 572910

E: info@inthehaus.co.uk

W: www.hauswares.co.uk

3: Disney Mickey and Friends Inspired Bakeware

Prestige and Disney Home have announced a new collaboration in creating unique products and experiences in the kitchen – mixing innovations with bakeware; quality and expertise with magic and emotional connection. Each bakeware product in the collection is crafted with care and attention to detail, ensuring consumers get the best possible experience in the kitchen. The bakeware is embossed with a raised Mickey Mouse design for fuss free food release.

Prestige

W: www.prestige.co.uk

W: www.meyergroup.co.uk

4: Superb Collection

The Superb Collection offers exceptional quality and unique selling points. Made from 0.6mm thick aluminised steel, it provides even heat distribution and prevents warping. The Premium Double Layered High End Coating ensures easy release of your bakes and easy cleaning. The collection is PFOA, PTFE, BPA, and Cadmium Free, ensuring safety and health. With a variety of pan shapes and sizes, this versatile line offers durability, ease of use, and affordability.

RL Industry

W: www.bakerssecret.com

E: sales@rlindustry.com

W: www.rlindustry.com

5: Laura Ashley Bakeware

Pendeford Housewares is introducing a range of Laura Ashley Bakeware. Launching at Ambiente 2024, the company will present the collection of high quality, nonstick, heavy duty bakeware, featuring easy grip, stain free, silicone handles. The products carry a 10-year guarantee. Pendeford Housewares

E: j.burgess@pendeford.co.uk

W: www.pendeford.co.uk

Products New

Bakeware

6: Precision Plus 23cm loose base sandwich tin

Consumers can develop their baking repertoire and experience using Tower's innovative loose base 20cm sandwich cake tin. Its heavy-duty construction is strong, hard wearing and is resistant to warping under high temperatures, meaning this tin is built to last. Internally reinforced with superior Black Diamond non-stick coating, it's highly effective at preventing bakes from sticking to the tin, making for an effortless release and exceptional clean. The intuitive loose bottom is easy to use, simply push the cake from the base and the whole thing pops out in one perfect, neat piece. While suitable for use in the oven, withstanding temperatures of up to 260C/500F, the sandwich cake tin can also be used in the fridge, freezer and dishwasher - although hand washing is recommended to maintain the finish.

RKW

T: 0333 220 6070

E: sales@rkwltd.com

W: rkwltd.com

BRAND VALUES

As Brand Licensing Europe 2024 nears, the licensing industry is readying its latest brands and content for potential licensees and retailers. PH finds out what the recipe for success in licensed housewares is and how brands and suppliers work together to create winning ranges.

Licensed brands in housewares are a strong sales driver across a wide range of categories. Whether it’s cookware suppliers partnering with chefs, tableware manufacturers teaming up with art brands, or appliance companies working with lifestyle properties, there are licensed brands suitable for everyone.

Ben Roberts, head of content, EMEA at Brand Licensing Europe (BLE), Europe’s leading event for licensing and brand extension, comments: “The licensed housewares category is a special one, because consumers are inviting these products into their personal space, so they mean much more

than other items of merchandise. That’s why licensing and home are such good partners, because it builds a bridge from the emotional connection we have to a brand, through physical products and for adults, there’s no more emotionally charged place than home.

“So, when trusted brands, celebrities or influencers enter the space, it’s a chance for us to connect to their values. No matter what the intellectual property, there’s something that resonates at mass or niche consumer circles.”

With so many possibilities, the housewares industry is full of opportunity for brand licensing, which Ben sees as the main driver for growth. “The fact the category is so broad also makes it attractive for retailers and manufacturers –from electronics, tools, kitchen to tableware and so much more,” he continues. “And I’m confident we will continue to see it grow with more and more sub-trends being created.

“Perhaps this is why we’re seeing

more players entering the space with intent and innovating to create products that enhance our lives. It’s certainly a category that’s growing - last year’s Global Licensing Group’s Top Global Licensors report showed that 30% of brand owners planned to explore the home décor space this year and I predict that this category of licensing is set to become an increasingly established part of the market.” So what makes a licensed housewares range successful? Bryony Dyer, managing director at Dexam, explains: “For us, a successful licensed range hinges on several key ingredients. First the licensed asset, whether a character, brand

Inset: My VQ’s Laura Ashley China Rose collection celebrates Laura Ashley’s iconic style on a range of appliances including kettles, toasters, slow cookers, stand mixers, radios and more.

Inset: The Good Food in partnership with Tower range will launch in Q4 and features this 8L Duo 12 in 1 Air Fryer.

Inset: Eddingtons works with brands that are loved and recognised across generations and around the world, such as Peter Rabbit, National Trust and The Snowman.

or pattern, should be recognisable and have a strong existing fan base with a proven track record and enduring appeal across generations. When we look at NPD, the target audience for these needs to be aligned with the licensed brand to ensure we launch products fans connect with.

“In addition we ensure our licensed products are high quality, well made and relevant to the target audience’s needs and desires. We find a touch of innovation in product design or features can make licensed products stand out. Offering exclusive items or limited editions like we did for Scion’s 10th anniversary can further entice fans.”

Finding brands which work with existing customers is important. Carl Wright, marketing director, Meyer tells us: “Ensuring the licensed brand resonates deeply with our target consumers and aligns with their values and lifestyles is crucial. A successful licensed range requires strong brand alignment, maintaining high quality and innovation, thorough market research, effective marketing strategies, collaborative partnership and then working together to develop great product, that meets the consumers’ and partners’ requirements.”

There is a range of factors involved in finding the right brands to work with.

Ruby Coombs, brand licensing executive at RKW, explains: “We look for

seek out brands that, while perhaps not fully

recognised in our immediate industry, have strong recognition and trust among consumers. It’s essential that these brands align with our overall vision and goals,

Brand Licensing Europe 2024

Kevin McKay, managing director of Captivate Brands, furthers: “You need to keep it fresh, while not totally moving away from the core design, look or feel of the licence.”

enhancing our product range and providing a distinctive point of difference. This strategic alignment helps us offer unique and appealing products that stand out in the marketplace.”

Dexam has a range of criteria for selection: “I ask a number of questions,” says Bryony. “For example, does the brand’s existing fan base match our target audience? Are the brand’s values and message complementary to the image we want to project with our products? Does the brand naturally lend itself to the type of products we create?

“In addition, I look for their reputation as a licensor – do they have a successful track record with licensed products?

BLE returns to ExCeL London from 24-26 September, 2024, to celebrate its 25th anniversary, offering an opportunity for European retailers and manufacturers/licensees to discover and meet brands and have the initial conversations to kickstart the creation of the next slate of licensed consumer products.

Over 200 exhibiting companies will be at the show, including sports, toy, kids and baby, charity, gaming, publishing and museum and heritage brands.

The License Global Theatre will host keynotes from the likes of Xbox head of consumer products, John Friend and entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den investor, Sara Davies MBE.

All registered attendees are given access to the BLE Event Planner to pre-book meetings, explore brands and plan their session agenda.

For further information and to register, visit www.brandlicensing.eu.

Inset: Meyer’s partnership with Disney Home and Prestige has bought Disney characters into the kitchen, creating fun, engaging products for families.

Inset: ESG has just launched the HEXGuard Pan collection under its Hairy Bikers Kitchenware brand, offering professional quality product with a lifetime guarantee. Below left: Mepal is joining the Stitch trend with this campus drinking bottle pop-up and bento lunchbox.

FOCUS ON LICENSING

Licensed launches

There are many new launches on the market in licensed housewares. Carl begins: “Our collaboration with Nadiya Hussain and Prestige has introduced a line of cookware and bakeware that combines Nadiya’s culinary expertise and vibrant personality with Prestige’s trusted quality.”

Kevin adds: “Some stand-out new designs for Captivate Brands include Strawberry Garden, one of the new SS designs from quintessentially British brand, Cath Kidston, available on fine china and 100% cotton textiles.”

RKW is launching a new Sur La Table range across cookshop, housewares and SDA. The company has also partnered with cleaning influencer, Lynsey Queen of Clean. Ruby says: “The collection now encompasses a wider array of products, not just across floorcare, but also cleaning products such as dryer balls and toilet brushes, all elegantly styled in Lynsey’s famous favourite colour, pink.”

Mepal has extended its Little Dutch collaboration. Joe explains: “Little Dutch has a strong position in newborn and young children. Therefore we also introduced their prints on the Mepal newborn and young children collection.”

New storage tins are being added to Dexam’s Kellogg’s Pop Art range, and the company is bringing in two new RHS designs – Hooker Fruit and Cottage Garden. For Christmas, Eddingtons is introducing The Snowman Alpine Adventure range, featuring the alpine fox from the books. The collection comprises tea towels, oven gloves, apron, spatulas and a glass worktop protector.

“This can be a good indicator of future potential.”

Recognition can also play an important role. Joe Stalder, country sales leader UK, Mepal, outlines: “We select brands to collaborate with based on their popularity and alignment with the Mepal brand. Our primary focus is on licences that are wellknown and loved across multiple countries including Germany, the UK and the Benelux region, rather than on local Dutch heroes.”

But brands of all sizes can work well. Jim Clawley, commercial director at Eurosonic Group (ESG), says: “We are always on the lookout for brands that align with our values. We have worked with world renowned brands, as well as introducing brand new licences to the consumer and it’s important that we can work alongside them to innovate and create new products. We want to grow a brand and grow with them.”

aesthetics; we also seek out British brands that hold a special place in people’s hearts. It’s about celebrating the rich heritage of design in this country and on a global scale.”

Licensed ranges can also help revive brands. Kevin tells us: “Our latest licence, Australian tabletop brand, Maxwell & Williams, was unveiled at our spring shows. My background is in retail and when I was

a buyer, it was a big brand in the UK. For whatever reason, it hasn’t been that for a while, but we really see the value in it as a licence.”

increasingly, are sustainably produced. There also must be a level of authenticity that reflects both brands’ personality and a believability that the licensed ranges feel personally relevant and meaningful.”

RKW sees two audiences for its licensed ranges. Ruby outlines: “Firstly, consumers look for functional and reliable lifestyle brands they can trust, valuing the practicality and dependability of these products.

“Secondly, there is a growing interest in artist or entertainment licences, which prioritise style and design, offering a unique aesthetic appeal. Despite these differing focuses, reliability and quality remain key factors, especially given the significant investment often required for licensed housewares products.”

For others, a particular type of brand works best. Richard Walker, managing director of Eddingtons, comments: “We prefer to work with evergreen licences. Our licensed ranges are British, heritage brands with beautiful assets and style guides, making it easier to create wonderful collections for retail.”

Jonathan Merricks, ceo and creative director, My VQ agrees: “When we select brands, we try to prioritise the ones with a strong reputation for innovation and design aesthetics. It’s all about creating something unique that stands out among a large variety of products that offer the same features. But it’s not just about

When it comes to what consumers are looking for in licensed products, Sachin Bagga, director, Sabichi, expands: “Consumers are looking for high quality housewares and kitchenware products that combine functionality with stylish designs. They want products that reflect their personal style and resonate with the aesthetics of their favourite brands.”

Carl adds: “Consumers seek high quality, aesthetically pleasing and functional housewares that offer value for money, reflect brand loyalty and

The ingredients for licensed housewares success are many. Turn the page to see what’s new in the sector.

Inset: Highights from Dexam this year include some new faces in its Scion range with a Swim, Swam, Swan and Lionel the Leopard range making an appearance.

Below: Haden’s recent collaboration with Smiley features a 4-Slice Toaster and 1.7l kettle, combining premium kitchenware with Smiley’s iconic emoticons.

Inset: The Capri range from Captivate Brands’ latest licence, Maxwell & Williams.

1: Eleanor Bowmer, Electric Coast

Brand new for SS24, Electric Coast is inspired by Eleanor Bowmer’s summers spent across the pond. The all American ‘Electric Coast’ collection marries together Eleanor’s vibrant design-style with a new range of dinnerware, serve pieces, glassware, table linens and accessories. Not one to be missed.   Pure Table Top

W: www.puretabletop.com

E: raven.sprague@puretabletop.com

2: Eleanor Bowmer, Fabulously Festive

Launching in September, the new Fabulously Festive Christmas tableware collection makes no exceptions. Bursting with colour and personality, Eleanor's unique illustrative style brings the magic of Christmas to life across every piece in the collection. From serve platters to Christmas mugs, adorned in festive art, this collection of tableware is guaranteed to make it a December to remember.  Pure Table Top

W: www.puretabletop.com

E: raven.sprague@puretabletop.com

3: Thermos Icon

Five exciting new colours have been added to Thermos’ popular Icon Series including Sandstone, Harebell Blue, Peony Pink, Solent Navy and Rock Cap Green. Made of durable and food grade stainless steel with anti-slip bases, the Icon Series is dishwasher proof, leak-proof and has a five-year guarantee. The flasks keep hot drinks at temperature for 24 hours and the bottles keep cold drinks chilled for 24 hours. The food flasks keep contents hot for up to 10 hours and cold for 24 hours.

Thermos

T: 0113 276 3450

4:

Disney Signature

Thermos and Disney Home continue to collaborate with the new Signature Flask Collection. Playful designs include signatures from seven much-loved Disney characters. The 470ml insulated direct-drink flasks each have a selection of individual photobooth style ‘strike a pose’ character images along with their own, instantly recognisable signature. Disney fans can choose from flasks featuring: Disney Mickey Mouse, Disney Minnie Mouse, Disney Daisy Duck, Disney Donald Duck, Disney Goofy, Disney Pluto and Stitch from Disney Lilo and Stitch.

Thermos

T: 0113 276 3450

5: Cath Kidston 4-Slice

Toaster – Bees

If you're looking for a multi-functional toaster that not only makes the perfect toast, but can also cook bagels, crumpets and wholesome thick-sliced bread, then look no further. The VQ Cath Kidston 4-Slice Toaster is the perfect match to make breakfast and style the kitchen at the same time.

My VQ

E: hira@newdawninnovations.co.uk

6: Cath Kidston Jug Kettle – Bees

If you're looking for an easy way to make a hot cup of tea or the beverage of your choice, look no further than the beautiful VQ Cath Kidston Cordless Electric Jug Kettle. With a capacity of up to seven cups, the kettle is a perfect match for a coffee, hot chocolate, a mocha and much more.

My VQ

E: hira@newdawninnovations.co.uk

7: V&A Leicester

kitchen textiles

Museums & Galleries’ V&A kitchen textiles range has been shortlisted for the Licensing Award in the Excellence in Housewares Awards 2024. William Morris’s Leicester wallpaper design features here on an apron, oven gloves, tea towel and cloth and organic cotton napkins.

Museums & Galleries

W: www.museumsgalleries.co.uk

T: 01373 462165

E: sales@mgml.co.uk

Products New

Licensed Products

CLASSIC A FRESH NEW

With a range of leading housewares brands, including Diamond, Chef's Choice and IBake and its own brand collections, Pendeford is an established name in the housewares market. However, this year saw the company enter new territory with a licensed collection with heritage British brand, Laura Ashley.

The company’s collection of Laura Ashley housewares launched internationally at Ambiente at the beginning of the year and then to the UK industry at Exclusively Housewares in June.

Lee Parkin, managing director comments: “We knew the brand had global demand, but we were very pleased indeed by just how many regions around the world were interested in the product range. We now have a pipeline of customers spanning over 35 countries including US, South Africa, Europe, Korea, the Middle East and Australia.

and quality subtle finishes.”

The brand recognition for Laura Ashley was one of the most appealing things about the license. With 97% recognition in the UK, plus a strong global consumer base, it ticked the boxes for expanding reach. Housewares also represented a gap in the portfolio.

“Customers are attracted by the fact we’ve managed to translate the Laura Ashley personality into the kitchen, using some of its most loved prints, block colours

Having specialised in housewares product development, import and distribution since 1958, Pendeford recently signed the Laura Ashley licence to help expand its reach both in the UK and internationally. Lee Parkin, managing director, tells PH about the latest collection.

Lee continues: “What made the license such an exciting proposition was this area being the missing piece of the puzzle for Laura Ashley. Given it is world famous for home furnishings, textiles and tableware, there was a gap in its lifestyle offering across kitchenware. Given a large proportion of the brand’s consumer profile generally loves to cook and bake, it made complete sense to us and Laura Ashley that we were a good fit.”

When developing the collection, Pendeford focused on the range, rather than individual lines. Lee explains: “We started with the brand personality traits and its lifestyle appeal. We created a lifestyle offering, ensuring a flow in cook, bake and serve (with prep and store also in development), consisting of over 150 products in Laura Ashley’s most loved colourways including Sage Leaf, Dark Slate, Dove Grey and prints including Sage

Now launching to strong orders, the range is set to expand. Lee says: “We have an initial launch plan close to 150 new products. Next year, this will grow significantly, expanding into prepware, storage and expanding our existing categories with complementary products.

“We have a strong roadmap of product development with lots more exciting items in the pipeline.”

Those launches will be supported with marketing from Pendeford. Lee explains: “Something in particular that I’m really excited about is our in-store merchandising plans. As mentioned, we really believe in painting the lifestyle brand picture in stores and to support that, we have developed a range of retailer merchandising options, from branded instore POS, to larger stand-alone units that really capture the Laura Ashley style.”

For now, Pendeford is focused on making the Laura Ashley range a success, but there may be more brand partnerships in the future. Lee concludes: “The feedback we’ve received and initial pre-orders for our range launches has been very exciting and this is something we are looking to build upon.

Longer term we feel like there may be space in our portfolio, but for now it’s about working with the amazing new Laura Ashley products we have.”

Parterre, Wild Meadow and China Rose.”

Inset: Pendeford’s Laura Ashley cookware is available in colours such as Sage Leaf, Dark Slate and Dove Grey.

Right: Lee Parkin, managing director, Pendeford.

Below: Pendeford has utilised some of the brand’s most iconic prints on its new lines.

Left: The cookware features subtle Laura Ashley branding on the handles, as well as the instantly recognisable brand colours.

1: New Mikasa & V&A Alice in Wonderland

Immerse yourself in the world of Alice and the rich history of the Victoria & Albert museum. Celebrating the cultural phenomenon of Alice in Wonderland, Lifetime Brands has expanded its award winning collection, showcasing the intricate illustrations inspired by Sir John Tenniel’s renowned artwork and adding a touch of modern flair with on-trend pastel colours and the V&A’s signature floral designs. Celebrate the fantasy and quirkiness associated with Carrol’s manuscript and Tenniel’s illustrations and harness the magic of Alice with this new collection. Giftable and sustainably thought through, new gift box packaging is recyclable and drop ship ready. Each box is adorned with illustrations and contains a surprise on opening – a memorable unboxing experience inspired by the magic of Wonderland. A tried and tested consumer hit, the new designs are available in bestselling pieces from the current collection, as well as a selection of new products including cake tins and trays.  Lifetime Brands Europe

E: saleseu@lifetimebrands.com

T: 01216046000

2: New Mikasa x Tipperleyhill

Mikasa has partnered with artists Tipperleyhill. Tipperleyhill are two talented UK-based artists, Abi and Roz, who work together to create quirky animal illustrations. Abi paints the animals and Roz adds the colourful pattern to their shirts and accessories. The duo met working at a textile design studio in New York. Roz confessed she didn’t like drawing and Abi replied she didn’t like colouring-in and so the dream-team was created. Lifetime Brands has extended this gifting collaboration. As well as mugs and hydration bottles, the collection now includes key tableware pieces such as side plates and cups and saucers, each of which feature Tipperlehill’s animal illustrations. Complete with drop ship ready, sustainable gift box packaging.   Lifetime Brands Europe

E: saleseu@lifetimebrands.com

T: 01216046000

3: Eddingtons x National Trust

Eddingtons continues its collaboration with the National Trust, (Europe’s largest conservation charity) by producing a new range of nature inspired organic cotton tea towels and plant based cleaning cloths, to add to the already available National Trust nature and Alfriston clergy collection of glass worktop protectors.

The textiles and plant-based cleaning cloths feature watercolour illustrations of countryside scenes, native flora and fauna, animals and insects, reflecting the conservation work undertaken by the Trust and its team of rangers.  Eddingtons

E: sales@eddingtons.co.uk

T: 01488 686572

W: www.eddingtons.co.uk

4: The Snowman Alpine Adventure

The Snowman, Alpine Adventure licensed collection from Eddingtons features illustrations of The Snowman accompanied by the alpine fox, made famous in illustrations from the Raymond Briggs story books.

The kitchen textiles (featuring a repeat pattern in a soft grey and white) are available as a set of two cotton tea towels, double oven gloves, single oven mitt and adult apron, featuring an on-trend bobble decoration across the top of the front pocket. The set of two baking spatulas features the same repeat pattern, as well as variation and is sold as a mix set of 12. Finally, a glass worktop protector features James and The Snowman together on that snowy, winter’s night.

Eddingtons

E: sales@eddingtons.co.uk

T: 01488 686572

W: www.eddingtons.co.uk

5: Mepal Mio & Little Dutch

The Little Farm baby dinnerware set is the latest design collaboration between Mepal Mio and Little Dutch, which teaches children to eat and drink independently. The set consists of a non-spill cup, a trainer plate and a trainer spoon. The products have been specifically designed for small children's hands and are virtually indestructible, lightweight and dishwasher-safe.

Mepal

E: j.stalder@mepal.com

6: Mepal & Disney Frozen

Mepal’s Disney Frozen insulated bottle will keep your child's drink refreshingly cool all day long. The 350ml bottle has a practical flip-up lid which is attached to a straw inside the bottle, making it easy for even the smallest children to use - just flip up the spout to drink. It's guaranteed leakproof, so the bottle can be stored safely in a school bag. It also has a loop to make it easy to carry. The bottle is completely BPA-free and easy to clean.

Mepal

E: j.stalder@mepal.com

Products New Licensed Products

• Inspired by Japanese culture, asobu means fun and playful, and that is what we keep front and center in the design of our products. An Asobu bottle is designed with an emphasis on the aesthetics while always adding that element of fun in each of our unique bottles.

• Asobu has been honored with numerous design awards throughout our journey as proof of our commitment to excellence and innovation.

• We never stop. We’re all about progress. Constantly refining and innovating. We’re always pushing boundaries, introducing fresh designs that promise to charm and surprise you every season.

• Choosing Asobu is about embracing a sense of individuality and sophistication. And the best part? We are committed to maintaining a price point that’s accessible to all.

www.asobubottle.co.uk

1: Captivate Brands –Cath Kidston

The Captivate Brands licensing story started with Mary Berry, which is still a major part of the licensing business and has just seen both parties sign a new two-year contract. Two of the other major licenses are Cath Kidston and Yvonne Ellen – both a focus of great interest at recent trade shows – and the latest license, Australian tabletop brand Maxwell & Williams, unveiled at the spring shows this year. Pictured is Strawberry Garden, one of the new spring summer designs in the Cath Kidston collection, available on fine china and 100% cotton textiles.

Captivate Brands

T: 01386 421622

E: info@captivatebrands.co.uk

W: www.captivatebrands.com

2: Captivate Brands –Maxwell & Williams

It has been a busy six months for the team at Captivate Brands. Not only working on developments to its in-house brands, the team has also been busy with the licensed collection which includes Mary Berry, Cath Kidston and Yvonne Ellen, as well as a growing private label business. Captivate has also taken on a new license agreement with the leading Australian tabletop brand, Maxwell & Williams. This has been a great addition to the company’s portfolio of brands and was unveiled at Ambiente, then shown at Spring Fair and Exclusively. One of the ranges which really caught the attention at Exclusively is Capri, chosen by Scarlet Opus to feature in its colour trends showcase at the show.

Captivate Brands

T: 01386 421622

E: info@captivatebrands.co.uk

W: www.captivatebrands.com

3: Stor XXL Rambler

The XXL Rambler range from Stor appeals to young adults. Practical and original, the stainless steel rambler mug keeps things cool on hot days. The double-wall vacuum insulation means drinks stay cold, icy or hot for hours. The XXL Rambler is available in a variety of designs based on some of the most emblematic movie and TV characters, including officially licensed Disney’s Stitch, Minecraft, Marvel, Harry Potter and coming soon, Hello Kitty and The Nightmare Before Christmas, beautifully wrapped around the Rambler. Easy to brew and clean, hassle-free to drink coffee and tea and chilled drinks.

DKB Toys

E: james.luff@dkbtoys.com

4: Hello Kitty Mini Waffle Maker Set

Uncanny Brands is set to add to its growing library of pop culture kitchen appliances with the addition of Hello Kitty coming to the range. Soon consumers will be able to make Hello Kitty mini waffles at home. Pour in the batter, lower the lid and before you know it, there's Hello Kitty waffles, ready for butter and syrup.  All Hello Kitty fans will love the Hello Kitty Mini Waffle Maker Set. Make it a Hello Kitty breakfast with these non-stick mini waffle makers. The waffle maker is compact, easy to use and easy to clean.

DKB Toys

E: james.luff@dkbtoys.com

5: Laura Ashley Casserole Pot

The Laura Ashley Casserole Pot & Glass Lid in Dark Slate, is part of the new Laura Ashley cookware range from Pendeford. Beautifully finished with a protective matt paint and three coats of non-stick coating.    Pendeford

E: j.burgess@pendeford.co.uk

6: Laura Ashley Ceramic Kitchen accessories

Laura Ashely Ceramic Kitchen accessories are part of the new Laura Ashley cookware range from Pendeford. The original, ceramic handled kitchen accessories have been produced using a timeless Laura Ashley print.    Pendeford

E: j.burgess@pendeford.co.uk

7: Tea towels range

Museums & Galleries’ new collection of tea towel sets displays a rich variety of heritage and contemporary designs, vibrantly printed on machine washable organic cotton. The packs contain two tea towels with complementary designs and have a hanging loop. Size 60 x 45 cm.

Museums & Galleries

W: www.museumsgalleries.co.uk

T: 01373 462165

E: sales@mgml.co.uk

Products New

Licensed Products

1: Gastroback espresso machines

Gastroback has a range of new products this summer including two smaller espresso machines, perfect for today’s more compact living households. The Design Espresso Piccolo Pro M offers espresso, cappuccino and latte macchiato at the touch of a button. It also features an integrated automatic milk frother, which froths all types of milk and milk alternatives. The sister product, the Design Espresso Piccolo Pro, features an integrated milk frothing nozzle. All Gastroback products carry a two-year guarantee.

Gastroback

W: www.gastroback.co.uk

E: marcus.lux@gastroback.de

2: Gastroback Design Ice Cream Machine Advanced Control

Gastroback has launched a 2-in-1 ice cream maker and yoghurt maker, the Design Ice Cream Machine Advanced Control. Thanks to the efficient yet quiet 180W cooling compressor, the temperature can drop to -30°C in just a few minutes and is immediately ready for up to 1.5l of ice cream per hour. There is a XL touch-screen on the front of this stylish stainless steel product, with a transparent lid on the top and a refill flap for adding ingredients.   Gastroback

W: www.gastroback.co.uk

E: marcus.lux@gastroback.de

3: Compack stain cleaning on the go

BISSELL’s new portable carpet and upholstery deep cleaner combines cordless cleaning freedom with the power of a corded machine. Spray, scrub and vacuum tough stains from carpets, soft furniture, stairs, cars and outdoor upholstery. Remove unexpected food and drink spills from wherever the mess may take you. The included HydroRinse tool allows for easy self-cleaning to help clean out the hose after each use.

BISSELL

W: www.bissell.co.uk

E: sales@beamgroup.co.uk

4: Duux Whisper Essence Fan

Experience the perfect balance of cooling and tranquillity  Introducing the Whisper Essence Fan from Duux, a new addition designed to help you stay in control of your temperature this summer. With its elegant matte design, it effortlessly complements any interior. Whisper Essence delivers a powerful 15m wind reach which keeps any room cool and has been certified by Quiet Mark. Choose from seven speeds and up to eight hours of cooling using timer mode.

Duux

W: www.duux.co.uk

E: sales@beamgroup.co.uk

5: Hamilton Beach VisionCook 11L

Digital Dual Air Fryer Oven

For quicker, healthier, and simpler family cooking, the VisionCook 11L Digital Dual Air Fryer Oven is your musthave partner. Large viewing windows combined with digital controls make your cooking easy to adjust and ensure perfectly cooked meals. Easy to maintain and wellequipped, it is exclusively available from EPE International.

EPE International

E: sales@epeinternational.com

T: 0844 800 8055

6: Hamilton Beach Intelligent Control Soup Maker Plus

Products New

The new Hamilton Beach Intelligent Control Soup Maker Plus will craft nourishing soups, smoothies and jams, bursting with delicious flavours in less than 30 minutes.  It has a 1.6 litre capacity stainless and ergonomic jug for up to four portions and is equipped with sensor for a messfree soup. The stainless-steel blades achieve consistently smooth results with every blend.

EPE International

E: sales@epeinternational.com

T: 0844 800 8055

Squishmallows Cam the Cat Waffle Maker

You don’t have to be a child to enjoy this squishy snackthe Cam the Cat Waffle Maker makes mealtimes more fun for everyone. Simply turn on, pour in the batter and press to create a tasty treat in minutes - Fussy eater or 'Mallow mad, when it comes to these waffles, they won't be able to resist.

Fizz Creations

T: 01903 327006

E: sales@fizzcreations.com

W: www.fizzcreations.com

BE PREPARED

Meal prep – the practice of planning and preparing food for the upcoming week in advance – is everywhere. Social media offers rows of beautifully prepared meals stored in containers, but what's behind this trend of meal prepping? Who's taking part in it and how is it reshaping consumer habits?

In 2023, a significant shift was noted in the UK: a study by Statista showed that 46% of respondents reported dining out less frequently, while 25% indicated they were cooking more meals from scratch compared to the previous year.

The driving force behind this change

could be meal prepping. The practise has gained momentum across the UK, fuelled by a growing emphasis on health, efficient time management during the working week, economic benefits and a shift towards sustainability and anti-food waste behaviours.

Nick Cornwell, managing director of

Black + Blum, expands: “Notably, according to the study, younger demographicsMillennials and Gen-Z - have increasingly adopted meal prepping into their routines. Among this group are busy professionals and health-conscious individuals who have adopted the practical solution to maintain a balanced diet amidst their hectic lifestyles.

“It’s also been noted that individuals who plan their meals are more likely to follow nutritional guidelines and eat a better variety of foods. Meal prepping for the week removes the need for those quick takeout meals, or for throwing together an assortment from the pantry while your mind is clouded with hunger.”

TIME MANAGEMENT

As consumers strive to balance personal and professional lives, finding the time and energy to cook every day can be a challenge. Nick continues: “Meal-prepping offers a solution, allowing you to come

Above: Meal prep is becoming increasingly popular fuelled by a growing emphasis on health and time management.

Below left: While metal in the microwave is unconventional, Black+Blum’s meal prep containers are specifically designed for it.

home to a delicious, home-cooked meal that’s ready within minutes, or take a home prepped lunch to work.

“Other time-conscious options have always come with a compromise on nutrition, flavour, or variety. With mealprepping, your fridge or freezer can be stocked with homemade dinners or workweek lunches, eliminating the need for daily cooking and cleaning.”

SAVING MONEY AND MINIMISING WASTE

Whether it’s work lunches or quick dinners, dining out is becoming an increasingly expensive option and more individuals are opting to prepare their own meals. Nick expands: “With a bit of planning and food prepping, groceries can be utilised more efficiently, reducing both the weekly food bill and food waste. Research indicates that the average UK office worker spends £21 per week on their work lunches.

“With hundreds of recipes available online that cost less than £1 per portion, it's easy to see why people are increasingly turning to meal prep for long-term savings.”

Choosing high-quality containers makes the switch to meal-prep even more worthwhile. Nick advises: “Opt for containers with airtight, vacuum sealed lid-locks to keep food fresher for longer and stainless steel for durability, longevity, and hygiene.

“Gone are the days of sad bags of soggy spinach at the back of the fridge. With a little planning and the right products, you can use your groceries more effectively and reduce your own food waste.”

Enter Black+Blum’s Stainless Steel meal prep containers. Nick tells us: “These are the top choice for those seeking durable meal prep solutions and moving away from flimsy plastic containers. “These meal prep

kits are designed to handle it all –microwave-safe, freezer-safe, oven-safe and dishwasher-safe. While metal in the microwave may sound unconventional, these meal-prep containers are specifically designed for it, adhering to extremely high safety standards and undergoing rigorous testing.”

The convenience features don’t end there. “They’re also 100% leak-proof and vacuum insulated, ensuring your food stays fresher longer,” Nick comments. “Ideal for professionals on the go – simply toss them in your bag without worry of spills.”

Combating food waste is central to Black+Blum’s mission. In partnership with London-based charity City Harvest, every order from the company donates at least one meal, redistributing food to food banks, schools, soup kitchens and more.

7633 0022.

Top: The containers are also 100% leak-proof and vacuum insulated, ensuring food stays fresher longer.

Above: The stackable shape of Black+Blum’s containers, makes meal storage simple and convenient.

Right: With a little planning and the right products, consumers can use groceries more effectively and reduce food waste.

Below: Black+Blum’s meal prep containers microwave-safe, freezer-safe, oven-safe and dishwasher-safe.

POWER TOOLS

While spending is naturally curtailed during difficult economic periods, many consumers focus on cooking from scratch to keep costs down, while also seeking out

Tools and gadgets saw a sharp increase in sales during Covid, but reports over recent times have been more mixed. Some are seeing the sector slow down, while others are still reporting strong sales. Some of the key suppliers in the sector tell PH about the last year, upcoming trends and innovation and what consumers and retailers are looking for.

the test of time.”

product is innovative, high quality and has the price to match, it will sell, even in a challenging global economy.”

sales, Shaun O’Meara: “Sales for high-end

RKW has seen a similar pattern. Nicol McGuinness, category director, cookware and accessories, explains: “Customers have moved spending back into the home to save money. Growth in the market has naturally slowed down due to the impact of the cost-of-living crisis. However, demand has been boosted by the increasing popularity of home cooking and culinary experimentation driving demand for cool kitchen gadgets, specialised utensils and high quality cookware.”

Others have seen challenges. Jacob Oesterhaab, group ceo, DK Household Brands, expands: “The tools and gadgets sector experienced a significant boost during the Covid pandemic due to increased home

Left: OXO’s Beechwood range includes Salad Servers, Saute Spoon, Spoon and Turner, which are stackable, stylish and designed for everyday cooking.

Below: Fackelmann Initial is a value driven range with an ergonomic PP handle.

Inset: Tower has partnered with Good Food to develop a collection with the ‘Tried, Trusted and Tested’ guarantee, such as this 15kg Digital Talking Kitchen Scale.

Below: The Dopener from Dreamfarm is dubbed as the ‘does it all’ can opener - a smooth edge can opener that’s easy to use, opens jars, and ring pull cans.

cooking. However, in recent years, the category has seen stagnation or decline, depending on the market. The entry of new brands, international expansion of existing ones and the growing presence of retailers’ own brands have intensified competition. Despite these challenges, there are still opportunities for brands that focus on innovation and unique offerings.”

Some are already seeing tides turn. Simon Maghnagi, commercial director at Forma House, tells us: “Last year we saw a decline in this sector as retailers were having their own slow down and doing internal reviews of the category. In turn this year, we have seen the opposite response, with Dreamfarm on course to have its best year yet in the UK.” Innovation has been key and is what consumers are looking for. “The point of difference and wanting to be wowed by a product that stands out in a crowded market is what consumers want,” Simon continues. Innovation needs to suit various audiences, says Nicol: “The market is vast and there is a tool or gadget for every budget – from cleverly designed value products that don’t cost the earth, to catering for the more techsavvy consumer who’s willing to pay a higher price for innovative materials, ergonomic designs and smart technology such as voice assistants or AI integration. It’s ultimately about finding a gadget to suit their budget and/or kitchen size.”

Multi-purpose products are big sellers, according to Katie Maxwell, buying director, Salter. “We know consumers are always looking for products that have multiple different uses or be used every day. For example, a meat thermometer is a particularly strong seller around festive periods, but our Indoor/Outdoor Precision Meat Thermometer can be used for BBQs in summer, and then meat joints for the winter.”

Of course, aesthetics are also important. Jayne O’Donnell, head of UK independent sales at Lifetime Brands Europe, comments: “A focus on tools that are not only functional but also look the part is coming into play. Modern and minimalist designs continue to drive sales. Consumers love the onproduct branding, geometry and refined surface details of our KitchenAid range.

“Building on the success of the range, we recently launched a new colour, Charcoal Grey. With the colour already being a huge success in KitchenAid electricals, there is also the opportunity for our partners to tell a premium brand colour story.”

Cost is also important. Jacob says: “Pricing has become even more critical than in previous years. While the rising cost of living is a key factor, retailers’ emphasis on value also fuels the trend. This presents challenges, but it also offers substantial opportunities. The competition and the need to provide more value for less drive some to become more innovative to succeed.”

Running alongside cost is value. Simon expands: “From a UK perspective, it’s still value for money. The introduction of Temu and people seeing how cheap they can get products, but then realising ‘you get what you pay for’ has highlighted that value through innovation is the trend for us.”

Whether it’s spinning cabbage dry, dicing chives, grating apples or peeling cucumbers, we have the tools to help create this dish, for example the OXO Chopper and Etched Box Grater make salad prep easy and efficient.”

There are some clear trends at present, with health as a driving force. Nicol outlines: “Consumers are becoming more healthconscious, wanting to understand what’s in food and opting for homemade mealsleading to a demand for tools and gadgets that support healthier cooking methods, such as air fryers and steamers.”

Max furthers: “This summer we’ve seen the trend for green goddess salads hugely popular with consumers, so we have been tapping into that with our marketing content.

Sustainability remains a trend. Jayne comments: “The consciousness surrounding sustainability and consumers switching off to throwaway products prevails in the tools category. Trusted brands that consumers are confident in investing in are key. Given the drivers of the cost-of-living crisis and sustainability, there is a demand for core tools and gadgets that can be used for a multitude of cooking tasks and recipes.”

And of course, kitchen space is always front of mind. Shaun concludes: “No surprises, but any product that is designed with storage in mind, especially by reducing its footprint in your kitchen, will always be popular. The other trend we see is developing products with multiple uses. Again, it’s driving that value message through clever design and a combination of useful features.”

Inset: Lifetime Brands’ new Charcoal Grey KitchenAid tools feature a new soft grip silicone handle, which are also dishwasher safe.

Inset: Salter has launched a range of new food prep lines, including a Pull Chopper and Press Chopper, which are easy to use and great for salsas, salads and meal prep.

Inset: For Cole & Mason, DK Household Brands is focused on delivering premium quality at mid-price points rather than designing for more luxury.

Introducing our new durable storage solution! Easier to clean thanks to a seamless design, the new OXO Silicone Bags replace single-use plastic food storage. Ideal for the kitchen and beyond, these leakproof bags keep your food fresh while reducing waste.

1: Mini Blow Torch

The new Tala Mini Blow Torch is designed for precision in the kitchen, ideal for creations such as crème brulee, caramelising sugar and lemon meringue pie and roasting peppers. Its compact size allows for easy handling, is also windproof, refillable, has an adjustable flame, locking feature and removable base.

Dayes

T: 01728 833400

E: Sales@dayesuk.com

2: Milk Frother

The new Tala Milk Frother creates perfectly frothed milk. Ideal for cappuccinos, lattes, hot chocolates, milkshakes, whisking eggs and protein shakes. It features a stainlesssteel whisk and a convenient stand for easy storage. High speed with low noise, the frother also has a comfortable non-slip grip for enhanced user experience.

Dayes

T: 01728 833400

E: Sales@dayesuk.com

3: Microplane Avocado Tool

Prepare avocados with ease - whatever your chopping style. Offering multifunctional usage, the Microplane Avocado Tool can split, pit, slice and scoop out safely and effectively. The slicing blade is designed for an effortless cut, with a scoop feature incorporated to help separate the avocado from its skin. The pit remover means you can extract the pit quickly and simply.

Burton McCall

T: 0116 234 4611

E: sales@burton-mccall.com

4: CrushGrind Spice Grinders

CrushGrind offers an innovative range of spice grinders, featuring its special ceramic grinder mechanism. Whether it’s the noticeable Billund mills, or the more natural Stockholm series, CrushGrind’s spice grinders are designed with a focus on Nordic aesthetics, functionality, and highquality. The range has been crafted to ensure durability, as well as including responsibly sourced materials.

Burton McCall

T: 0116 234 4611

E: sales@burton-mccall.com

5: Salter Multifunctional Food Chopper

Take the hard work out of chopping, grating, mincing, dicing and slicing with the Salter Multifunctional Food Chopper. This versatile 6-in-1 device saves time when preparing meals and minimises the aftermath of cleaning. Perfect for everyday food prep or whipping up salads and sauces. Simply choose from any of the six interchangeable blades to suit the recipe requirements. Made from BPA-free plastic and stainless steel, the chopper can be safely stored away out of sight after use, thanks to its multipurpose compact design.

Salter

E: sales@upplc.com

W: salter.com

6: Salter Press Chopper

The Salter Press Chopper ensures precision and accuracy when chopping fruits and vegetables. Simply press the top of the device to create perfectly diced ingredients every time. Designed to minimise time spent on food preparation, effortlessly dice onions and tomatoes for soups and stews, or chop lettuce and peppers to use in salads without the need for multiple utensils. Made from a BPA-free plastic bowl and a durable stainless-steel blade, the Pull Chopper is designed for long lasting performance. Small, compact, and simple to clean, simply store away after use.

Salter

E: sales@upplc.com

W: salter.com

Products New

Tools & Gadgets

Ready to go back to school

Back to school is sorted, with Mepal’s range of children’s lunchboxes and bottles. Designed specifically with children in mind, they are perfect for food on the go whether it’s lunches at school, in the playground or even on holiday.

And thanks to Mepal’s collaboration with Disney, you’ll be able to find a lunchbox / bottle that features your child’s favourite character. Whether it’s Stitch or Mandalorian from Star wars, or choose a design from the many other famous Disney characters featured in the Mepal range.

To discover more about Mepal’s range of children’s on-the go products, or other product ranges, contact j.stalder@mepal.com or call 07384 317364

1: Akinod magnetised cutlery

Available from outdoor lifestyle specialist, Whitby & Co (UK) is the French brand, Akinod and this series of magnetised compact cutlery. Available as Straight or Foldable Mulitfunctional sets, the cutlery is designed as the perfect solution to eating anywhere. Handle designs include decorated polymer or wooden and black or polished mirror finishes. The Akinod foldable multifunction cutlery attaches and detaches with powerful magnets and as well as accompanying you on a lunch break, it lets you uncap a bottle, lift off a jar lid, uncork a fine wine or open a tin can.   Whitby & Co (UK)    T: 01539 721032  E: sales@whitbyandco.co.uk  W: www.whitbyandco.co.uk

2: Just the Thing

Just The Thing is the latest in-house brand from Captivate Brands and is an essential everyday range of kitchen and household accessories. This comprehensive range of products makes preparing and cooking food that much more pleasurable. Whatever the task, Captivate Brands will have ‘just the thing’ to make life that little bit easier. Like the kitchen gadgets and utensils pictured here.   Captivate Brands  T: 01386 421622  E: nfo@captivatebrands.co.uk  W: www.captivatebrands.com

3: Bodum Bistro Tea Egg

Brewing loose-leaf tea brings out its full flavour and aroma but if you don’t want to brew an entire pot, reach for the BISTRO Tea Egg from Bodum. Made from BPA-free plastic, the gadget brews a single serving of tea without leaving any waste. A gentle press of the handle opens the ball, making it easy to scoop up the desired amount of tea leaves. Then pop it in a mug, pour over boiling water, leave to steep for a few minutes and it’s ready to drink. Dishwasher-safe and available in black or white.   Bodum

E: uk.sales@bodum.com

4:

Opinel three-in-one Barbecue Set

Designed and made in France using eco-friendly locally sourced materials, the Opinel three-in-one Barbecue Set is another innovation from the heritage knife manufacturer. Practical and useful, the Barbecue Set combines the new 16cm-size N°12B Folding Knife, the Spatula+ and stainless steel XL Tongs. The N°12B folding knife is fitted with a safety collar that locks the blade in the open and closed positions, as well as locking the stainless steel Spatula+ in place onto the knife’s handle. The knife also has an opener at the end of the handle for opening bottles and hanging it.    Whitby & Co (UK)

T: 01539 721032

E: sales@whitbyandco.co.uk

W: www.whitbyandco.co.uk

5:

5-Piece POP Container Set

Give consumers inspiration to organise homes before the busy back to school season with the OXO 5-Piece POP Container Set. Ideal for storing dried ingredients, bathroom essentials, crafts and pet food, this versatile storage solution will keep all rooms in the home neat and organised. Stackable and space-efficient, each container features a push button which creates an airtight seal with just one touch. Set includes: one 2.1L Container, one 1.6L Container, two 1L Containers and one 0.4L Container. Also makes for the perfect festive gift for consumers.  OXO

W: www.oxouk.com

6: Etched Box Grater with Removable Zester

Healthy food prep and packed school lunches are made easier with the Etched Box Grater from OXO. The great all rounder in the kitchen can prep cheese, fruit and vegetables thanks to the angled slicing blade, medium and coarse grating surfaces and removable zester. The soft handle provides a comfortable grip and the non-slip foot keeps the grater steady as ingredients are prepped. The handy box can be used to collect ingredients as you grate and to store leftovers in the fridge.   OXO

W: www.oxouk.com

Products New Tools & Gadgets

MULTI-FUNCTION CONTAINERS

Made from innovative microwave-safe steel, the Multi-Function range from Black+Blum is a revolution for food storage and meal prep.

Available now in 3 shapes 7 sizes.

| www.black-blum.com

WHITER

THAN WHITE

Le Creuset's new White collection is a stunning embodiment of minimalist elegance. The timeless range features the brand's renowned Enamelled Cast Iron cookware, oven-totable Stoneware and essential kitchen accessories, all coated in a crisp white finish.

A stand-out gold knob adds a luxurious touch of contrast, creating a striking look.

George Mann, national sales manager, UK & Ireland at Le Creuset, tells us: “The collection is designed to elevate any kitchen aesthetic, from classic to contemporary. All while maintaining the brand’s core commitment to excellence in quality and performance.”

The simple white design was an exciting introduction for the company, which is traditionally known for its bright, colourful collections.

George explains the thinking behind the change: “While Le Creuset’s vibrant colours have long been a signature, we believe there’s a timeless allure to the

In a side-step from its usual colourful ranges, Le Creuset introduced its new White collection to the trade at Exclusively. The elegant, distinctive range opens up the iconic cookware to new audiences, while effortlessly blending with other colours in Le Creuset’s offering. George Mann, national sales manager, UK & Ireland, tells PH all about it.

Casserole lid adds a touch of luxury, ensuring this collection is as much a fashion statement as it is a high-performing piece of cookware.”

To showcase the versatility and elegance of the White collection, Le Creuset is collaborating with popular interior stylists and lifestyle influencers. Through exciting explainer videos and photography, their expertise will demonstrate how this collection can effortlessly transform any kitchen into a space that is both stylish and functional.

George furthers: “From rustic farmhouse to sleek modern, the White collection will be showcased in a variety of settings, inspiring homeowners to envision its perfect place in their own homes.

simplicity of White.

Whether used in cool, minimalist interiors, or colourful maximalist kitchens, our White collection offers a clean, versatile canvas that complements the décor of any kitchen or home. It really is the neutral of all neutrals.

“By highlighting both the exceptional performance of the cookware and its aesthetic appeal, we aim to position the White collection as an indispensable addition to any discerning cook’s arsenal.”

“It’s a statement of modern sophistication, providing a striking backdrop to showcase the artistry of anyone’s culinary creations. The inclusion of a shiny gold knob on the

Le Creuset’s retailers will continue to receive its instore visual merchandising support from Lindsey, Natalie, Bex, Sam, Sharon or Tara dependant on the region of the country their shop is located. George says: “This is all partnered with our new, updated, even easier to use digital packs, which are sent out by our ecom support team - Sam, Chloe and Tiff - featuring all the assets you need for online and social media channels for this beautiful new colour launch.”

Inset: The White collection is designed to be used in both cool, minimalist interiors and colourful maximalist kitchens.

Above: The timeless range features the brand's renowned Enamelled Cast Iron cookware, oven-totable Stoneware and essential kitchen accessories.

Right: The White pieces prove a striking backdrop to showcase the artistry of culinary creations.

Below: Le Creuset is collaborating with popular interior stylists and lifestyle influencers to showcase the collection.

A NEW DAWN

“I extend my congratulations to Labour on its win, but this congratulations comes hand-inhand with a call to action. The party campaigned on a platform of change and now we need to see that change manifest in positive ways for our high streets and independent retailers.

“Our priorities remain steadfast. We urgently need reform of business rates - a change that must happen at the earliest opportunity to protect high street businesses. BIRA has been instrumental in introducing the retail discount and we're now pushing to make this a permanent 75% reduction. We're also advocating for the multiplier to be

lowered to 35p in the pound, providing much-needed relief to struggling businesses.

But our vision extends beyond just financial relief. We're calling for continued investment in our town centres and local areas, where independent retailers play such a vital role in the local economy. This investment should be coupled with policies that drive economic growth and bolster consumer confidence.

“While inflation has shown signs of easing,

prices remain high, and we need sustainable plans to stimulate economic growth.

“The threat of retail crime continues to loom large over our sector. We're advocating for increased police presence and better protection. This is not just about protecting businesses; it's about safeguarding the heart of our communities.

“Environmental sustainability and technology are key focuses. We're calling for funding to help retailers invest in these areas. This is crucial for creating modern, vibrant high streets that can thrive in the 21st century.

“Our vision is of high streets as diverse spaces fostering sustainability, inclusivity and economic growth. But we must be clear: this vision cannot be realised without major reforms.

“I am appealing directly to our new government leaders: put independent retailers at the forefront of your agenda. The current climate poses grave challenges that threaten these businesses' very existence and the vibrancy of our high streets. Their survival underpins our high streets' identities as community hubs.

“We stand at a pivotal crossroads. The actions of the Labour government in response to these demands could well determine the future of Britain's local economies and the character of its communities. As I've said before, actions will speak louder than words.

“The revival of Britain's high streets hangs in the balance, and we are determined to be at the forefront of this crucial conversation. The journey ahead may be challenging, but with the right policies and support, I believe we can create a thriving future for independent retail in Britain.”

Will Jones, coo of BHETA and chair of Exclusively

“With the recent election of the Labour Government, UK suppliers of housewares products are voicing expectations and hopes for a sustained period of political and economic stability that drives growth and for policies that will bolster their industry. As key stakeholders in the domestic economy, these suppliers are eager for strategic initiatives to drive growth, enhance competitiveness and address pressing challenges in the sector.”

Strengthening domestic manufacturing

“One of the foremost expectations from the new Government is a robust strategy to support and expand domestic manufacturing. Suppliers of housewares products are advocating for incentives that encourage local production, such as tax breaks for manufacturers, subsidies for modernising factories and grants for adopting new technologies. By investing in manufacturing, the government can help suppliers reduce costs, increase efficiency and remain competitive against international players.”

Green initiatives

“Environmental sustainability is a critical concern. Housewares suppliers are keen to see policies that support green initiatives, such as grants for eco-friendly production methods, stricter regulations on plastic use and incentives for recycling programmes.”

Improving supply chain resilience

Futureproof the UK labour market

“Forge a new approach by building a skilled, productive and healthy national workforce that underpins economic growth.”

“Suppliers are calling for government intervention to enhance supply chain resilience. This includes investment in domestic

Richard Barker, owner, Cilla & Camilla

logistics infrastructure, support for diversifying supply sources and measures to streamline customs procedures. This would ensure steady availability of raw materials and components, thereby stabilising production and pricing.”

Export

“These are the ways in which I believe the new Labour government can support bricks and mortar retailers.

“Firstly, create the conditions to allow for steady and sustainable economic growth. There needs to be a light touch on personal taxation to sustain spending power and a light touch on business taxation to allow the preservation of cash for investment.

“Those conditions must allow interest rates to reduce over time, and inflation to be managed at historic levels which are conducive to growth i.e. 2% - 3%

“The ‘feel good” impact of economic growth is critical to sustained retail sales growth.

“Secondly, the long-awaited review of the non-domestic rates system must be carried out quickly and effectively. The primary objective must be to create a level playing field for high street retailers vis-a-vis online-only competitors. Until that review is complete and the results implemented, current discounts on offer to retailers must remain in place.

“Develop and improve relationships with EU countries to minimise cross border trading barriers to support export sales. Work with industry sector bodies to identify export targets and support via the provision of market data and grant support for missions and attendance at exhibitions.”

“Thirdly, planning regulation and investment incentives must support the regeneration of ‘difficult’ town and city centres. Ways must be found to fill empty and redundant retail space to bring additional life and vibrancy back t

“Changes I would like to see on UK high streets have been outlined above. In particular, creative re-use of current empty space also like to see either some restriction over the amount of space charity shops can occupy and/or greater effective control ove charity retailers can access.

“I’d also like to see a levelling up of rights and obligations between retail leaseholders and their freeholder landlords. Ther an end to conventions such as ‘upward only’ rent reviews and a more balanced sharing of risk between landlords and tenants.

“I have confidence in the Labour government to deliver on manifesto commitments. For the first time in a long time, I think we have politicians in positions of power, who are focused on politics being a power for good. But, as with any new administration, they need to prioritise and be sure that genuine benefit will accrue from legislative change.

“I see little value in pursuing a specific offence of assaulting retail staff. Current legislation is already more than adequat issue is enforcement of the law, not the law itself.

“As with economies at a macro level, the retail economy tends to be cyclical. I think we are beginning to see a levelling out of online sales growth and a growing recognition of the added value that traditional, bricks and mortar retailers can deliver. As the cycle turns, with the right level of government intervention as above, there is genuine justification for optimism.”

The Museums & Galleries collection of organic cotton homeware takes our muchloved licensed brands and best-selling designs to a whole new level – and a new room in the home. For more information please visit our website or call our sales team.

Supporting innovation and R&D

“Innovation is vital for growth. Suppliers are urging the government to increase funding for research and development (R&D) in new materials, product designs and smart technologies. This will enable suppliers to innovate, meet changing consumer preferences and maintain a competitive edge.”

Labour Government’s plans: A positive outlook

“Labour’s manifesto includes initiatives that align well with the aspirations of housewares suppliers. Their commitment to a Green New Deal promises investments in sustainable technologies and practices, which is expected to benefit suppliers adopting eco-friendly production. The proposed industrial strategy, focusing on reviving manufacturing and fostering innovation, directly addresses the need for enhanced domestic production capabilities and R&D support.

“Moreover, Labour’s emphasis on strengthening the UK’s infrastructure, including transport and logistics, is set to improve supply chain resilience. This will be crucial for ensuring suppliers can maintain steady operations and meet market demand.

“Labour’s pledge to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with access to finance and reduced regulatory burdens will also be a boon for many housewares suppliers. This support can help these businesses scale operations, invest in new technologies and compete more effectively.”

David Crossley, co-owner, Salamander Cookshop

“It is encouraging that supporting small business is a priority for the new Government, but as ever, it is actions that count. For me there are three main areas to consider.

“Firstly, practical policies to help ensure bricks and mortar retail is viable and able to compete.

“Our high streets are at the heart of our communities; places where people meet, socialise and come together. The challenge is to ensure that bricks and mortar retailers do not have to operate at a disadvantage and do not have to carry costs that make them unviable.

“Reforming business rates which date from a time when the high street was the only place to shop, could make a real difference. Car parking charges should not just be seen as an easy source of income, but should be designed to encourage people into our towns, particularly in more rural areas where public transport is limited.

“Secondly, policies that ensure that those who visit our towns feel safe and those who work in our shops feel well supported.

“Taking retail crime and anti-social behaviour in towns seriously by investing in visible and proactive police presence in our towns, as low level offences often lead to more serious crime.

“Thirdly, developing and actively supporting initiatives that help make our high streets welcoming and attractive places to spend time in.

“Solutions here involve providing real vision, advocacy and incentives for councils to support towns to adapt to changing times and a recognition that vibrant high streets, in which retailers play a key part, can offer imaginative solutions to other challenges, for example being part of the response to housing needs.”

In conclusion

“From a supplier perspective, the housewares industry is optimistic about the new Labour Government’s potential to implement policies that will drive growth and sustainability. By focusing on manufacturing, sustainability, supply chain resilience, innovation and retail support, the government can create a thriving environment for housewares suppliers and retailers, ultimately benefiting consumers with better products and services. The industry awaits the realisation of these promises, hopeful for a prosperous future under the new administration.”

Tom Carter, director, Potters Cookshop

“Now we finally have some change, we can hope for some more support. The first being the business rates These really need looking at ASAP, as for many independent retailers, they are far too high. No one will open up a new business on the high street with the cost of rents and rates.

“Next would be crime, particularly shoplifting. The people doing the stealing have absolutely no fear now. There is no police presence or support for the retailer, what deterrent is there? I was in a shop the other day and they were filling up their bags and just walking out.

“I hope the government can work closely with us retailers and the likes of BIRA to see how we can encourage shoppers back to the high . We can all see the dwindling numbers, this year more than ever. If we all get together with our knowledge and ideas, I believe we can turn it around.

“Do I see any of this happening? Probably not, but we can only hope.”

1: La Cafetière The Beanie

Not just another reusable cup, The Beanie from La Cafetière is bringing waste back to life. Combining style and sustainability, The Beanie is a range of reusable cups made from 30% recycled coffee husks, a by-product of coffee production that would otherwise go to waste. These BPA free, reusable and leak proof cups come in three café ready sizes for everything from espressos and shorts, to tall and large drinks - 225ml (8oz), 340ml (12oz), and 450ml (16oz). Ideal for hot or cold drinks on-the-go, they are also dishwasher, microwave and freezer safe, granting the freedom to clean, heat and chill cups with ease. Full of bestsellers and awardwinning products, La Cafetière is your complete tea and coffee solution.

Lifetime Brands Europe

E: saleseu@lifetimebrands.com

T: 01216046000

2: S’well Tumbler XL

Every day S’well sets out to bring style, innovation and joy to sustainable living. We believe something as simple as buying a beautiful reusable bottle can make a big difference. Everything we make is designed to perform beautifully and offer more ways to help use less. Introducing the S’well Tumbler XL for more sips and more style. The tumbler features Therma-S’well Technology with a triplelayered, vacuum-insulated construction designed to keep drinks cold for 50 hours, hot for 10 hours and ice cold for up to four days. It’s made from 91% recycled food grade 18/8 stainless steel, with a condensation-free exterior that won't sweat in hands or on tabletops and a leak proof lid.

Lifetime Brands Europe

E: saleseu@lifetimebrands.com

T: 01216 046000

3: Klean Kanteen 36oz Rise Tumbler

New for summer, Klean Kanteen has added a 36oz tumbler to its popular Rise Drinkware c collection. Featuring a new multi-function lid and available in a fresh, attractive palette of pastel colours, the 36oz Rise Tumbler is perfect for keeping hydrated on the go. Distributed in the UK and Ireland by Whitby & Co (UK).   Whitby & Co (UK)

T: 01539 721032

W: www.whitbydistribution.com

E: sales@whitbydistribution.com

4: Opinel Sylve Forks

The latest addition to Opinel’s tableware range and designed by BIGGAME, Sylve forks are available with three different wood handles: ash, olive and dark ash. These stylish forks from Opinel will look perfect embellishing tables alongside the Bon Appétit and Facette table knife collections. Simple, warm and timeless, they will fit any table. Distributed in the UK by Whitby & Co (UK).   Whitby & Co (UK)

T: 01539 721032

W: www.whitbydistribution.com

E: sales@whitbydistribution.com

5: Vacu Vin Hexo Wine Cooler

Chill wine in minutes and keep it cool for hours… Vacu Vin’s iconic active cooler has been reinvented for 2024. Comprised of two components, each cooler has an active cooling element that lives in the freezer at home until needed. It is then inserted into the cooler (made from 98% recycled material), ready to chill a room temperature bottle of wine, then keep it cold throughout dinner or drinks. Available in two colourways – Graphite and Sand. Made in Europe.

Haus

T: 01782 572910

E: info@inthehaus.co.uk

W: www.hauswares.co.uk

6: Trebonn Stackable Bowls

Products New

Trebonn already has a growing reputation for ingenious Italian design and this is continued with its new collection of serving bowls. Capacious and glossy, there are two sizes available (22cm or 28cm diameter) across six different colourways – black, green, orange, blue, grey and red. Multiple units of the same size can be stacked inside each other (space-saving visual merchandising for retailers and easy storage with a small footprint for consumers). Even better, the small bowls nest inside the large. Rounded interiors make mixing and serving salads of all kinds easy and effortless. Dishwasher safe.

Haus

T: 01782 572910

E: info@inthehaus.co.uk

W: www.hauswares.co.uk

7: Squishmallows Winston t

he

Owl Pancake Pan

Winston's signature dish may be macaroni, but he makes a pretty mean pancake, too. Simply pour batter into the Squishmallows Winston Pancake Pan and flip for a delicious Winston-shaped snack in stacks. This pan is non-stick for easy cleaning, complete with signature blue handle and Squishmallows logo.

Fizz Creations

T: 01903 327006

E: sales@fizzcreations.com

W: www.fizzcreations.com

1: Dish Daddy Refill Heads Pink

Introducing the Dish Daddy Pink Refill Heads. These scratch-free dish wand refills effortlessly attach to the Dish Daddy wand (sold separately). The FlexTexture foam scrubbing head adapts, being soft in warm water and firm in cool water, providing extra cleaning power.

Designed with a hook and loop backing, the Dish Daddy refill heads are committed to reducing plastic waste. Resistant to stains, odours, and mould, the convenient refills easily rinse clean under running water. Upgrade the dishwashing experience with the eco-friendly and efficient Dish Daddy refill heads in a delightful pink colour.

Evo lifestyle Products

T: 0330 2200671 UK - +44(0)1884 254013 INT W: www.evolifestyle.co.uk / www.scrubdaddy.uk

2: Dish Daddy Pink

Introducing the Dish Daddy Pink – a revolutionary way to make dishwashing a breeze. Experience unparalleled ease with the Scrub Daddy soap dispensing Dishwand, setting it apart from any other in the market.

Similar to the renowned Scrub Daddy sponges, the FlexTexture foam head adjusts its softness in warm water and becomes firm in cool water, delivering enhanced cleaning efficacy. Unlike traditional dish wands, the Dish Daddy boasts a dual-seal design to minimize product wastage by preventing leaks. And now, it's available in a stylish pink hue.

Evo lifestyle Products

T: 0330 2200671 UK - +44(0)1884 254013 INT W: www.evolifestyle.co.uk / www.scrubdaddy.uk

3: Insulated Travel Tumbler

Made from high quality stainless steel, the Insulated Travel Tumbler from Black+Blum features an innovative lid lock that makes it 100% leak proof - creating a vacuum seal so it won’t spill a drop. Keeps drinks ice cold for eight hours and piping hot for six and fits neatly into car cup holders. Available now in three colours.

Black+Blum

E: sales@black-blum.com

W: black-blum.com

4: Multi-Function Range

Now available in sets of three, the microwave-safe Multi-Function range from Black+Blum is a revolution for food storage and meal prep. Made from stainless steel, they are dishwasher, microwave, oven and freezer-safe. The full range contains three shapes and seven sizes of container, ranging from 600ml to 1.4L, so consumers can choose exactly how they want to use them.

Black+Blum

E: sales@black-blum.com

W: black-blum.com

5: Brabantia’s Tasty+ Stackable Canisters

Brabantia has unveiled a new extension range of Tasty+ Stackable Canisters. Made of tough BPA-free plastic with a silicone seal, the jars keep food fresher for longer. With a five-year guarantee and suitable for wet or dry food, this collection is the ideal choice for a stackable fridge organiser or cupboard companion. The extension range consists of three different set options and four new sizes (also available separately) in Brabantia’s Light and Dark Grey colourways.

Brabantia

E: sales.uk@brabantia.com

W: www.brabantia.com/uk

6:

A super stylish Dressboy

Products New

Brabantia’s Linn Dressboy is a smart rack that leans stylishly in hallways, bedrooms or bathrooms while airing clothes. It has a rounded shoulder-like frame to hang jackets and blouses, a hook at the top for clothes hangers and three hanging bars. Cradle to Cradle certified at silver level and with a steel frame, the elegant clothes ladder is made from 38% recycled material and is 99% recyclable after use. The Linn Dressboy also comes with fixing materials and non-slip, non-skid caps to protect interior surfaces (and a five-year guarantee too).

Brabantia

E: sales.uk@brabantia.com

W: www.brabantia.com/uk

7: Emile Henry Salad Bowls

Style, vibrant colours and Emile Henry’s famous durability and ceramic expertise, all meet in its new collection of Salad Bowls. A distinctive shape that is both square and round means that every salad becomes the centrepiece of the dinner table. Due to the bowl’s natural properties, it keeps contents (either cool or warm) at the desired temperature for longer – use in the fridge to chill food prior to serving, or in the oven to heat food beforehand. Nonporous and scratch-resistant, microwave and dishwasher safe, the bowls are available in three nesting sizes – small – 2.0L capacity, medium – 3.5L capacity and large – 5.5L capacity. Crafted in France with a choice of six bold colours – Clay, Burgundy, Belle-Ile, Cedar Green, Provence Yellow and Toscane.   Haus

T: 01782 572910

E: info@inthehaus.co.uk

W: www.hauswares.co.uk

We know we’re retro but we’re not out of touch, contact our sales team by emailing sales@upplc.com. Or if you want to keep it old school, you’re always welcome to visit our showroom. Make an appointment today!

THE TOP

THE SHOP’S CURRENT BESTSELLERS:

l Dollyhotdogs Tea Towels

l Zeal Berry Colander

l Skoy and Kilo Scrubbies

l Taylors Eye Witness Silicone Tongs

l Colori Plus+ Knives by Kuhn Rikon

Happy birthday

Penny Legg, manager and buyer, tells us about the 30th anniversary: “We’re pretty pleased to have completed a third decade. Retail is a constant challenge and we strive to keep things fresh with design-led products and interesting window displays. In a largely online world, we aren’t able to carry the same number of SKUs as larger retailers, but our USP is that we deliver excellent customer service.

“Expert advice, special orders and after-sales advice provided by our team of experienced and passionate cooks, ensures that our customers come back for more.”

SHELF PORTRAIT

HOBBS THE KITCHEN SHOP

Currently celebrating its 30th anniversary, Hobbs the Kitchen Shop is based in the seaside town of Penzance. Recent increased footfall to the area has led to a more vibrant town centre and more regular holiday makers, boosting sales for the store. Since Cornwall became a foodie destination, Hobbs has adapted its stock, offering quality, durable products for its customers.

Facts and stats

ON THE WAY UP

“Food prep and plastic-free storage are really strong at the moment… and butter dishes.”

UPS AND DOWNS

“Paella pans have been a bit flat lately (excuse the pun).”

l “The shop is small – around 500 square feet.”

l “Hobbs has about 3,500 product SKUs at any one time.”

l “The team at Hobbs consists of myself, as manager and buyer, here for almost 13 years and three others working part time. It is great that the owner trusts us to make decisions in all areas of the business. As passionate cooks, we feel it’s like working in a toy shop.”

l “We’re running a series of competitions and prize draws at the end of the year to celebrate our anniversary, with some great special offers and giveaways.”

The best thing

“A customer today told me there is always something interesting at Hobbs, a new design or clever idea. In contrast to larger retailers, staff are always on hand to answer questions, discuss recipes and techniques. The personal attention is valued by our customers. They want to keep their high street alive and tell us they are supporting local shops rather than online as an ethical

choice. We strive to make it a rewarding experience for them to keep them coming back.”

Recent changes

“We got a grant to change our solid security shutter for one with a mid-section of rods and links. It improves the look of the street and customers are coming to buy items they saw in the window display at night.

“A new website launched in 2020 means all our stock is listed and customers can check stock and availability before visiting.”

Current trade

“I’m delighted with the shop’s performance this year. Despite the economic uncertainty, we are bucking the trend.”

Big spenders

“We regularly have customers spend £200ish and the most recent of those purchased four of the gorgeous Nordic Ware Bundt tins.”

Old and new suppliers

Dexam and Eddingtons have been with Hobbs since the start and the team recently took on Robert Welch Knives as its newest supplier.

Marketing mix

“We use social media and support the local free mag, which is a showcase of the great independent shops in town. We also pay a levy towards the local BID (Business Improvement District). They have been increasing the awareness of the town’s indie shops and improving footfall.”

Left: From left to right, Joe, Danny, Penny and Caroline from the Hobbs team.

Inset: The store is only around 500 sq ft, but carries about 3,500 SKUs.

Inset: One of the shop’s big spenders recently took home four Bundt tins.

Inset: Hobbs offers a unique and innovative product range.

Left: Penzance is a plastic free town, meaning businesses have reduced their single use plastics, encouraging Hobbs’ suppliers and customer to also support the scheme.

VQ to Unveil Exclusive Kitchenware Collections at IFA Berlin

VQ, a multi-award-winning brand embodying vision in design and quality in construction, particularly recognized with more "Which? Awards" in Audio than any other brand in the UK, is proud to announce the launch of two extraordinary kitchenware collections at IFA in Berlin this September. Building on our initial success with licensed audio products, we have expanded our expertise to create these SDA collections in collaboration with Laura Ashley and Cath Kidston. These new exclusive collections seamlessly blend artistry with utility, setting new standards in design and functionality.

After the global success of our award-winning China Rose collection with Laura Ashley, we are delighted to extend this collaboration by introducing the stunning Laura Ashley Wild Meadow appliance range. The China Rose collection, which recently won the coveted B&LLA Award 2024 for the Best Brand Licensed Electrical range, features a timeless design that perfectly encapsulates Laura Ashley's heritage. It also got noticed by the press – our Jug Kettle was one of the top 10 rated ones by the Telegraph, and our Hand mixer and 4-in-1 Blender were also praised and recommended by Good Housekeeping for not just their beautiful design, but as fantastic stand-alone products!

Building on this success, our new Wild Meadow collection reflects Laura Ashley’s timeless elegance and VQ’s dedication to quality craftsmanship, offering consumers an exquisite selection of kitchen appliances adorned with the beautiful Wild Meadow print. This exclusive collection is currently available on Harvey Norman Australia. But that’s not all. We have the exclusive release of the Cath Kidston Bees SDA Range available soon at QVC which will ultimately become available through wider retailers. This exclusive collection promises to bring a touch of joy and sophistication to kitchens everywhere.

"We love collaborating with esteemed brands like Laura Ashley and Cath Kidston," said Jonathan Merricks, CEO & Creative Director at VQ. "These partnerships let us bring you high-quality products. The China Rose, Wild Meadow, and Bees collections are perfect examples of what we strive to offer. We're excited to launch exclusive ranges through QVC in Q3 and expand further in Q4 with Cath Kidston, MyVQ, Argos, and more retailers worldwide."

Join us this September 6-10 at the IFA in Berlin, where we will be unveiling these exclusive new collections. Witness firsthand the seamless fusion of cutting-edge electronics and timeless design and see how VQ continues to set the standard for stylish home appliances.

Scan the QR code to learn more about Klean Kanteen’s Rise Drinkware

We have big, BIG news. Klean Kanteen have added a 36oz tumbler to their popular Rise Drinkware Collection. No need to pick quality over quantity—the 36oz Rise Tumbler delivers both in a big way. Their largest tumbler to date, the 36oz combines durable stainless steel construction with Climate Lock™ vacuum insulation and a gorgeous Klean Coat® scratchresistant finish.

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