Selected Archives
Selected stories 2011-2021
"Too Long"
You're going to hear that more and more often. The movie, the book, the meeting, the memo... few people will tell you that they ran short. (Shorter, though, doesn't mean less responsibility, less insight or less power. It means less fluff and less hiding.) More Seth Here Those of us here at TabletopJournal are not tea experts.....but, we DO know there's lots of reasons why more of your customers are ordering and drinking tea. Yes, we have heard about the good things associate with tea like increasing levels of flavonoids, reductions in stress, increased quality of blood platelets, and more. But, what we do know is that more and more of YOUR customers are ordering tea. Yes, we know there's lots of focus on coffee and its growth, but tea sales continue to climb, as well. A recent article at MarketingForecast.com, some 173.5 million consumers drink tea and 183 million consumers drink coffee, according to David Sprinkle, publisher of Packaged Facts, eye-popping numbers that also imply limited usage growth potential. "The challenge for foodservice operators, therefore, involves expanding varieties and occasions for use while converting home and office coffee and tea users into foodservice users." So, Mr. Restaurateur.....what are you actively doing to increase the guest experience of your TEA customers? (along with increasing sales and profits?) TabletopJournal would suggest that a good start might be to make tea more fun and guest-friendly, while increasing the theater surrounding tea service. There are a variety of ways to do that....but simply adding color and entertainment to the process would be a good start. Service Ideas - people who really understand know tea (and, coffee, by the way) - have a large selection of items to help raise the tea customer's guest experience. I'll even bet they have some good, practical ways to educate your staff on tea without breaking the bank, as well. You may want to check them out as a way to increase both your sales and profits. Nice people. Check 'em out.
You can see the entire collection of product from Service Ideas by going here: http://www.serviceideas.com/Default.aspx As we contemplate our upcoming annual trek to Chicago for the gala NRA Show, one company we are looking forward to visiting is Raynaud Porcelain. Last year, this traditional French porcelain company show some very un-traditional shapes and designs from 3-star Michelin chef Anne Sophie Pic. All very impressive as is the Raynaud LOTUS espresso cup and saucer below. A company that refuses to follow the crowd, Raynaud Porcelain has been a specialist in setting the pace in tabletop design - for both the home and the restaurant. From Thomas Keller to Anne Sophie Pic, Raynaud's hospitality offering is unique and très spéciale.
Chefs and restaurateurs who don't want to follow the crowd....would be wise to follow Raynaud. I know we will. Reuters is reporting that Swiss buyout group Capvis has started a sale of its majority stake in WMF (WMFG.F), the chief executive of the German table and kitchenware supplier said, confirming what people close to the process previously told Reuters.
"We will cooperate in the sales process now under way for the good of the company," Thorsten Klapproth said in a statement on Wednesday. He said Capvis's options included a placement of shares on the stock exchange or a sale of its 52 percent stake to one or more investors. Macquarie, Commerzbank and Lilja have been picked to organize the stake sale, a source close to the transaction said. Reuters first reported the divestment plans in early March. WMF, a household name in high-end cutlery and cooking pots in Germany, has a market capitalisation of 509 million euros ($678 million). Capvis bought its stake for 92 million euros in 2006. Rivals and private equity groups are expected to express interest. WMF peers Fackelmann and investor Benko - which has shown interest in buying Metro (MEOG.DE) unit Kaufhof as well - have looked at WMF, industry sources have said. Other WMF rivals include Villeroy & Boch (VIBG_p.DE), Itala, Pott and Robbe & Berking. Austrian investor Fiba, holds 37 percent of WMF, while 11 percent of the company is traded at the Frankfurt stock exchange. "Fiba has said that it does not want to sell," a person close to the transaction said. "But that will ultimately depend on the price. If it is right, he will sell." Fiba and Capvis were not available to comment. WMF expects to post sales of more than 1 billion euros this year after 980 million last year. The group will announce earnings figures in late April. In the first nine months of 2011, WMF posted sales of 671 million and saw its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) rise by 85 percent to 43 million euros. For the Reuters story, go here: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/28/us-capvis-wmf-idUSBRE82R0SY20120328 We've written about Zak Designs! before and their incredible use of color - in fact, Zak Designs! is all about color! Well, Zak knows that there’s something about the look and feel of fresh paint. It’s a new beginning, a clean start. It’s rejuvenating. Exciting. That’s exactly the feel that Zak Designs captured in its new line of dinnerware and drinkware aptly called Paint. Each piece in the line portrays a clean white canvas dripping with a different color of fresh paint. The detail that’s put into the design creates a realism that will cause people to take a second look before they reach out and grab hold of the pieces. The whimsical line includes a dinner plate, salad plate and bowl as well as a 19oz Hi-Ball and a 14oz DOF tumbler. All of the pieces are made of durable material that can be used for indoor dinning or outdoor occasions. And the colors used in Paint coordinate with many of Zaks other lines of dinnerware, drinkware and serveware so that hosts can further personalize their placesettings. Whether its adding a bit of excitement to everyday meals, or creating a fun new conversation starter for parties, Zaks Paint line of dinnerware and drinkware will provide a fresh look to tables without having to get out the brush. With offices across the globe, Zak stays at the forefront of emerging fashion, color and design trends from around the world. By incorporating those styles into modern and innovative tabletop and kitchen prep collections, Zak continues to be recognized as a global authority on trend-focused housewares. to learn more about Zak and its line of products for the hospitality sector, go to:
http://www.zak.com/Food-Service-Hospitality_c_322.html Stockmarketwire.com reports that pre-tax profits at ceramic tableware manufacturer and distributor Churchill China rose to £2.7m in the year to the end of December - up from £2.3m last time.
Group revenues fell to £42.3m from £43.7m but operating profits rose to £2.7m from £2.3m and basic earnings per share increased to 19.2p from 15.8p. Chairman Jonathan Sparey said: "The profile of our business continues to change. We have clear strategies for growth in our hospitality business and have repositioned our retail business which is now delivering improved margins with reduced risk. Continued investment in UK manufacturing, sales and marketing and new product development will be a key feature of 2012. I am confident that Churchill will deliver enhanced shareholder value in 2012 and beyond." You can view the entire range of Churchill China products by going here:http://www.churchillchina.com/ Anchor Hocking: Canadian Whisky Glass Delivers Both Guest Satisfaction and Operator Profits3/28/2012
Coming off the huge success of its other Glencairn Scotch Whisky glass, Anchor Hocking now has a glass specifically designed to enhance the individual character of its Canadian cousin. The official Canadian whisky glass presents the finest way to enjoy your whisky. This glass was created in close consultation with the Canadian whisky industry with a design that delivers whisky to the tip of the tongue for the fullest taste experience. Additionally, the slightly larger size is versatile whether serving whisky neat or in mixed drinks. You won't have to be Canadian to enjoy the way this glass fits in your hand and the maple leaf etching will make you feel almost like you have moved north of the border. "They have a thick glass bottom that not only feels great in the hand, but they stay put when set down making them very unlikely to be knocked over. The thin lip is also very comfortable. They have a deceivingly large capacity when using ice or soda yet look perfectly correct when drinking whiskey neat." is an example of the comments overheard about this glass. TabletopJournal has been talking for a while now about the "merchandising" of cocktails and how specialty glasses for certain drinks enhances the guest experience, resulting in higher guest satisfaction and higher profits. The Canadian Whisky glass from Anchor Hocking is such a merchandising glass. But...be forewarned....you'll likely have to ask your Anchor Hocking/Oneida representative (remember, they are together now) to show it to you. We could find it nowhere on the Anchor website...nor in any Anchor Hocking catalog known to mankind. In fact, only a tip from an "inside mole" at the glass company alerted us that it even existed at all. Is this glass Anchor Hocking's "Area 51" ? So as a public service and so that you, too, can "crack the code" and find your way to increasing profits from your Canadian Whisky sales, TabletopJournal is supplying you with the correct item number - straight from the Anchor Hocking inventory tag. Order responsibly.
So, pull your Anchor/Oneida rep to the side .....and gently whisper in their ear that, you too, would like to sell more Canadian whisky and increase your overall bar profits. You'll be glad you did....and, so will your customers. Meanwhile, you can see the rest of the Anchor Hocking glassware range by going to: http://www.anchorhocking.com/index.html?section=foodservice In saying that it’s business was “booming” both domestically and internationally, the Sentinel Newspaper from Stoke-On-Trent (U.K.) named Steelite International its Business of The Year last night and also awarded Steelite its International Trade Award. Citing record sales of £60 million and pre-tax profits up 45 per cent in its latest financial year, The Sentinel selected the global tabletop leader as part of part of a program presented in association with North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce and Stoke-on-Trent City Council, during a ceremony held last night at the King's Hall in Stoke.
According to the newspaper, Steelite, with a 24 per cent production increase last year, now has its highest ever staffing levels. Continually innovating to stay ahead of the game, the company has launched more than 70 new products in the past two years, and opened a New York showroom to help service the U.S. market, which now accounts for more than half of total sales. Simon Treanor, vice president of European sales, said: "I think these awards are testament to the hard work of all 800 people back at the factory and around the world. It shows the importance of continuing to invest in what you believe in, which for us is British manufacturing." Finance administration manager Phil Ray added: "The Made in England back stamp is so important for us around the world." You can read the entire article in The Sentinel by going here: http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Booming-Steelite-scoops-awards/story-15645264-detail/story.html And, you can see the entire lineup of tabletop items from Steelite by visiting their website: http://www.steelite.com/ |
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