Selected Archives
Selected stories 2011-2021
A tabletop company that sometimes doesn’t get its due recognition is Gessner Products. Located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, where they’ve been for over 50 years, Gessner makes 1) a great product; 2) a creative and, often cost-savings, product; and 3) products that go with virtually every menu type; and, finally, 4) a product that is made here in America. Gessner’s line of melamine ramekins appears to me to be bigger than nearly anyone else’s and now, when I see the colors they’re making them in, they really look terrific. I don’t pretend to be an expert in ramekins, but these look great with nearly any kind of ceramic plate….porcelain, bone, flint body, doesn’t matter. Items like their spouted ramekin (comes in 2 sizes, and I’m sure a rainbow of colors) or their 3- compartment server are examples of how the clever folks at Gessner respond to the changing foodservice market and and attempt to help operators lower costs. Ramekins may not be the sexiest part of foodservice, but Gessner makes them sexy. You can get spouted ramekins, smooth sided ramekins, fluted ramekins, square ramekins, contemporary ramekins, and more from Gessner.
The team at Gessner is smart, too. They make many of these items in something called SAN, which looks like glass but doesn’t shatter when its dropped, making it safer and more cost effective than glass. Gessner has a lot of other items in both melamine and SAN and you can see them all by going to: www.gessnerproducts.com We still think that one of the potentially biggest opportunities in the tabletop category continues to be the partnership of the Italian company – La Tavola – having joined forces with Steelite. La Tavola is the creation of Guilio and Sergio Sambonet, originators of the eponymous namesake flatware brand of their name. Their new venture, La Tavola, is not a company confined to just flatware or metal hollowware (although their products in these areas are stylish and sure to be seen as design leaders), but also has fine porcelain and bone china dinnerware and accessories, along with buffetware. From the La Tavola website.....“La Tavola is the result of the passion of Giulio and Sergio Sambonet to whom La Tavola represents the point of arrival of a long professional and entrepreneurial career, full of achievements in the table top market. Previously Sergio and Giulio were respectively managing director and export manager of Sambonet, the family former Company. Then founders and managing directors of Table Top Engineering & Design and of Sant’Andrea in partnership with Oneida. Today La Tavola is fully owned by both Sambonet brothers.” It remains to be seen how the two companies will intergrate and manage their partnership, but make no mistake about it – you have experienced tabletop experts, completely knowledgable about the U.S. market, on both sides. From the Steelite press release:
Ceramic tableware manufacturer Steelite International America is pleased to announce a partnership with La Tavola, designer, manufacturer and supplier of quality tableware for commercial foodservice and high end global markets. The partnership will enable Steelite International to exclusively market their high-end design led portfolio of flatware, buffet and hollowware collections in the United States, Canada, and Caribbean effective immediately. “Our investment in La Tavola represents our desire to meet our customers' expectations for quality products at all levels,” remarked John Miles, president of Steelite International. “La Tavola brings Steelite International a metal product offering for the Four and Five star operator. We strongly believe that the commitment the Sambonet family makes every day to quality craftsmanship and service will manifest itself in a fantastic result for this new and exciting joint venture.” “Establishing a brand in a new market requires a wide array of skills and assets," said Guilio Sambonnet. “La Tavola and Steelite International are undertaking this thrilling challenge by pooling a 7-generation experience in fine tableware craftsmanship, a state-of-the-art sales and marketing force and a genuine passion for the tabletop. We feel confident that the partnership with a solid actor such as Steelite International will soon bring the La Tavola brand on top of the US hospitality markets operators’ minds.” They've been busy over there in Steelite country. Well done. by Joan Tupponce – www.VirginiaBusiness.com 6/29/11
Rob Finley never takes the Canadian culture for granted when he travels to Toronto on company business. “Canadians are sensitive to the fact they are not Americans,” he says. “You have to honor and respect that nationalistic pride.” Finley, vice president of international sales for Fortessa Inc., travels to Canada frequently because that’s where the tableware company opened its first foreign subsidiary in 2003. Canada looked promising because hotels represent one of Fortessa’s largest client groups. “There are two key hotel groups based in Toronto, Four Seasons and Fairmont,” notes Finley. Loudoun County-based Fortessa designs, develops and markets tableware, which gives Finley entrée to some of the most prestigious high-end retailers and luxury hotels in the world. Altogether, the company sells to more than 20 countries and has 70 employees and associates in its global markets. Twenty percent of the company’s sales come from outside of the United States. “We expect our export sales to grow rapidly in the next three to five years,” says Scott Hamberger, one of the company’s founders. Besides Canada, Fortessa has subsidiaries and partnerships around the globe, from Europe and China to the Middle East and Australia. “By 2006, we had added the term global to our company descriptor. Since then our international sales have doubled,” says company CEO Scott Hamberger. “We expect them to approximately double again in the next three years.” One of the keys to the company’s international success is securing a strong local partner in each area. “You can’t have a U.S.-centric view of the brand or business and expect to be successful in replicating it around the world,” Hamberger says. Canadians, for instance, prefer doing business with a company that has a Canadian connection. “To be truly successful you must have a presence in Canada. You have to treat it as a priority.” The population of the greater Toronto area is more than 5.5 million. “That’s a huge captive market in a small geographic space,” observes Finley. As the fifth largest city in North America, Toronto has a cosmopolitan culture. “It’s a world-class city,” he adds. You can find our more about Fortessa by going to: www.fortessa.com Fortessa has a series of videos on their own "Fortessa Channel" on YouTube to discuss everything from new products, how to care for their products, and even social responsibility. Interesting to see how some tabletop companies are embracing the new social media tools, while some prefer the tried and true, tactile selling approaches. To view the Fortessa Channel, click on this link:
http://www.youtube.com/user/FortessaInc?blend=13&ob=5 While some of these videos were posted a few months back, they don't seem to be dated in any way. I'd be curious to learn how these videos are most often used. Salespeople showing customers? Retail customers? Foodservice customers? And.....are they effective? Maybe with such a wide array of products, this is a great way to insure the correct message gets out? There’s a new Seltmann China evolving and this new generation couldn’t be more different than the staid, classic Seltmann China that many know. With its Tettau line and others, Seltmann is the oldest porcelain factory in Bavaria But now Seltmann has launched its new cp-08 shape….a geometric-shaped line so new and different that it has its own website - http://www.cp08.de/ – which can be accessed through the Seltmann website, as well. Designed by an outside design firm with the Berlin Congress Center as its first customer, cp-08 is a 22 piece “system” of porcelain serving pieces unlike any other. And, while Seltmann has introduced new contemporary shapes in recent years...non seem as dramatic as the new cp-08 system. Cp-08 was designed with goals such as: - dimensional optimization for space saving; - inherent practical design features to enable in-service durability; - and an overall asthetic to allow both large catering and in home use for consumers; Only a company like Seltmann could produce such a high quality, design-driven product. The reason being is that the manufacturing tolerances have to be extremely consistent to enable the stacking and space optimization that is such a part of cp-08. Unlike many other porcelain companies that outsource some or all of their production, Seltmann still remains true and produces all of its products in Germany. That makes the quality control for a line like cp-08 very achievable and it also allows customers to mix and match with other Seltmann products as the body clay colors are also the same. “It was really well received at the NRA Show,” says Seltmann USA President Johannes Kraus. “We have all types of customers from restaurateurs to caterers to airlines interested in cp-08. They are finding it amazing how much space can be saved – and the design of cp-08 is timeless. It’s truly a full concept and not just a new product or two. There are also racks for available for cp-08, as well.” With cp-08 stocked in Seltmann’s suburban Chicago warehouse, Johannes Kraus and his sales organization have begun the enviable task of presenting cp-08 to customers first-hand and showing all its capabilities. While Seltmann still has all the traditional porcelain dinnerware shapes that it is known for…..the cp-08 “system” of dinnerware is bringing a whole new generation of Seltmann to the U.S. foodservice tabletop.
To see the new cp-08 system, go to: http://www.cp08.de/ To see the entire range of Seltmann China products, go to: www.seltmann-usa.com While Syracuse China is not often thought of as a hip, leading-edge type tabletop brand, there are some things going on there that will surprise. Taking off on their popular Cantina series, Syracuse has launched Highlighters, with 4 versitle shapes, 4 radiant colors, and a mix-n-matching of nearly endless possibilities. With today's trends towards more warm climate cuisine, Syracuse China's Highlighters seem pretty near perfect for appetizers, smaller entrees, or desserts. And, perhaps the best part is they are covered with the Syracuse China Lifetime No Chip Warranty.
So....what's not to like?! See the entire Syracuse China line by going to: http://foodservice.libbey.com/catalogs/foodservice-syracuse-china/catalog.html Two strong tabletop dealers partner together with the acquisition by Singer Equipment of the assets of M.Tucker in a deal just completed. Interesting times, to say the least.
Here's the link to the article: http://www.fesmag.com/index.php/news/foodservice-news/item/5600-singer-equipment-co-acquires-m-tucker-co Oneida Ltd., a global leader in the tabletop industry, announces a donation of $4,000 to the Sodexo Foundation. The Sodexo Foundation, a driving and creative force that contributes to a hunger-free nation, is the charitable arm of Sodexo Inc. This foundation funds innovative programs to help children and families in the United States who are at-risk of hunger; from nutrition programs for children, to engaging youth in hunger-fighting community service activities. Nearly 17 million children in the United States are currently at-risk of hunger. Oneida believes that number is unacceptable. Partnering with the Sodexo Foundation was a natural extension of Oneida’s involvement in local hunger relief programs through the Food Bank of Central New York. Sodexo’s initiatives across local, state, and national levels enable us to impact even more in need. · 50 million people in the US are at risk of hunger · 1 in 4 children in the US today go hungry · 1 in 3 households that are served by a food pantry have children · Hungry children are more likely to fail at school “With these compelling statistics, Oneida is proud to lend a hand and contribute to the meaningful efforts of the Sodexo Foundation,” said Jim Joseph, President and CEO of Oneida Ltd. “Oneida’s donation connects with our 130 year history of making a difference in our community.”
During the summer of 2010 Oneida initiated “Pass the Plate”, a program designed to support Sodexo’s effort to stop hunger in the United States. Oneida donated 2% of certain Sodexo purchases back to the Sodexo Foundation. Oneida’s distributor Edward Don was also instrumental in driving sales to benefit the foundation. Oneida hopes to strengthen this relationship during the next campaign starting in fall 2011. To learn more about Oneida and its products, go to: www.oneida.com When design is in your original genetic code, then there’s a pretty good chance that it’s there to stay. Since 1990, the design team at Steelforme has been building on the knowledge of its clients and developing new and innovative products that resonate with the public, and now have developed its line of hardworking tools for the restaurant and foodservice trade. Led by Creative Director Craig Bahl, Steelforme Design launched its first line (of several under development) of brushed and mirror finish tabletop accessories at this year’s NRA Show. Not merely bland tools for serving food or beverages, the entire range is a well thought out, creative accompaniment for both the servers and the restaurant customers. For example, the bread and fruit baskets are made of heavy gauge steel (both brushed and mirror finish) to stand up to the rigors of the restaurant operation, but yet through their design, are light weight and with strong visual appeal. In these days of all white, neutral china, Steelforme provides ample creativity and texture for today’s tabletops. This creative, thoughtful approach is evident throughout the Steelforme’s entire initial offering….which is why I say that design seems to be part of Steelforme’s DNA. A soft spot in the heart for bubbly makes the Steelforme champagne bucket one of my favorite items in the range. Besides the fact that it stays cooler longer, its sleek design makes you almost forget that its designed with a practical side as well – made to lock onto the wine bucket stand for tableside service with silicone handles that make “slippery when wet” a non-issue. Well done. Oh, and, one more for the practical minded…..even though Steelforme is a Canadian company, there is a complete inventory stocked in Buffalo to service the U.S. customer without delay. With more designs on the drawing board and in the pipeline, we can’t wait to see how the DNA continues to play out at Steelforme. Restaurateurs…..go ahead, transform your tables….with Steelforme.
To see the entire lineup of Steelforme products, go to: www.steelforme.com I'm telling you .... these Italian coffee folks know a thing or two about branding. Who would imagine that the Illy technical drawings for a cup would be interesting as art?
Are you overlooking "art" in your company or restaurant that would help re-inforce your branding position? Somebody please tell me that Illy made a poster of this and gave it away! Or...better yet...sold it. Because you know you would buy it. |
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