Selected Archives
Selected stories 2011-2021
All we can say is ......bartenders, got your glassware ready?
To read the entire article, go here: http://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2014/03/whisky-set-to-battle-us-on-tade-spirits-decline/ If a person is lucky, somewhere in their professional career there is that “special”, perhaps even “magical”, time when you are in the exactly right spot at exactly the right time. For the people of Steelite International, this is that time. The employees of this company find themselves the envy of an industry and the leader in terms of new products and creativity for today's hospitality tabletop. This past weekend, TabletopJournal was fortunate to be a guest at the Steelite International 2014 Annual Sales Conference "Tomorrow's Trends, Today". With an opportunity to see this hospitality leader up close, we were curious to see how Steelite might be planning to continue the industry - leading growth pattern they have been on for the past several years. In a nutshell, it was a totally fascinating weekend and we extend a very sincere thank-you to Steelite for inviting and allowing us to be a guest. The Steelite esprit de corps among the organization is great to see in a time when much of what you read or hear within the hospitality tabletop industry is less than optimistic. And, it's clear that the passion for success evoked by Steelite International CEO Kevin Oakes and echoed by John Miles, Steelite Americas, President and Neil Hooper, Managing Director for Europe and Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific is running through the veins of every frontline Steelite salesperson, employee, and brand ambassador.
Here, are just a few of the many new Steelite products showcased at this event. The company's Royal Crown Derby Entertains division continues to get its feet on the ground and gain traction as a premier upper-end Fine Bone China product designed for the hospitality trade. Royal Crown Derby Entertains is the latest development in the 250+ success story of this company acquired by Steelite in late 2012. This new division represents a vision to create tableware as a luxury statement for use in fine restaurants, hotels, and clubs.
Steelite has been partnering with creative, like-minded partners such as glassware producers Rona and Bormioli Rocco for some time now, placing their products in hospitality customers at all levels. Both companies showcased new products to help fuel the Steelite growth engine of the future. Rona's new Single Malt Whisky glass is the perfect vessel for operators to take advantage of the continued appreciation for high-end whiskys of all types. TabletopJournal has been saying that all whiskys of a special character should be served in a special way....and, now Steelite brings you Rona's glass that especially designed to bring out the all the nuances of the top-level whiskys you are serving your guests. With a rounded belly of appropriate size and a tapered top and sheer rim, this specialty beverage glass will truly allow your whisky to develop to its peak, concentrate its bouquet to a rich and complex finish....providing guests with the perfect, enhanced and elevated beverage experience.
These are just a few of the multitude of new ideas and products that Steelite showcased over the weekend in their pursuit of being a dominant source for creative hospitality tabletop products. Products that not only do their job or function....but products that truly change the dining experience. It would have been difficult for this publication to accurately present all the new products and categories presented during this weekend. We're sure that operators will see the plethora of new ranges, new categories, new materials, and new ideas at Chicago's NRA Show in May and later in the year at the IHMRS Show in New York. The new product parade at Steelite shows no signs of slowing down....in fact, it's just the opposite. Oh...and, did we mention that a new Steelite website, along with a new array of supporting collateral materials and catalogs are all on the way? Expect these before the mid-year. And, as we have written before, with such an extensive array of tabletop products, it requires a skilled and professional organization. And there lies what we consider to be perhaps Steelite's most impressive asset - it's people. From manufacturing and warehousing...to sales and marketing..to finance, logistics, and customer service, the highly-engaged and customer focused infrastructure to support the strong demands of an increasingly global hospitality industry seem firmly in place at Steelite International. Today, when hospitality customers choose their tabletop products, they quickly realize they are also choosing more than simply a product. Choosing Steelite as your tabletop company seems like a great decision. Yes...it's a special time at Steelite, with perhaps the best yet to come. Stay tuned.
According to DrinkSpirits.com, this past year saw Bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey grow +6.8% in volume 10.2% in revenue. In addition, High End Canadian Whiskey is on FIRE with +61.5% volume growth and +62.8% gross rev in High End Premium & 6.1% Gross Rev overall.
Glassware companies…..what are you doing to help operators elevate this beverage experience and take better advantage of this trend?
To learn more about the glassware collections from Oneida Foodservice, go here:http://foodservice.oneida.com/products/index2.cfm?pLineId=314
Ok....here's the dirty little secret.......the Glencairn glass works pretty damn well for enjoying and elevating the bourbon drinking experience, as well. So, no matter where your guest likes their whiskey from, here's a glass to help maximize their beverage experience.
The brand Villeroy and Boch has always exuded a certain...shall we say elan or distinctive elegance....and their whisky glasses are another reinforcement of this "pleasure of the senses" ideal. With an opportunity to enjoy my favorite spirits recently in V&B's handmade single malt glassware, how could I pass that up? Approaching this opportunity from two perspectives....one, how might the beverage experience be elevated with this particular glassware? And two - where we might see this being utilized in a foodservice or hospitality setting? Rather than try to out-review the experts on the merits of this particular glass, we'd rather you heard from true professionals: Here's a great video from Whisky Connosr: http://www.connosr.com/videos/review-villeroy-and-boch-glasses/ From Dramming.com: "I was quite amazed of the overall performance of the Villeroy & Boch tumbler. It really shows its strength with a single grain. The good bourbon performance may well be related to this. Bourbon would classify under Scottish law as a single grain because it is made mostly from unmalted grains. But also for the other unpeated whisky types, the tumbler does surprisingly well." was the review from Dramming.com
Let's start with this.....great quality generally comes at a price. Villeroy and Boch's Whisky Glasses are no different. These are not your normal, "couple of bucks apiece" double old-fashioned tumblers....but, nor are they meant to be. This glass comes in both a stemmed version and a stemless version.....we preferred the stemless. So, whether you are at Lilly's in Louisville, KY serving a 23-year old Pappy Van Winkle bourbon ($42) or you happen to be on the lower East Side of NYC at Swift's serving a 25-year old Talisker Cask Strength Single Malt ($35) don't you want your guests to have the best whisky experience possible? Villeroy and Boch's glasses allow you to do just that..... For any old scotch or bourbon bar? No....but, then again, you're not serving just any old scotch or bourbon, now are you? Go ahead.....elevate your guest's whisky experience. To see the entire collection of hospitality products available from Villeroy and Boch, go here:
http://www.villeroy-boch.com/en/us/hotel-restaurant.html 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 |
We support the
Shouldn't you?
Ment'or Inspiring Culinary Excellence Archives
November 2021
Categories
All
|