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Selected stories 2011-2021
In 1984 adidas changed the world of footwear forever. Launching its first ever running franchise, the ZX series, the brand showed that performance sneakers could elevate runners of all types and abilities. Revered by running purists and sneaker enthusiasts alike, ZX quickly became a modern icon. Over a decade after ZX’s inaugural release, adidas Originals returned with a celebration dubbed ‘A-ZX’. The unique programme saw some of the brand’s most esteemed global partners each collaborate on 26 distinct ZX drops over the course of 2008 and 2009. In 2020, adidas Originals is bringing back A-ZX with a bang, propelling the iconic franchise firmly into the future. Precision. Craftsmanship. Heritage. The ZX8000 Porcelain sneaker is a piece of history like no other. For this singular pair, two pioneers of German design have come together, bringing generations of expertise to one of the world’s most iconic silhouettes. Featuring premium adidas leather hand-painted by Meissen, marvelously hand-made Meissen porcelain overlays, and weighing exactly 950 grams, this inimitable pair of sneakers has been assembled over a six month period, moving between Herzogenaurach and Meissen throughout the process of its creation. At the heart of this unique collaboration is a harmonic coalescence of two icons; the Meissen Krater Vase and the adidas Originals ZX8000 silhouette. First designed in 1856, today and for the very first time, the Krater Vase unites a number of decorative styles and techniques from throughout the manufacturer’s 310 year history. Paying homage to this quintessential piece of Meissen design, adidas’ own modern icon, the ZX8000 shoe model, is adorned with 15 of the Vase’s 130 different patterns. Ensuring the pair’s unique place in history, each pattern has been painstakingly crafted with the utmost care and precision by four individual painters across three separate Meissen departments. A testament to craftsmanship, art, and unbound creativity, this silhouette is unmatched in its elegance.
For more information, please visit: https://www.meissen.com/en/momente Libbey Inc., one of the world's largest glass tableware manufacturers, today announced that it has successfully completed its financial restructuring and emerged from Chapter 11. Through its Plan of Reorganization, Libbey Inc. is emerging from Chapter 11 as a new private company formed and controlled by Libbey Inc.’s former lenders, Libbey Glass LLC (the “Company” and together with Libbey Inc., “Libbey”), and will remain under the same leadership. The Company emerges with substantial liquidity, supported by proceeds from a $150 million term loan and a $100 million asset-based lending facility. The Company has significantly reduced operating costs, strengthened its balance sheet and improved liquidity by reducing net debt to less than $150 million.
Mike Bauer, chief executive officer of Libbey, said, “This is an important day for Libbey as we begin a new chapter as a healthy company with the agility to succeed. As a result of this process, we are better positioned to compete and capitalize on the many opportunities for our business. Looking ahead, we will maintain our focus on managing costs, providing superior service to our customers and strengthening relationships with our business partners, while demonstrating the same unwavering commitment to creating high-quality glassware and other tabletop products that has been a hallmark of Libbey for the past 200+ years. I am confident in Libbey’s future and excited by all that we will be able to accomplish moving forward.” Mr. Bauer continued, “Our emergence from this process in less than six months is a testament to the faith, hard work and resilience of our nearly 6,000 employees globally, who continue to deliver unsurpassed service, product innovations and business excellence. On behalf of everyone at Libbey, I would also like to thank our customers, vendors and lenders for their continued confidence and support, and we look forward to continuing to partner with them for years to come.” Concurrent with its emergence, the Company entered into new exit financing arrangements with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) Union Bank, N.A. and a syndicate comprised of a number of Libbe Led by domestic tourism and non-air travel, global consulting firm McKinsey believes it will take until late ’23 or early 2024 for tourism to return to pre-COVID 19 levels. Of course, there are other mitigating factors such as the perceived safety and overall attractiveness of the destinations as they compete for shrunken tourism spending and lifting of international travel sanctions. Additionally, the contracted air travel industry will remain a strong influencing factor due to travel restrictions, perceived safety concerns and reduced flights and seat supply from the airlines.
You can read the entire article by going here: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/travel-logistics-and-transport-infrastructure/our-insights/covid-19-tourism-spend-recovery-in-numbers Six months following the first shutdown of restaurants for the coronavirus pandemic, the restaurant industry is in limbo. According to a new survey released today by the National Restaurant Association, nearly 1 in 6 restaurants (representing nearly 100,000 restaurants) is closed either permanently or long-term; nearly 3 million employees are still out of work; and the industry is on track to lose $240 billion in sales by the end of the year.
The survey, which asked restaurant operators about the six-month impact of the pandemic on their businesses, found that overwhelmingly, most restaurants are still struggling to survive and don’t expect their position to improve over the next six months. The findings include:
“For an industry built on service and hospitality, the last six months have challenged the core understanding of our business,” said Tom Bené, President & CEO of the National Restaurant Association. “Our survival for this comes down to the creativity and entrepreneurship of owners, operators, and employees. Across the board, from independent owners to multi-unit franchise operators, restaurants are losing money every month, and they continue to struggle to serve their communities and support their employees.” The survey also found that 40% of operators think it is unlikely their restaurant will still be in business six months from now if there are no additional relief packages from the federal government. The Association highlighted this for Congress and the Trump Administration in a letter sent today, asking them to use bipartisan support to pass small business programs in stand-alone bills. “This survey reminds us that independent owners and small franchisees don’t have time on their side,” said Sean Kennedy, executive vice president of Public Affairs for the Association. “The ongoing disruptions and uncertainty make it impossible for these owners to plan for next week, much less next year. Congress is about to leave Washington for the elections – we need them to focus on the short-term, basic solutions that have secured bipartisan support and passed one or both chambers. We urge immediate passage of these while we work with lawmakers on the comprehensive elements of our ‘Blueprint for Restaurant Revival.’ “The foodservice industry was the nation’s second largest private sector employer and pumped more than $2 trillion into the economy right up until our sudden shutdown,” Kennedy continued. “Making an investment in an industry that consumers love and that powers the economy is a good business and economic move for Congress as they search for the biggest bang for their recovery buck.” You can learn more about the Association’s recovery proposals in the Blueprint for Restaurant Revival. Arc Cardinal Launches New Uniquely Light and Extra Resistance Opal® Ovenware: Smart Cuisine8/28/2020
Finding the perfect serving piece for meals and menu items of all types has never been more important. Now, with practicality and safety being at the top of every foodservice operator’s criteria, leading North American tableware manufacturer, Arc Cardinal, launches Smart Cuisine, a new cookware range uniquely light and extra resistant. “Smart Cuisine is a versatile and contemporary collection we are pleased to add to our portfolio,” says Alexandre Bollengier President of Arc Cardinal. “We understand the importance of working smarter, not harder. Each piece in the collection can be put in the oven up to 475 degrees Fahrenheit and then served directly to your customer eliminating the need for multiple dishes and wasted time.” According to the company, most ovenware products are limited in design, too heavy or too fragile and chip easily - but not Smart Cuisine. Smart Cuisine’s Opal® material couples the very best of ceramic and fully tempered glass making this a durable solution for any operation. The ergonomic design of each piece makes it easy for handling, and the bright white body color allows for mixing and matching with existing dinnerware.
This collection features the same key benefits of Arc Cardinal’s Opal® dinnerware. Each item is made as one solid homogenous piece that does not require a glaze. This helps to mitigate the risk of bacteria transfer and ensuring safety for all guests. Simplicity. Practicality. Flexibility. Safety. These seem like strong foundations for success for the new Smart Cuisine collection from Arc Cardinal. To learn more about Smart Cuisine simply reach out to your local Arc Cardinal tabletop consultant or request samples at [email protected]. Of course, you can always visit the company’s website: www.cardinalfoodservice.com Arc Cardinal Parent Takes Major Step Forward in the Reorganization of Its Financial Structure7/30/2020
The Arc group, parent of America’s Arc Cardinal Foodservice brand, a world leader in tableware, announces a major agreement with its shareholders and partners, as part of a financing process made necessary by the health crisis.
This agreement has several components:
Through a mutually beneficial partnership, the Russian plant, OSZ, will continue to produce for its local market, including Luminarc® branded products under a licensing agreement. For its part, Arc group will continue to export its products from France, the Emirates and China to the Russian market, via its distribution subsidiary ADR. The beneficial consequences of these agreements are major for the Arc group and all its employees. The long-term sustainability of the business is now significantly enhanced. The important reduction in the debt burden and interest rates will significantly improve profitability, allowing Arc to continue the transformations ongoing since 2019. These include improvement of safety and working conditions, renovation of the furnaces, automation of the packing area, continuation of innovation and acceleration of the savings plan. These agreements come in a very special context. The Group’s performance indicators were in line with the targets set for 2019 and 2020 before the Covid-19 crisis and the effects of containment, which have been particularly intense in the Food Service sector. The business support system put in place by the French government, in the weeks following the outbreak of the health crisis, enabled the Group to withstand the immediate down-turn and provided the company the necessary time to negotiate the refinancing agreements finalized today. For Nick Hodler, Group Chief Executive Officer, “This is great news for the company and all its employees. Thanks to the trust, commitment and support of our shareholders and partners, the Group will be able to continue its trajectory of transformation, modernization, improvement of working conditions and optimization of services for its customers. In particular, the agreements finalized today would not have been possible without the effective business support measures put in place by the French public authorities in response to the health crisis. We managed to find a structural solution to a short-term problem.”
BauscherHepp is excited to announce its new Touch Free dining concept.
Touch Free was created as a more hygienic presentation for buffets, in-room dining, and grab-and-go style dining. This new offering includes premium German porcelain from Bauscher: a brand recognized for its ground-breaking innovations since 1881. We recently had the opportunity to catch up with BauscherHepp President Jeffrey Heaney and here’s what he had to say about their newest collection, Touch Free:
The idea behind Touch Free is simple: food can be pre-plated, stored on trays, re-thermalized, and then put into service on those same trays. It's no coincidence that porcelain has always been the choice for food service. Its ability to withstand the rigors of catering makes it perfect for professional applications.
Touch Free also features Luigi Bormioli’s superior Italian glassware in the form of their Lock-Eat collection. These jars and carafes are a simple and sustainable way to store and serve food with leak-proof lids.
Rounding out the concept, BauscherHepp has 18/10 stainless steel cutlery from Hepp, the inventor of professional cutlery and hollowware. The Street Food collection of flatware from Hepp is smaller and lighter than the flatware used at the table, but just as attractive.
The Touch Free offering from BauscherHepp is a beautiful, sustainable, and practical solution for a hygienic presentation of all types of food. BauscherHepp is a US distributor of exceptional tabletop products from porcelain to metal and glassware. The company’s brands have a long history in the global market, making them an ideal match based on their expertise and European roots. For more information, please visit: www.BauscherHepp.com Vista Alegre has debuted the Constellation d’Or dinnerware collection. The new line features a blue and gold starburst pattern on a white porcelain background.
According to the company, the assortment includes a full range of dinnerware and serveware including a dinner plate; salad plate; soup plate; bread and butter plate; as well as assorted bowls and serving platters. The collection also includes coffee and tea cups, a tea pot and several additional accessories. The brand suggests combining the new dinnerware pattern with its Domo flatware, Garland Crystal Vase, Vinoteca Glass Decanter, and Astro drinkware. In the HoReCa sector, the Vista Alegre brand has been well-know for some time. The Vista Alegre Hotelware ranges offers a distinctive set of products jointly developed with prestigious designers and renowned chefs worldwide. Resistent, functional, and innovative pieces bound to satisfy the most demanding professionals. The German drinking glass manufacturer Stölzle Lausitz has strengthened its Management with the appointment of Ronald Brieger as Co-Managing Director with responsibilities for the areas of production, technology and glass decoration. His remit covers the entire technical part of glass production from the design of new glasses through to shipping. Johann Nagl remains as Managing Director responsible for the areas of Sales, Marketing, E-commerce as well as Finance and Controlling.
Ronald Brieger has been involved in the mechanical glass production at Weisswasser for many years. The Mechanical Engineering graduate previously worked as a Plant Manager in the Stölzle Lausitz glass factory. After joining the plant in 1989, he was initially responsible for the machine park and maintenance prior to becoming Plant Manager in 2008. Brieger is married and has two children. He particularly likes to use his free time for extensive cycling tours in the nearby countryside as well as further surroundings. Brieger's appointment as Co-Managing Director at Stölzle Lausitz GmbH by Dr. Cornelius Grupp, Owner of Stölzle Lausitz GmbH, was seen as a sign of the appreciation of his previous performance as well as an expression of the trust and belief that the high quality level in the production of machine-blown drinking glasses in Weisswasser could be further developed. There was recently a great article in The New York Times by writer Pete Wells on just how great those memorable eating out dining experiences can be and we could not agree more. We've said it often - the very best times in all our lives is often when we have been enjoying food & beverage...with family, friends and those we love. And very frequently, those great times are in a restaurant.
So, indeed, we are looking forward to many more of those best of times and, hopefully, they come again very soon! #besttimes #family #friends #memories #connection To read the Pete Wells article, please visit here: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/26/dining/restaurant-recipes-at-home.html |
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Ment'or Inspiring Culinary Excellence Archives
November 2021
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