Spring Fair in pictures

Housewares retailers and suppliers have been enjoying the buzz at Spring Fair this week (NEC Birmingham February 2-7). HousewaresNews.net features some of the news, views and housewares highlights in pictures from Hall 8’s Cook & Dine sector and beyond.

Above: Jerome Le Cainec, international sales director of Opinel knives shows how the French brand creates its Les Forges 1890 range to ensure perfectly balanced knives, which can be used by chefs all day without causing any strain. The knives are distributed by Whitby & Co in the UK.

Opinel is celebrating its 130^th anniversary and continues to be a family company with its factory in the Alps. Its museum is a popular tourist destination, attracting 60 thousand visitors last year, notes Jerome.

Famous owners of Opinel’s iconic folding knives include the artist Pablo Picasso and the late Paul Bocuse (awarded ‘Chef of the Century’ by the Culinary Institute of America), while celebrated chef Alain Ducasse uses Opinel knives in his restaurant.

Above: Ben Grunwerg shows the new 35^th anniversary editions of ten Global knives. “There are Global fans that collect the anniversary editions that come out every five years – there will always be someone who will have everything,” says Ben. “The special editions create a real buzz in stores – sales increased by 40% with our 30^th anniversary knives.”

Above: Forma House’s Simon Maghnagi demonstrates The Nu Bento concept (a new brand from Cookut), which enables consumers to create their own takeaway meal kit, combining containers, lids, cutlery and other accessories without any plastic or other packaging. “It’s only for bricks and mortar shops and creates an in-store experience, as well as ensuring no waste,” says Simon. Moreover, the range has a minus carbon footprint.

Above: Huski Home is using discarded rice husks to create its new lunchboxes alongside its popular cups. Huski Home’s Luke Scott holds a personalised ‘Keswick Cup’ – the town has ditched disposable coffee cups in favour of its own branded reusable cups.

Above: Ladelle’s Evelyn Seton shows the company’s expanding Eco Collection, including product bags and bowl covers.

Above: Redecker House of Brushes’ Harry Thornton and Charlie Godman (in Hall 4) say that “plastic-free” cleaning is a huge growth area, with top sellers including the company’s washing up brushes and nailbrushes.

Above: British made products are rising in popularity here and around the world, according to Ralph Humphries, md at Pendeford Housewares. The company’s microwave cooking range is made in Birmingham and recently attracted a substantial order from a major North American chain. Pendeford has redesigned its packaging to display the Union Jack on the front. Meanwhile Pendeford’s UK-made eight-pint teapot won a large order from New Zealand during Spring Fair.

Above: Raising smiles while cleaning up efficiently: Beth Eccles of Evo Lifestyle Products shows some new additions to the Scrub Daddy family, including fun soap bottles.

Above: Tramontina’s Bruno Bortolini raises the temperature in Hall 8 with the brand’s much-loved steak and sausage barbecue.

Above: Sweet sensation – Le Creuset reveals its new Meringue colour. Tara Murphy and Hannah Wood hold some examples. The stand also showcased the brand’s Zen Kitchen theme, tying in with the popularity of Japanese culture in 2020.

Above: Casa & Casa’s Waheed Qadir holds the Zenith Japanese Cherry Blossom and Dragon bottles – limited editions for 2020 – beside a new range of recycling bins from Casa & Casa. The latter were “really well received” at Spring Fair thanks to their practicality for recycling (including a food waste compartment), ease of cleaning and accessible pricing, says Waheed.

Above: Hokan’s Alistair Donald shows the brand’s multi-purpose bowls while modelling a new upcycled apron. Picking up on Mary Portas’ talk at Spring Fair, Alistair said: “We’re a caring, engaged company. We love saving food and resources.” He explained: “Our aprons feature materials that would otherwise be discarded as well as re-used pieces of fabric which make each apron one of a batch of 200 or 300 limited editions, so the recipient feels special when you wear it.”

Above: A toast to successful new ranges – Cathy Nghyen and Neville Singer hold two of the new glasses in the Black Peacock range from The DRH Collection. The company has also added Blue and Lilac Filigree glassware to its glamorous electroplated portfolio.

Above: Peter Rabbit joins fellow classic licensed ranges Paddington and The Snowman from Anniversary House.

Above: Showing ‘before’ and ‘after’ cups: Dan and Paul Dicker of rCup (Hall 4) – the world’s first reusable cup made from old disposable coffee cups. The brand was launched at Spring Fair two years ago and has grown massively. “Waitrose was one of the first to stock rCup when it stopped providing coffee in disposable coffee cups for its cardholders. Now our customers include lots of small independent coffee shops, Waterstones, Lakeland, RSPB, Costa, Café Nero and John Lewis,” says Paul.