Interview Fine 2 Dine
The finer things
in life
As a company, Fine Dining & Living is all over the hospitality and retail sectors with its multiplicity of brands. One of those, Fine 2 Dine (F2D), is a fundamental part of the business supplying HoReCa with progressive, on-trend pieces. Lynne Verrydt, marketing & events specialist at Fine Dining & Living, gives us some insight into what we can expect from the brand in 2024 and beyond… Fine Dining & Living has brands which exist in both the retail/consumer and professional/HoReCa sectors – do you see growth in one area over another? The hospitality sector has been viewed as a stable and lucrative market in the past few years, attracting companies seeking stability amid retail challenges. However, this has led to increased competition and a flood of new products, some of which may not meet the standards of the hospitality industry. As such, while both sectors offer opportunities, navigating competition and adapting to changing demands are crucial for sustained growth. Tell us about the Fine 2 Dine brand specifically, how would you describe the brand? Where is it positioned in the market?
Who is the target clientele? Fine2Dine (F2D) is a trenddriven provider of high-quality tableware tailored for the creative professional. Positioned at the intersection of innovation and quality, F2D offers hotels and restaurants, catering establishments worldwide, the ability to effortlessly blend food, ambiance, and presentation using trendy colours and materials. The brand caters to establishments seeking to elevate their dining experience with unique, customisable tableware solutions. Has a strategy for growth been identified by the brand for the hospitality sector? And if so, can you tell us about that? Absolutely! We see great potential in the hospitality world. Our plan is the following: stay creative and close on trends, prioritise customers, and expand into new markets. We aim to
40 TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL: HoReCa
keep introducing trendy products, getting customers excited, and making sure they’re available where the demand is high. Additionally, durability is key. For instance, our stainless-steel bowls from the Host collection are resilient and long-lasting, meeting high demand in the market. As a brand, do you distribute Fine 2 Dine globally? Where are your strength markets and where might you like to have more distribution power? Certainly! Fine2Dine boasts a worldwide distribution network, particularly thriving in Europe, the UAE, and America, facilitated by our partnership with MIKASA. As an emerging brand, there still remains untapped potential in these markets. Additionally, we’re eager to venture into new territories like Africa and Asia, recognising the significant growth prospects awaiting us.
Umi was a hero line for you last year, it really tapped into the trend for Japanese style cuisine. Which of Fine 2 Dine’s more recent collections are proving popular? The Host and Ecovitra collections are our hero lines the coming year. They’re bringing something new and exciting to the table, just like Umi did last year. Is trend forecasting an important part of your brand strategy for Fine 2 Dine? Indeed, trend forecasting is integral