BLANK PH NEWS 5-7-9-11-13-15-16-17 NEW.qxp_5/7/8-9/13/15/16-17/19/20 18/01/2019 18:47 Page 1
News
Right: An audience at Spring Fair 2018.
TOP STORY
Brand new at Spring Fair
Below: Tramontina at the last Spring Fair.
Spring Fair’s Hall 9 (Kitchen & Dining) will embrace a wide spectrum from craft products in the new Artisan Avenue to leading housewares names including Denby, Ulster Weavers, Grunwerg, T&G and Le Creuset. New exhibitors in Hall 9 include Kiddi Kutter, with specialist knives designed for children aged three years and older to cut their own food safely, enabling parents to teach kids cooking for an early age. Western International, Muggi (with its cupholder tray) and JO Group are also joining the Hall. A new brand, Smidge will be revealed at the show, targeting the consumer who is choosing environmentally friendlier options. Smidge’s 90 products cover a wide variety of categories from ‘on the go’ through to everyday household usage and include a unique 100% bio-degradable and recyclable formulation. The new brand states that its philosophy is ‘responsible, affordable, optimistic’, enabling consumers to ‘make that small change which together can make a big difference’. Specialising in hydration solutions, Auteur will launch its new brand, Soma, as well as new additions across its portfolio. Soma creates elegant filtration and hydration products, with a focus on sustainability from the sugarcane material used in its filter jugs to its bamboo handles. Portmeirion Group will reveal new collections including Botanic Garden Harmony (Portmeirion), Atrium (Portmeirion) and Kingsley (Spode). “They have been heavily influenced by the current trend to bring the outside in - a huge trend for 2019 - while remaining steeped in each of the three brand’s individual heritage,” explained sales and marketing director Phil Atherton. Demonstrations at Spring Fair include Tramontina, Above: The logo for a new brand, Smidge which will be serving samples of steaks, expertly cut with launches at Spring its steak knives. See linked stories (including KitchenCraft on page 13) which Fair. Visit www.springfair.com
Get ahead at Spring Fair Spring Fair (February 3-7 NEC) will deliver a wide range of insightful presentations and workshops for retailers. Topics on the Main Stage include Brexit strategies, retail technology and some inspirational personal stories behind well-loved brands. Diverse speakers include Wrendale, Pinterest, The V&A and The Colour Hive (colour and trend consultancy). Trends will also be explored in The Studio at Spring Fair with speakers including trend spotter and futurist Paola de Luca and Jane Bellman, founder of Unique Style Platform. Meanwhile a myriad of practical knowledge is on offer at the new Retail Skills Theatre. Helpful advice includes product photography and packing, Epos systems, fleet and freighting, social media strategies, stock planning and post Brexit currency management, in-store and online visual merchandising, and building a brand identity. Following on from the success of Autumn Fair 2018’s Product Match app, which helped visitors find and locate the best suppliers for their business, Spring Fair will see the launch of a newly improved and updated version of the app. The app will continue to learn about visitors’ preferences the more it is used to ensure that all Spring Fair attendees have a highly productive and streamlined experience of the show.
Gift of the Year for foodies
Sally’s new country classics
BollyNice range from Apples to Pears, Gin Time from Dartington Crystal and T&G’s Ocean range are the finalists in the Kitchen and Dining category of the Gift of the Year awards (GOTY). Meanwhile, Bee Green Wraps is a finalist in the Ethical Gift category, while Food and Drink’s line-up includes BBQ Hot Smoking Kit from Hot Smoked and Cake in a Card by Bakedin. The latter also appears in the ‘Under £10’ category, along with Dartington’s Whisky Experience. The category winners, and Judge’s Choice winner, will be announced at an awards ceremony starting at 6.30pm in Hall 20, at the end of the first day of Spring Fair on Sunday February 3. The event is free to attend.
Artist and designer Sally Swannell has joined forces with Wrendale Designs for a new kitchenware collection, which includes placemats and coasters, tea towels (both Made in the UK) and fine bone china mugs. Sally originally trained as a natural history illustrator and her work is influenced by the English countryside, New England and Northern European subjects. The range will be revealed at Spring Fair (Hall 3). Meanwhile, Portmeirion is launching new Wrendale Designs mugs, a melamine picnic set and a dinner set on its stand at Spring Fair.
Above: Ocean from T&G – a donation to Plastic Ocean is made from sales.
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