Half century partnership keeps South Yorkshire family firms looking sharp
A partnership between two family-owned businesses has reached a significant milestone as the firms celebrate 50 years of doing business together.
Rotherham-based hospitality clothing and equipment specialist Russums'associationwith SheffieldknifemakerSamuel Staniforth Ltd stretches back to 1968 when the catering suppliers first asked Samuel Staniforth to produce quality knives for them.
It was the current director and fifth generation Peter Russum who taskedStaniforth's then-owner Ray Rudge with producing a knife of superior quality to the ones that Russums were selling at the time.
Henceforth, Russums soldStaniforth's flagship Smithfield range of knives to their customers and the partnership represented a departure into producing knives for the catering market that Staniforth still services today.
During the Second World War, Staniforth was known for manufacturing high-quality knife blades for the military and the butchery trade, with the Smithfield brand synonymous with butchers' knives.
Sixth generation Richard Russum said that he is delighted and proud to be continuing the relationship started by his father, Peter.
"Not only are we marking a half century of a successful partnership, but we're also paying tribute to a tradition of supplying top quality and reliable knives which have been the choice of catering professionals for over five decades.
"As an established family business, it is a pleasure and privilege to work with another family-owned South Yorkshire company that shares our values in terms of quality and ethos.
"We're looking forward to many more years of working with Chris Hopkinson and the team atSamuel Staniforth."
Manufactured in Sheffield, Russums'Smithfieldrange comprises nearly 50 lines, including individual knives for all chefs' needs, knife sets and knives with colour coded handles that aredesigned to help prevent cross contamination of food.
Samuel Staniforth'sowner Chris Hopkinson said: "We are thrilled to have grown our catering knives business with Russums. The molybdenum stainless steel that we use in the manufacture of the Smithfield range stays sharper for longer than traditional knives, which is ideal in the high pressure environment of a professional kitchen."
The knife company is located in Halfway, Sheffield, and was opened in 1864 by the eponymous owner as a manufacturer of fancy pen and pocket knives, scales, blades and springs.
Russums is a leading supplier of clothing and equipment to the hospitality industry, supplying chefs, restaurateurs and food service workers throughout the UK and Europe.
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Photo:Left to rightChris Hopkinson from Samuel Staniforth Ltd and John-Paul Marsden from Russums Chris Hopkinson and John Paul Marsden
For more information or to arrange an interview with Director Richard Russum orSales and Marketing ManagerJohn-Paul Marsden,please contact Tracey Baty at three60 marketing on:
Direct line:01430 871360
Mobile:07971 961574
E mail:traceybaty@three60marketing.co.uk
Web:www.three60marketing.co.uk
Notes to editors