The
march of melamine.. cafetieres.. organic shapes.. microwaveable stainless
steel.. and more
FEA LET Forum, 16 &
17 May 2023, Whittlebury Hall, Towcester
There’s no doubt that
sustainability was top of the agenda at FEA’s 2023 Light Equipment and
Tableware (LET) Forum – but the variety of different ideas and products was
mind blowing. Reusable packaging for
takeaways, alternatives to plastic cutlery for airlines, portioners to reduce
food waste, reusable piping bags, the move from gas to induction, sauce
dispensers to replace single use sachets, knife sharpeners that extend the
blade’s life ... And, of course, the sustainable ideas make economic sense, too:
a lightweight, low cost stainless steel knife for an airline might cost 5p,
compared to a 2p plastic one, but it’s reusable, time after time. Even allowing for the cost of handling and
cleaning, it’s going to save an enormous amount of money.
“This was a really lively
Forum,” said Steve Goodliff, the chair of FEA’s LET Group. “The buzz was very positive and very business
oriented. There was lots of interest
from the delegates, who seemed really engaged in what exhibitors had to show
and say.”
John Temple of supplier
Tablecraft agreed. “To be fair, the
Forum is always good,” he said. “We get
to see the right people. You can’t beat
it for that. It does what it says on the
tin.”
Andrea Shearn-Wood of Ascot
Wholesale was a returning delegate. “I
enjoyed it this year even more than in the past,” she said. “Meeting up with suppliers reinforces our
relationships with them in a way that emails and phone calls simply can’t. The event generates lots of potential
business for us and for suppliers.”
For information about the 2024
Forum contact Jocelyn Shawyer at FEA, Jocelyn.shawyer@fea.org.uk.
Back to this year, and soggy
bottoms – or rather, banishing them.
Amongst the innovative launches was perforated bakeware that ensures the
whole bake – including the bottom – is cooked evenly. Another talking point was the microwaveable
food containers made of stainless steel.
2023 LET Trends
Alongside sustainability, here
are some more of the key LET trends for 2023:
· In terms of colours, there were a few
specifics. Bright red and navy blue seem
to be having a moment, as does green – the latter possibly due to the trend to
put foliage into the dining area.
· Has copper had its day? It seems so... at least for the time
being. Now it’s gold that people are
rushing for. Mind, antique copper is on
trend, too, along with vintage stainless steel and bronze.
· Cafetieres are having a revival, as consumers’
love of coffee in all its forms continues to grow. And suppliers are ensuring that spare parts
of the cafetiere can be replaced if they get broken, such as the glass or the
plunger.
· Then there is the seemingly relentless march of
melamine. Such a diverse range of
products were on show. There’s a big
growth in organic shapes and textured surfaces, and melamine is increasingly
popular in a wide variety of foodservice settings. OK it’s not oven proof, but it’s hugely
robust and practical and its quality has shot up in recent years.
· Which isn’t to say ceramic tableware is
anything other than hugely popular. Organic
shapes are also big here, along with reactive glazes that makes each piece
individual.
· Portion control was a big talking point. It’s not just about sustainability and
reducing costs, it’s also about displaying those important calorific values
accurately.
· Buffet is back!
As the Covid rules and attitudes are relaxed, buffet is making a big
return. Loads of different ideas were on
display, including clever risers that can be used in different ways to create a
variety of dramatic architectural presentations. There’s also a move to mix and match
different materials in the buffet display – wood, glass, metal, melamine...
· Sharing is back, too, with big platters in
increasing demand.
· Getting hammered – we’re talking about metal
here, often stainless steel. Lots of
products, from saucepans to cutlery, are getting the hammered or rippled
look. As well as being attractive, it’s
practical, as it doesn’t show fingerprints.
· Speaking of getting hammered, cocktails are
huge. There were lots of barware ideas
on display, with new designs of cocktail shakers, mixing glasses and all the
paraphernalia the mixologist could need.
· Butchery – some knife suppliers said that there
was increased demand for butchery knives, as foodservice operators are buying
whole carcasses to butcher on site, so as to use all the animal.
The LET Forum in numbers
67 delegates, representing
22 distributor companies
15 exhibitors
16 exhibitors if you count
Contacto and Frilich (owned by Contacto) separately, as they each had stands
£820 raised for St John
Ambulance at the LET Forum Awards dinner
3
awards given out at the dinner
600 (at least) cups of coffee
and tea served during the Forum
LET Awards
The three awards given at the
LET Forum annual dinner on 16th May were to:
·
Alliance, who took the Distributor Cup for an unprecedented
sixth year in a row,
·
Corey Mayes of London Bar and Kitchen, who was
named Sales Professional of the Year, and
·
Former FEA chief executive Keith Warren was
given the Donald Bird Award.
LET Products on Show
Amefa GB
As the largest European
cutlery supplier, first time exhibitor Amefa showed a diverse range of steak
knives, buffet items, and cutlery from 18/0 casual dining and trend designs to
18/10 collections for fine dining. Offering a wide range of quality
specifications across bestselling ‘Teardrop’ and ‘Square’ shapes, buyers still
have a variety of options regardless of budget. As cost and resource
become a key factor in hospitality, hammered cutlery is a growing trend, as
it’s stylish and doesn’t show fingerprints, resulting in less polishing. PVD
coated cutlery is also in demand – adding a touch of colour to the table and
keeping it’s finish for as long as standard silver cutlery. Specialist products
include sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic cutlery and Assisted
cutlery, for those with dexterity issues such as arthritis.
Contacto
Reusable plastic boxes made of
polypropylene are designed to replace disposable packaging for takeaway
meals. It’s early days yet, but the
company sees these in the same area as the reusable plastic cups that are promoted
in coffee shops. Similar products are
already doing well in Germany and are providing a sustainable solution to the
single-use packaging issue. The boxes
are ¼ gastronorm, so are compatible with a variety of holding and transport
systems, and are dishwasher and microwave safe.
Also on display was a range of upmarket, induction-ready stainless steel
saucepans with an attractive embossed rippled exterior that makes them ideal
for front of house.
Dalebrook
The melamine specialist showed
a selection of new products, all designed in the UK. The Talon cups in particular, created a
reaction from Forum delegates. Their on-trend no-handle format, corrugated
exterior and dual colour (white interior and coloured exterior) created a
stylish impact. Moreover, these are
highly practical to keep hot drinks hot inside, without transferring heat to
the outside. The company focused on
tabletop products, several featuring organic shapes. Trafalgar is a striking new collection that
includes an oval-shaped dish. Loom cake
stands have detachable bases that are available in different heights. Kata melamine dishes and Nimble bamboo risers
and lids create an outstanding buffet display.
Denby
A household name in retail,
Denby is breaking into the hospitality market and lots of the company’s pieces
have a ten year chip guarantee. Amongst
its new products is Kiln Green, a stoneware collection with a reactive glaze
that makes each piece different and combines beautifully with the design’s
organic shapes. Denby is also
introducing a new range of porcelain tableware, which gives the company the
option to experiment with texture and colour.
The British manufacturer was also promoting its strong green credentials
– including zero to landfill and the recycling of water used in
manufacture.
Dualit
The classic toaster is still
manufactured in the UK – and each one has a label on the base telling you which
assembler made it. They are built to
last, with components such as the elements being replaceable and easily
obtained. For its 70th birthday, the
company launched a worldwide search to find the oldest working Dualit
toaster. The winning toaster was 50
years old, having been made in Dualit’s Old Kent Road factory in 1973! To enhance safety their DCT2i Conveyor
toaster has a built-in thermostat and features a standby setting to conserve up
to 70% energy, while the Classic Toaster units feature built in thermal cut out
fuses. Dualit opened its own UK coffee
capsule production plant in 2013. High
street retailers and supermarkets stock the capsules, giving customers a choice
of where to purchase. Its latest product innovation is home compostable
capsules. These are hermetically sealed,
so the coffee stays fresh, but are truly compostable, being made from a corn
starch derivative.
FEM
The company celebrates its
30th anniversary in 2023. New at the Forum is a range of cast aluminium
cookware from Pujadas – the bronze finish model was especially popular with
delegates. Other launches included Cambro’s FreshPro range of containers,
which feature a drip tray and an airtight lid and can help extend shelf
life. Also from Cambro is the Universal Storage Rack, which fits into the
brand’s shelving systems and can be used to store multiple gastronorm
pans. FEM’s Polinorm lids are designed to replace clingfilm and fit most
gastronorm pans on the market. From Hamilton Beach Commercial is the
Summit Edge, a 3.5HP blender which is quiet and quick. It has an autoblend
feature that blends drinks to the right consistency, every time.
Frilich
The buffet specialist company
has cooling cushions or packs that the operator stores in the freezer
overnight, then puts into the display equipment, where it can keep food cool
for up to three hours, depending on the conditions. Also on show were beverage presentation ideas
– and these are important for the company, as it developed the original juice
dispenser. A key issue with juice is the
tap, which can get blocked. Frilich has
a clever design that comes apart easily for cleaning. A stylish carafe system uses a crushed ice
tube to keep juices cool.
Grunwerg
New are stacking tea pots in a
choice of mirrored or brushed stainless steel finishes. Green accessories such as spice mills are
having a moment – perhaps to match a trend for foliage in restaurants and
hotels. A big launch is ten new cutlery
collections in Grunwerg’s River range, which are all 3.5mm, stamped and 18/10
stainless steel. A wide choice of
designs is available, including Sheaf, with a simple and contemporary look,
Whitting, which has stylish twisted handles, and Barlow with a hammered pattern. The company was also promoting its range of
cafetieres, in line with the trend for traditional coffee brews.
Lifetime Brands Europe
An eclectic mix of new products included a range of
electric scales from leading brand Taylor – ones that can weigh down to
0.01gm. There are also allergen scales, waterproof models and ones with
an antimicrobial surface. From the company’s Artesa range comes a
striking marble wine cooler and the gin tree – an arresting way to serve
drinks, for example at a function. Super vitrified porcelain and
stoneware from Mikasa Hospitality boasts a lifetime chip edge warranty.
One of the big interest generators at Forum was the company’s range of
Masterclass microwaveable ‘cook, freeze, heat, eat’ containers, which are made
of stainless steel! Their proprietor technology prevents arcing.
Metcalfe
The Tormek T-2 created a lot
of interest at the Forum. It’s a knife
sharpening system designed to meet the needs of commercial kitchens. Its adjustable guidance system holds the blade
in place to give just the right angle on the sharpening wheel, while the honing
wheel de-burrs the blade to give the best possible edge. Its accuracy and user-friendliness makes it
easy for kitchens to keep knives sharp and, since it only takes microns off the
blade, the knives last for longer.
Metcalfe also promoted its range of vegetable prep machines, including
the Hallde combi cutters and vertical cutter blender/mixers.
Mitchell & Cooper
Bonzer can openers are getting
a big push from Mitchell & Cooper.
As well as saving time and effort in any kitchen that opens lots of
cans, these workhorses are easy to look after and the blade pops out for
washing. The company is also pushing
another established Bonzer brand product – portioners. These can really help reduce food waste –
Freeman’s Hospital in Newcastle saved £100,000 per year following their
introduction. The company showed its
Crustastun machine, which humanely kills crustacea and, since the animals don’t
suffer stress, the meat quality is enhanced.
It also showed the Nemox gelato machine, which can turn liquid into
sorbet in just 12 minutes. All this,
while at the same time Mitchell & Cooper is celebrating becoming the
distributor for the Dynamic range.
PFR
The company has just become the exclusive UK representative for Hatco
and Escali, handling all
sales, customer service, marketing and logistics for the US based
manufacturers. At the
Forum PFR was focused on mixology, under the Barfly brand, and knives and other
kitchen tools from Mercer. Shaken or
stirred? One product creating waves is
the Lattice shaker from Barfly – it’s subtle and unusual design will add
theatre to drinks presentation. For
those who prefer their cocktail stirred, PFR offers a wide range of mixing
glasses and spoons. With lots of new
recipes coming from the USA, there’s demand for jiggers in ounces as well as
metric. New from Mercer is a range of
butchery knives and, on the chef’s knives side, a Damascus knife.
Signature FSE
De Buyer’s new AIR System is a
range of perforated bakeware that promises to deliver consistent performance
and give better bakes. Using the
precision engineered perforations, pastry bakes quickly and uniformly. If the batter is wet there is also a range of
compatible liners. Also for the pastry
section is Le Tube, a dosing system designed to replace the single-use piping
bag. Squeeze the handle and it delivers
a perfectly adjustable flow. Signature
also highlighted a washable, reusable piping bag for those piping
manually. From Chasseur is a range of
top-quality cast iron cookware, enamelled and with consistently machined walls,
ensuring a lack of hot spots, and perfectly smooth bases to protect glass hob
surfaces. Chasseur cookware is available
in a new range of on-trend colours for 2023.
T&G
Connect is a range of acacia
wood boards featuring clever handles that double as connectors, interlocking
with risers to create striking buffet displays.
With the increase in demand for personalised products, the company
offers laser etching onto wood and cork boards, coasters, spoons and other
items. For example, coasters can have
logos and messages etched into them, and Connect boards could have messages
such as ‘Gluten Free’. Also on display
were a range of stylish wood display products with a pastel green
exterior. The company is known for its
range of pepper and salt mills with the latest model called Prism, which
features an eye-catching design that will certainly create impact.
Tablecraft
The company showed its
complete new range of barware, including shakers, strainers and jiggers. Its PourMaster range of juice servers has a
new colour coded lid, this is a one-piece integrated spout making it much
easier to clean than a 2 piece traditional spout. Textured, organic-shaped melamine tableware
collections include Lunara, which resembles ceramic with copper flecks, and the
Europa in white. Both are glazed for
added protection. Another melamine line
is ‘enamel’ pans for serving and display.
These are popular in Europe as alternatives to disposable packaging for
eating in in fast food outlets: there’s no need for a liner, they are dishwash
safe and they look great.
Thunder Group
Thunder Group has a new UK
website that will make searching and ordering much easier. The company offers a wide range of
foodservice essentials at competitive prices – including tongs, melamine buffet
ware and polycarbonate glassware and stainless steel and polycarbonate
gastronorm pans. At the Forum it talked
about some of its key lines, including GN pans, colour codes tongs and
utensils, chopping boards, squeezy bottles, bins and trolleys. Portioners AND TONGS are increasingly
important, in all sorts of different sectors, from schools and public sector to
delis and fast food establishments.
Thunder Group offers three different designs of portioner, in multiple
sizes, offering a choice of grips to suit various applications. Also on show were its pizza accessories,
including cutters and paddles.
Comments from the LET Forum
Floor
Andrea
Shearn-Wood, Ascot Wholesale: “I enjoyed the event this year even more than in
the past. There are lots of suppliers
and this reinforces our relationships with them in a way that emails and phone
calls simply can’t. The event generates
lots of potential business for us and for suppliers.”
Amy Daniels and Rafal Wojciak
of Alliance – both first timers – “We’re learning about new products and
meeting suppliers. It’s definitely very
worthwhile.”
Julie Harradence, Lorraine
Mizon and Alex Edwards of Drinkstuff. “It’s
really good, we’ve learnt a lot and it’s helping source products for
customers. The Forum is well organised,
there’s a diverse selection of suppliers, it’s a friendly event and very useful
– the 20 minute appointment time is just right: a great way to catch up with
suppliers you know and meet new ones.
It’s nice to meet people you might normally just email or talk to by
phone. It’s good to have the chance to
talk to them at the dinner, too – we still talk business, but it’s more
relaxed.”
Sharon Kleeman of United UK. “It’s my first time and I’m very
impressed. I like the way FEA does it,
you can choose what you want to discuss.
It’s useful to pick up on trends, such as the return of sharing
plates. I like the variety of products
and price points.”
Exhibitors
Dan Cashman, Dalebrook. “It’s
my first time and I didn’t know what to expect.
It’s lovely – a real eye opener. It’s great to meet all these people we
deal with. There’s been lots of
interest.”
Lisa Hardy, Lifetime Brands
Europe: “Brilliant. To have one-to-one attention
gives us the chance to understand our dealers’ needs. It’s also nice to have these small groups,
who are able to touch and feel the products.
It’s one of the best events we do.”
Paula Sherlock, Signature FSE. “For us this is the main event of the
year. It’s about training – it’s such an
efficient use of time both for us and for our distributors.”
The
Foodservice Equipment Association (FEA)is the independent, authoritative voice of the
foodservice equipment industry, representing nearly 200
companies who supply, service and maintain all types of commercial catering
equipment - from utensils to full kitchen schemes. For more
information on FEA visit www.fea.org.uk
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