 The restaurant, the dining experience or the lighting, can often characterize a romantic dinner. Just having a candle can change the mood or atmosphere of a formal dinner to a romantic evening with a significant other. The tabletop has evolved over time and so has the lighting that illuminates it. Now, not only can the tabletop include the traditional warming tea candle; but instead an efficient, convenient LED substitute. Although a L.E.D. candle can never replace a traditional wax candle, it can offer several benefits; including but not limited to: a zero-risk of fire, cost-effectiveness, timer options and lasts between 6-8 months. Candlelamp Sterno is a leadership brand in the tabletop lighting industry. Candlelamp is a corporate giant that has been operating for over 30 years and in line with their motto they have continually been following their pledge: “to provide passion, trust and innovation to the tabletop lighting industry”.
| | The natural candle creates a romantic ambiance leading to claims that using candles can lead to greater sales. A candle is heart-warming and characterizes the popular romantic “candle-lit dinner”. Although a candle generally only lasts between 3 – 36 hours and is typically more expensive you cannot; however, replace the warm glow of a candle over a hot dinner. Norex boasts over 14 years of experience with the commercial service industry. Hollowick is another giant of the industry that is committed to enhancing the overall dining experience and to keep customers coming back again and again. | Candle Impressions is following a similar lead, by creating L.E.D. candles that: “They look, feel and flicker just like the real thing”. L.E.D. candles are slowly taking over the tabletop lighting market. The debate rages on about which candle to use, but what we can all agree on is that no matter what your flame is, there is a tabletop lighting manufacturer there for you. - Danny Grewal
With selecting items for your restaurant tabletop, selecting the right manufacturer is often as important as selecting the right product. Design, quality, and continuity of supply are just a few of the reasons to consider the company, as well as the product. There are many exciting companies right now in the tabletop category, but TabletopJournal will be keeping an especially watchful eye on a handful in 2013.
In no particular order, some of the hospitality tabletop companies that will be on our radar screen are:
| Bauscher/Tafelstern
Not only in the USA, but in other markets around the world, Bauscher has aligned itself with WMF/Hepp. We think this is an excellent fit and, as of yesterday, in USA, Canada, and the Caribbean, Bauscher has added Luigi Bormioli, another great complimentary product range. Bringing these powerhouse, upscale brands to the hospitality market should make 2013 an interesting year for Bauscher and its portfolio of brands.
| | | Steelite International
It’s hard to mention exciting tabletop and not mention Steelite. The recently announced acquisition of Royal Crown Derby is going to make this UK juggernaut even stronger, especially with the long-term benefits being added by the new factory to be built in Stoke. With the growing portfolio of exciting products showing no signs of letting up, Steelite will remain a company to watch in 2013.
| | | Tuxton
Tuxton China has been slowing changing and evolving for several years. TabletopJournal believes that 2013 will likely be the breakout year for this "off the radar screen” company. New products, new collateral materials, new trade show booth, new personnel.....all signal that Tuxton is ready to play with the “big boys" of tabletop. 2013 should be Tuxton's year.
| | | Studio William
This UK flatware company has been quietly (ok, sometimes, not so quietly) finding its way onto some of the best restaurant tabletops around the world, not to mention the Victoria & Albert Museum. At TabletopJournal, we love the Studio William inspiration that brings things to market like their new LEAF dessert spoon and their new MEAT BLADES. Look for sensory dining flatware items from Studio William to continue to be used by discerning restaurateurs in 2013.
| | | Oneida/Anchor Hocking
With more than a year since this marriage took place, expectations are high for this high-powered combination to accelerate to the front of the tabletop pack in North America and around the world. This company has the people, the products, and the supply chain to furnish growing global hotel chains of all levels. The already strong lineup of flatware, dinnerware, and glassware has recently been strengthened by the new STRATA buffet series. Look for this company to really take off in the coming months.
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| | RAK Porcelain
As a part of the world’s largest ceramic manufacturer, RAK Porcelain continues to expand its brand presence around the globe. With the switch in America to the RAK name, this brand will come to be recognized as one of the truly great tabletop brands in the world very soon. Led by designers like Mikaela Dörfel and Alain Vavro, RAK Porcelain’s designs are both elegant and practical. RAK’s “state of the art” production give this company a great edge on quality and costing….all that seems left to do is to continue to build brand awareness globally. TabletopJournal expects big things from RAK Porcelain in 2013.
| | | Libbey
Libbey has been a company that has quietly gone about its business for a number of years. Always a supplier of great glassware, its World Tableware and Syracuse brands seem to have been afterthoughts, at times. Not the case any more, as TabletopJournal has made note of vastly improved dinnerware quality and expanded flatware ranges to go with a continually improving glassware range – note the recent addition of Spiegelau as a high-end glassware addition. But the real change happening at Libbey is likely a cultural change. Led by CEO Stephanie Streeter, we’ve noticed new changes in foodservice marketing….and re-configured HQ office to allow for better communication, and just a little more spring in the step of the Libbey salesforce lately. TabletopJournal thinks that the global foodservice industry will see a “new”, re-invigorated Libbey in 2013.
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| | Fortessa
Fortessa, through the years, has developed a strong reputation for quality hospitality tabletop products … and, of marching to their own beat. So, for many reasons, Fortessa has always been someone to keep your eye on as it. The launch of their BASICS line and the SPICE collection at the IHMRS Show in New York was very impressive, but TabletopJournal has the feeling that these introductions might just be the beginning of a new push from this company….we're thinking that early ’13 will produce some new and exciting buzz from this tabletop leader.
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| | Ten Strawberry Street
Always a company that was around the edges of the American foodservice hospitality business, Ten Strawberry Street has, to this point, been a great source for rental companies, caterers, and other banquet operators. Strong in retail, it seemed like that was their focus and they were glad to have whatever foodservice/hospitality business that came their way. After seeing their presence at last May’s NRA Show, we won’t be surprised if this “stealth” tabletop source is no longer so stealth. Ten Strawberry Street is one of our top darkhouse hospitality tabletop companies for the coming year.
| | | Elite Global Solutions
Long a supplier of creative melamine, for food service operators, EGS differentiates itself quickly with its catalog, website, and overall image. But, behind the marketing and the sexy literature is a company built upon great product quality and design, supported by legendary customer service. Companies that truly have great customer service (and not just talk about having great customer service) are not as plentiful as you might think. EGS has it and we think that 2013 might just be a banner year for them, so we are keeping a watchful eye on them.
| | There are a number of other tabletop companies that also merit watching. Corby Hall, Rosenthal/Sambonet, Arc Intl/Cardinal, Candle Lamp/Sterno, Churchill ….are all bringing new products to market, adjusting their way of doing business, and generally, doing some pretty cool things to help operators differentiate their restaurants.
There’s also a few of you out there who asked us not to mention your companies….you know who you are…..who are ready to make some pretty big news of your own.
So, while we’re just getting started, we think 2013 is going to be a very good year!
Just remember…..tabletop matters!
 Candle Lamp Company, LLC today announced the successful completion of its acquisition of The Sterno Group, LLC, the 119 year old company and manufacturer and distributor of canned fuel, tablet top lighting products and accessories for the food service and retail sectors. This acquisition will provide Candle Lamp an iconic brand to help expand their global food warming and table lighting presence within both food service and retail markets. The combined companies will be led by Candle Lamp’s current Executive team and move forward under the name SternoCandleLamp. Sterno – founded in 1893 as S. Sternau & Co. and as a global brand remains synonymous with gelled portable heat for food warming. Recent surveys indicate brand awareness among foodservice operators exceeds 90%, with continuing high brand recognition in the consumer markets. Candle Lamp – the recognized leader and innovator of liquid wax table lighting and liquid wick chafing fuel products, also sells its own branded products and accessories to the food service segment and retail. “The addition of the Sterno brand, products, and people who support it will allow the new company to build on both company’s strengths of innovation, quality, and service within the food service segments, while expanding our retail presence,” commented CEO and President, Don Hinshaw. “The combined companies will create substantial benefits for trade customers and end users through continued deployment of innovative products, quality, service, and cost efficiencies.”
 Candle Lamp's new app makes it easy to pick the perect table lighting solution. Table lighting is a category that we continue to look to explore and cover deeper. And when you look at this important component of hospitality tabletop, one of the leaders you are drawn to is Candle Lamp. In addition to great lighting and heating products, Candle Lamp offers a wide variety of training videos and instruction to improve any restaurants overall operating. Candle Lamp has made so many advancements in the fuel market that we have become the America’s #1 fuel supplier. One of the newest tools to come from Candle Lamp is a new mobile app that makes it easy to find and choose the right lighting for any restaurant. The MyLamp Pro mobile app from Candle Lamp provides easy access to more than one hundred different candles for restaurants. You can use this app to see how they would look when set out on the tables at your establishment. Why is choosing the right candles and supplies so important to the ambience in any restaurant? Well, there are three factors working together to create customer satisfaction: the food, the service, and the ambiance. If you neglect any of these, your restaurant is likely to suffer. Ambiance is of particular importance because it affects the presentation and appearance of the food, it creates a mood, and it gives a certain aura to the establishment. Tabletop lighting and dim general lights are essential in higher-end restaurants because, even when it gets very busy, the candle on the table provides a sense of intimacy and the surrounding tables seem to disappear. Here’s how Candle Lamp’s new mobile app works. Set place-settings on a table in your restaurant as if guests were about to dine there. Then, simply sit at the table and slide back until you are an arm’s length away from the edge of the table. Next, launch the new mobile app and hold your iPhone or tablet perpendicular so the edge of the table lines up with the bottom grid line shown on the screen. Finally, snap a photo. Now you’re ready to select from a wide range of candles and supplies and slip them into the photograph. This enables you to preview more than one hundred styles of lighting options before you make your final purchase. The greatest benefit of this new mobile app is that it gives you unfailing confidence that the candles you choose will look great on the tables of your establishment. To download Candle Lamp's new mobile app to help you choose candles and supplies that will enhance the mood and feel of your restaurant, go here: http://blog.candlelamp.com/2012/08/22/new-mobile-apps-for-restaurant-owners/
To see the complete line of tabletop lighting and heating products available from Candle Lamp, go here: http://www.candlelamp.com/
Don't forget to check out Tabletop Channel, our newest section for information on the best products for hospitality tabletops. Videos from tabletop leaders like RAK Porcelain, Dudson, Steelite, Tuxton, Candle Lamp, Libbey, Oneida and other top tabletop leaders are being loaded daily so be sure to check it. Now, you don't have to hunt all over Al Gore's internet to find the best informative videos for creative tabletop. It's all right here on Tabletop Channel. The latest uploaded video is from Arc International and their U.S. foodservice arm Cardinal Glassware highlighting the ZENIX dinnerware product and why it strikes the perfect balance for hospitality tabletops everywhere.
Still looking for great table lighting and the stuff you've been getting at IKEA not really cutting it? Try these guys - Candle Lamp. These folks have some really fun looking designs and have been providing great products and service to restaurateurs and hoteliers for over 30 years.  In addition to table lighting and canned heat, Candle Lamp also provides buffet equipment (told you the hammered look was hot!)
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