 According to the local Morning Journal newspaper, American dinnerware company Homer Laughlin has filed a lawsuit to protect its line of retail Fiesta dinnerware. Stating such conduct "constitutes fraud and deceit upon the consuming public of the United States," the lawsuit said, and will result in "losses of sales, profits, business, reputation and goodwill" for Homer Laughlin, America’s largest domestic manufacturer of dinnerware for the residential, hospitality and food service markets. For years there have been complaints about various hospitality tabletop products being “knocked-off” or copied from low cost regions of the world, with the primary offenders being Chinese. With Homer Laughlin stepping up and filing this lawsuit, it makes us wonder if this will prompt others to consider similar actions. Stay tuned.To read the article on Homer Laughlin's lawsuit, go here: http://www.morningjournalnews.com/page/content.detail/id/547173/Homer-Laughlin-lawsuit-takes-aim-at-knockoffs.html?nav=5006
 For anyone looking for our cover story "Homer Laughlin: Designing A New Future for A Legendary American Brand" which is our terririfc conversation with Homer Laughlin's Director of Design E. C. Wonder....it's been preserved on our PEOPLE page. To read - and hear in Ed's own words - what drives the passion for design at American icon Homer Laughlin, go here.....
From Fox Business News show "Manufacturing Marvels" comes this great video on America's Homer Laughlin China Company.To learn more about Homer Laughlin's tabletop products for the hospitality industry, go here: http://www.hlcdinnerware.com/
For those of you who like to come directly to our blog page....be sure to take a minute and go to our conversation with HLC Dinnerware's Director of Design Ed Wonder. It's on our Welcome page and several of you have mentioned that you hadn't seen it, so we thought we'd post a mention of it it here, too. Check out Ed's short video....he's a rockstar! To read - and hear - what Ed has to say about design, go here: http://www.tabletopjournal.com/ |
HLC Dinnerware's Director of Design, Ed Wonder
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When Stephen B. Shiring, EdD, MBA, a former caterer who is now Associate Professor of Hospitality Management at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, decided to write a book about the business of catering, he naturally thought of The Homer Laughlin China Company (HLC). Early in his career, Shiring worked for an exclusive catering company in western Pennsylvania that used Homer Laughlin china, and there began his love of the durable and beautiful dinnerware. Little did he know that years later he would be taking his IUP Hospitality Management students to visit the Homer Laughlin factory in Newell, W. Va., to see how the gold standard in catering china is made. |
Professional Catering: The Modern Caterer's Complete Guide to Success is available on Amazon.com
| For eight years, he’s been growing this relationship with HLC to the benefit of his students, and he’s made some important friends at the Homer Laughlin China Company who greatly contributed to the making of the book: Michael Tkach, director of ceramic engineering; John Marino, specialty sales manager; and Dan Williams, director of marketing. And the rest is his story.
 Shiring’s new textbook, Professional Catering: The Modern Caterer’s Complete Guide to Success (Delmar Cengage Learning, 2014), was written to equip readers with the knowledge and tools to start and position a competitive catering business. Shiring wanted his book to be different from the typical book on catering and to provide exclusive information, and he did both with 100 full-color photographs, 24 of which are of Homer Laughlin china and its factory on the Ohio River. His friends at HLC were willing and generous partners in the process. “Dan Williams provided many photos from Homer Laughlin’s own photo stock, and Dan himself took some photos in the factory’s quality control area, such as color testing of Fiesta® dinnerware and impact testing china for durability,” Shiring says. “And Mike Tkach and John Marino gave their time and expertise as I interviewed them extensively on all aspects of dinnerware for a catering business.” Tkach’s ceramic engineering lab was the scene of the demonstrations on HLC china’s durability and performance, and he also shared information on what caterers should look for when they purchase dinnerware. Marino offered his knowledge on how to select the right china to set a catering business apart from the others—and even how much dinnerware to purchase. He explained that HLC sales representatives will work one-on-one with caterers to help them choose china that event guests will enjoy and remember. “I even used ‘sound bites’ from Mike and John as sidebars in the book that I call ‘Tips from the Trade,’” says Shiring. “I also videotaped some interviews with both Mike and John, which will be used as part of a video series/online learning tool that will coordinate with chapters in the book.” Shiring is as enthusiastic now about Homer Laughlin china as he was back in his catering days. “Their china is practically indestructible, and, more importantly, the guests loved it. I want my students to remember this high-quality, American-made dinnerware when they are out in the field and ready to purchase china for their own businesses.”Shiring's book Professional Catering: The Modern Caterer’s Complete Guide to Success (Delmar Cengage Learning, 2014), is available on Amazon by going here: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/191-9847758-8226445?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Professional+Catering%3A+The+Modern+Caterer%E2%80%99s+Complete+Guide+to+Success+To learn more about Homer Laughlin and their various collections for the catering and hospitality trade, go here: http://hlcdinnerware.com/
 Family companies steeped in history like The Homer Laughlin China Company (HLC), 142 years old and the largest remaining domestic tableware manufacturer in the United States, tend to write their stories based on generations of leadership, continuing progress, and increasing excellence. The chapters represent milestones, not just change. For the first time in HLC’s history, the mantle of leadership is being handed down, not to a successive generation, but from brother to sister. With a quiet nod typical of the privately held company, Homer Laughlin has announced Elizabeth McIlvain as its new president, effective March 18, 2013. As a fourth-generation owner of the company, Elizabeth takes over the position from her brother, Joseph Wells III, who is stepping down after 50 years of service.
Wells III will take his esteemed father’s place as chairman of the board.
In her new position, McIlvain will assist the board in overseeing all operations of the company’s two principal divisions — retail and commercial dinnerware — both operating out of the 37-acre manufacturing plant located in Newell, West Virginia. Her main focus is a continued emphasis on increasing sales companywide.
| In her new position, McIlvain will assist the board in overseeing all operations of the company’s two principal divisions — retail and commercial dinnerware — both operating out of the 37-acre manufacturing plant located in Newell, West Virginia. Her main focus is a continued emphasis on increasing sales companywide.
“Liz has been a sounding board for many in the company seeking a level-headed decision maker,” said Wells of his sister, who currently sits on the board as executive vice president. “She has been at my side for the past several years helping me manage day-to-day operations. The way I see it, this move now gives title to what she does every day at HLC. And I’m sure our father, Joe Wells Jr., would have been proud to see the company leadership transitioning this way.”
|  Homer Laughlin names family member Liz McIlvain President. McIlvain takes the place of her brother Joe Wells III who moves to become Chairman of The Board. | When asked about her plans, McIlvain said, “Business as usual, but kicked into high gear.” She explained, “We are growing. In the last decade, we have expanded manufacturing, introduced new brands, and assimilated new companies. All the while, our mission has remained true—leadership and innovation in the manufacture of quality lead-free china for the retail and commercial markets. For a company in its second century, growth and commitment to leadership means we run to the next opportunity. That’s what I will encourage. HLC will continue to write the history of the dinnerware category.”Gene Williamson, recently appointed vice president of sales, Foodservice Division, for the HLC Inc. family of companies, offers that McIlvain is the ear company leaders seek. HLC companies include Homer Laughlin China; Hall China; and the Kenilworth Trading Company, the exclusive distributor of RAK Ceramics in the U.S. To view the entire collection of HLC products for the hospitality industry, go here: http://www.hlchina.com/
 The just completed International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York showcased a number of terrific tabletop companies and products. overall show traffic was brisk and heavy, with the aisles filled with regional hospitality professionals. One of the most interesting and best merchandised tabletop displays of the show was the booth by well known New York dealer Sam Tell Companies. Filled with great displays of top tabletop brands such as Oneida, Arc/Cardinal, Homer Laughlin, Libbey and more. Dealer booths are soemtimes difficult to merchandise because of the wide variety of products carried by most dealers, but the Sam Tell display was a great example of a well-thought out plan with a great tabletop focus. Well done.
New York-based importer Europeaus had their usual strong display of serving platters, but included this time was a much larger selection of their Italian terra cotta line Piral. Red clay terra cotta, mankind's oldest cooking material, is available in many sizes and shapes from Europeaus for use on the open flame, on gas and electric stovetops, in the oven and microwave. The terra cotta material also reduces cooking time by conducting heat more evenly and efficiently. The Antica finish of Europeaus' terra cotta line blends with many menus and decors from Tuscan country to Ethiopian cusine to a Mexican hacienda. | | | | Tabletop leader Fortessa Tableware Solutions had their usual strong display with the new SPICE collection front and center with several new items added. Fortessa also showcased their new BASICS line of small serving pieces and their bamboo underliners for their Cassolette line of cast aluminum FORTALITE cookware.
Fortessa's Fortalite Cassolettes now have bamboo underliners available.
| French tabletop icon Deshouliers/Apilco had a great display of some of their upscale designs such as SEYCHELLES (left) which work well for those chefs who are reaching for their next Michelin star. Founded in 1826, the Deshoulières Group is today the leading French porcelain producer, a specialist in tableware products.The product collection is distributed under two major brands, Deshoulieres and Apilco, to satisfy the large number of consumers and fine chefs. |
Deshouliers Group's SEYCHELLES is available in Taupe (shown), Noir, Blanc, and Blanc Platine.
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And, of course, one of the hits of the show was Steelite's new CRAFT gray....shown here mixed in with several of the other colors...Blue, Green, Brown, and Terra Cotta.
At the just completed NAFEM Show, The Homer Laughlin China Company® (HLC Inc.) showcased PLAYA , a new line of lead-free, fine quality dinnerware from RAK Porcelain. Ideal for high-end restaurateurs, its gleaming finish and gently fluted edges draw the diner’s eye to the chef’s creations. Like the perfect frame for a work of art, PLAYA beautifully complements its beautifully prepared contents. With its bright finish and delicate ridges, PLAYA provides both tactile and visual appeal. Amply weighted yet finely made, PLAYA is perfect for creative concoctions as well as fresh takes on old favorites. Hard-wearing yet of the highest quality materials, PLAYA is a handsome addition to the exciting contemporary designs of RAK Porcelain. PLAYA includes rectangular flat plates in five sizes, and a square flat plate is available in three. Round flat plates are available in six sizes, and the round deep plate comes in two sizes. Non-stackable cups come in four sizes, while saucers come in three. |  RAK Porcelain's PLAYA is available in America from HLC Dinnerware -The Homer Laughlin China Company | RAK Porcelain uses only the finest clays and raw materials and state-of-the-art equipment that allows unsurpassed attention to detail and excellent durability. RAK Porcelain employs the finest ceramic engineers and technicians, and their in-house and celebrity designers are world renowned.
For a true classic white dinnerware, ARCTIC WHITE from the Homer Laughlin China Company (HLC Inc.) is hard to match. Proudly made in America and lead-free, it’s budget-friendly, exceptionally durable, and versatile — at home in casual dining, family-focused, or café-style venues. A favorite from breakfast to dinner, ARCTIC WHITE is designed to coordinate with Bright White tabletop accessories — including shakers, vases, ramekins, and more — from Hall China, the largest manufacturer of specialty chinaware and also a member of the HLC family of companies. HLC’s ARCTIC WHITE consists of 37 basic items, encompassing various sizes of both round and square plates and oval platters; a variety of bowl shapes and sizes from pasta to soup to fruit; and several mugs, cups, and saucers. A perennial favorite, white china complements any décor and makes food look beautifully appetizing. And not only is ARCTIC WHITE American-made, it is also designed — along with all of HLC chinaware — to help preserve the world’s resources as part of their commitment to sustainable practices. | | “We want to give our customers the best, most durable chinaware they can find anywhere,” says Joseph M. Wells III, Homer Laughlin company president and CEO. “We think ARCTIC WHITE is a beautiful example of that, especially paired with Hall China’s Bright White accessories to make a completely coordinated tabletop. We are proud to include ARCTIC WHITE in our offering of quality products made in America.” HLC Inc. now brings customers the most complete dinnerware offering in the industry. The family of companies offer a comprehensive range of attractive, durable, and cost-effective commercial dinnerware, serving ware, bakeware, and tabletop accessories for foodservice institutions. To view the entire collection of foodservice products available from HLC Dinnerware - Homer Laughlin China, Hall China, and RAK Porcelain, go here: http://www.hlcdinnerware.com/
| Workers of the GMP Local #419 at the Homer Laughlin China Company voted yesterday to ratify the agreement between them and company management to continue to manufacture china in Newell, WV. Union President Chuck Bartley felt that “Both teams worked diligently to come to a fair contract for everyone.”
Homer Laughlin management and the GMP Local #419 conferees worked past the original 12 a.m. deadline on Thursday, November 15 to come to an agreement that will continue three years until November 15, 2015.
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