 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
Oneida Ltd and Anchor Hocking Foodservice parent EveryWare Global’s financial results improved in its first quarter, which ended on March 31. According to a preliminary report on the quarter, EveryWare posted net income of $197,000, compared to a net loss of $6.3 million in the first quarter of last year. Total revenue increased 3.1 percent to $99.3 million. The company also reported a 58.1 percent gain in operating income (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) to $9.1 million. John Sheppard, EveryWare’s CEO, said the combination of the Anchor Hocking and Oneida brands under its corporate umbrella helped elevate EveryWare to results that were ahead of its budget for the quarter. “We delivered meaningful growth in our core North American markets,” Sheppard said, “and we expect to see growth accelerate in our international segment in the coming quarters, as we leverage our iconic brands, diversified product portfolio and distribution infrastructure.”EveryWare was formed by the merger of Anchor Hocking and Oneida in March 2012. In January of this year, the company announced its plans to merge with ROI Acquisition Corp., a special-purpose acquisition company sponsored by affiliates of Clinton Group. To learn more about the wide range of hospitality industry products available from Everyware, go here: http://foodservice.oneida.com/
From Gastronomia y Cia comes the comparision of the tasting menu prices of the world's Top 50 restaurants. Done in U.S. dollars, the comparision makes for interesting reading... The green bars indicate the restaurant does not provide the pricing for its tasting menu or Gastronomia y Cia were unable to locate.
Congratulations to the 510 hotels, resorts, and cruise lines that made the Conde Nast Gold List of places to stay for 2013. Intersting that Conde Nast surveys their readers - nearly 47,000 of them - to produce these results. If you are planning a trip or a cruise, here's the list that should serve as your starting point. Plenty of the properties and cruise lines you might expect, but also a wide range of newcomers, as well. To review the list and make your reservations, go here: http://www.cntraveler.com/gold-list/2013Again, congratulations to all the Gold List members! | |
 The London Evening Standard reports that tabletop company Steelite International served up a strong growth with a record 2012 sales year, a result not often found in these global economic times and conditions. Steelite announced sales of £70.2 million for 2012, up 6% from the previous year's £66.3 million.But pre-tax profits were down from £7.9 million to £7.2 million after it last year acquired Royal Crown Derby, the historic bone china manufacturer. Chief executive Kevin Oakes attributed much of its success to overseas customers in 130 countries, representing 80% of Steelite's turnover, who saw "real value in the Made in England backstamp". Steelite has been on quite a roll lately as just last week, the privately-owned firm was recognized with a Queen's Award for Enterprise in the international trade category. In addition, Steelite has recently announced several job increase iniatives that will continue to support the company's sales growth. To read the entire London Evening Standard story, go here: http://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/ceramics-maker-steelite-bucks-trend-with-sales-growth-8587137.htmlTo learn more about Steelite's collection of hospitality tabletop products, go here: http://www.steelite.com/
| | Hospitality tabletop leader Libbey released first quarter results today showing net income tripled with sales showing a slight dip of 2.3%. Sales in its Americas segment, its largest in the geographic sense, were down 4.7 percent, with sales in the U.S. and Canada sectors dropping 8.6 percent. Meanwhile, sales in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region rose 11.2 percent, while sales in the “other” geographic segment (which includes the Asia-Pacific sector) fell 6.2 percent. | "Overall, we are pleased with this quarter's results. While disappointed with a sales decline in the U.S. and Canada, we are very encouraged by our significant sales increase in Mexico and Latin America. The critical story, however, is our success in cost reductions, which resulted in record adjusted income from operations and adjusted EBITDA for any first quarter ever. This performance is even more notable, given that we had an extensive amount of maintenance activity which led to underutilized capacity during the quarter," said Stephanie A. Streeter, chief executive officer of Libbey Inc.
Libbey reduced by 6.1 percent its selling, general and administrative expenses in dollar terms in the quarter, which ended on March 31. In addition, while gross margin was increasing, Libbey’s first-quarter interest expense was down 19 percent. You can learn more about Libbey’s first quarter performance by going here: http://investorrelations.libbey.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=64169&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1811075&highlight=
 Wegmans is just one supermarket china that is targeting consumer dining out dollars - AP photo Wondering why there are few less customers enjoying your lunch menu or why you are only getting half the number of daily covers you had been getting only a few months back? Maybe that new grocery store that opened up down the street is the answer. Our recent visits to check out a Baltimore Harris Teeter and a Wegmans supermarket were impressive to be sure. According to The Motley Fool, supermarkets are moving beyond the deli counter and are seeking to attract some of those dollars that have traditionally flowed to restaurants in an effort to shore up their own bottom line. |  The new Harris Teeter store in Federal Hill area of Baltimore makes the choice of where to have lunch more interesting with a wide variety of freshly cooked foods and a large balcony dining area. | The thinking is that money spent at restaurants is money not spent at the grocery store. It's a trend that's crossing over even at convenience stores, where pharmacy chain Walgreen is looking to blur the distinction between its stores and fast-casual restaurants with hand-rolled sushi and sashimi, baristas, and self-serve frozen yogurt stations. As if you didn't already have enough reasons to differentiate your restuarant!To read the entire article, go here: http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/04/09/supermarkets-preparing-to-eat-restaurants-lunch.aspxTabletop companies.....have you considered the implications of this trend on your business?
We've mentioned it before, but the hospitality industry is a very giving, benevolent group. Restaurateurs, chefs, distributors, and manufacturers all give of their time ...and their money - to events on local, national, and international levels. Last week, we ran a story on U.K. tabletop company Churchill and their efforts of support for a local hospice charity- the Douglas Macmillan Hospice Now, here's a link to a blog devoted specifically to the ch - http://churchilldoingitfordougie.blogspot.com/You'll definitely want to check it out!And, here is a link to last week's article detailing more of Churchill's support and how they intend to raise £40,000 in honor of the charity's 40th anniversary: http://www.tabletopjournal.com/1/post/2013/04/churchill-china-raises-fund-for-local-uk-hospice-charity.htmlAnd, congratulations to Churchill's Paul Smith on his new PR in the London Marathon! Well done.
American tabletop company and category leader Fortessa CEO and Co-President Scott Hamberger announces via video the opening of their new Dubai showroom. To see the entire collection of Fortessa products for the hospitality industry, go here: http://www.fortessa.com/
 Steelite International has unveiled a new structure which it hopes will aid its expansion plans. A series of promotions at both Steelite and recent acquisition Royal Crown Derby will help deliver growth across the group, it suggests. Neil Hooper has been appointed as Managing Director for Steelite International Europe and Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and he will head up a newly-formed Operations Team for those regions. The team will be overseen by the Group Operating Board, and Phil Ray takes a seat on the Board in his new position as Company Secretary, with Wendy Dean as Group Human Resources Director. Kevin Oakes, Chief Executive of Steelite International, said: “We’ve enjoyed really strong growth, but we have no intention of resting on our laurels. “We are committed to manufacturing in Stoke-on-Trent, and sales growth allows us to invest in the site here and to develop products that help us compete around the world. The new Operations Team will help us do just that. They all have specialist skills, but they are also very commercially aware and share my passion and vision for this business. It’s a real pleasure to be able to bring on the next generation of exceptional managers and to reward people who have made an outstanding contribution to Steelite International.” Steelite bought Royal Crown Derby last year. Production of the world-famous china and giftware, which dates back to 1750, will remain in Derby – retaining the skills of its 200-strong workforce and paving the way for growth beyond the current annual turnover of about £7 million. A new structure will also act as a springboard for increased sales at Royal Crown Derby. Mr Oakes said: “Royal Crown Derby is famous the world over and we’re proud to be the new custodians of the brand. We want to protect and enhance the name whilst also reinvigorating it and introducing it to the hospitality market. The new structure is streamlined and very commercially-focused, which will pave the way for significant growth.”
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