Tabletop leader Steelite led with a new Rene Ozorio design SONATA at their booth during the show. Hard to show in the photographs, this new addition to Steelite's creative Rene Ozorio collection has soft, but distinct ribbing eminating out from the center covering the rim portion of the plates.

With one of the largest tabletop booths at the show, Steelite continues to showcase a wide variety of products from buffet and chafing dishes to dinnerware and flatware. Nice to see the top brass from the creative La Tavola line on hand at the Steelite booth, as well.

Lots of products.
     Lots of positive energy.
          Lots of success.

Steelite.

To see the entire lineup of products form Steelite, go here:  http://www.steelite.com/

If this Corolla shape deep plate/rim soup bowl from the La Tavola Collection of Steelite looks half as good in person as it does in the literature, sign me up for an order right now!  Classic design, with a "clean" look, this bowl would make even our worst risotto look pretty damn sexy! That's why it is today's "really cool" item!

Available from Steelite (in the U.S.), you can see the entire line of La Tavola dinnerware, flatware, holloware, and buffetware by going here:   http://www.la-tavola.it/index.php

We still think that one of the potentially biggest opportunities in the tabletop category continues to be the partnership of the Italian company – La Tavola – having joined forces with Steelite. La Tavola is the creation of Guilio and Sergio Sambonet, originators of the eponymous namesake flatware brand of their name. Their new venture, La Tavola, is not a company confined to just flatware or metal hollowware (although their products in these areas are stylish and sure to be seen as design leaders), but also has fine porcelain and bone china dinnerware and accessories, along with buffetware.

From the La Tavola website.....“La Tavola is the result of the passion of Giulio and Sergio Sambonet to whom La Tavola represents the point of arrival of a long professional and entrepreneurial career, full of achievements in the table top market. Previously Sergio and Giulio were respectively managing director and export manager of Sambonet, the family former Company. Then founders and managing directors of Table Top Engineering & Design and of Sant’Andrea in partnership with Oneida. Today La Tavola is fully owned by both Sambonet brothers.”

It remains to be seen how the two companies will intergrate and manage their partnership, but make no mistake about it – you have experienced tabletop experts, completely knowledgable about the U.S. market, on both sides.

From the Steelite press release:
Ceramic tableware manufacturer Steelite International America is pleased to announce a partnership with La Tavola, designer, manufacturer and supplier of quality tableware for commercial foodservice and high end global markets. The partnership will enable Steelite International to exclusively market their high-end design led portfolio of flatware, buffet and hollowware collections in the United States, Canada, and Caribbean effective immediately.

“Our investment in La Tavola represents our desire to meet our customers' expectations for quality products at all levels,” remarked John Miles, president of Steelite International. “La Tavola brings Steelite International a metal product offering for the Four and Five star operator. We strongly believe that the commitment the Sambonet family makes every day to quality craftsmanship and service will manifest itself in a fantastic result for this new and exciting joint venture.”

“Establishing a brand in a new market requires a wide array of skills and assets," said Guilio Sambonnet. “La Tavola and Steelite International are undertaking this thrilling challenge by pooling a 7-generation experience in fine tableware craftsmanship, a state-of-the-art sales and marketing force and a genuine passion for the tabletop. We feel confident that the partnership with a solid actor such as Steelite International will soon bring the La Tavola brand on top of the US hospitality markets operators’ minds.”

They've been busy over there in Steelite country. Well done.