 In a recent letter to shareholders, Villeroy & Boch announced an 11% improvement in operating results, while maintaining a stable sales level during the past year. Stating that "...we benefited from the rigorous continuation of cost management as well as productivity improvements, optimization of the product and country mix of the goods sold, and downstream effects from the master plan we adopted in 2009. Taken together, these resulted in an improved gross margin." Frank Goring, Chairman of The Management Board stated that while Villeroy & Boch generated a sound operating result in 2012, it happened in a very challenging market environment. And, despite all the growth opportunities in the new markets, the home market of Europe remains the backbone of Villeroy & Boch. Ultimately, this is where Villeroy & Boch earns the money that enables investments in other regions, according to Mr. Goring's letter. You can read the entire letter to Villeroy & Boch shareholders by going here: http://www.villeroy-boch.com/en/us/home/the-company/investor-relations/annual-report-2012/to-our-shareholders.html
There are lots of choices when it comes to white plates for your restaurant. But few have the style and overall aesthetic of Villeroy & Boch's STELLA HOTEL.
The round forms of Villeroy & Boch's STELLA HOTEL make a particularly delicate and fine impression, thereby making STELLA HOTEL suitable for a wide range of occasions, whether breakfast, dinner, lunch or tea. The collection stands for the highest level of fine dining, providing the perfect stage for ambitious gourmet inspirations. Culinary creations are transformed into a feast for the eye as well as the palate. |
Villeroy & Boch has been providing style to tabletops around the world for over 250 years.
| The classic design concept of the series has now been revitalized with new items having been added. With four new plate forms that play with various interior base designs, STELLA HOTEL offers even more options for high-quality serving and presentation. The new coffee and tea pieces are also enlivening with the gentle curves of the pot, cups, jug and sugar bowl bringing an elegantly sensuous feel to the fine aesthetic of the collection.
Villeroy & Boch's STELLA HOTEL is versatile and delicate – so it’s perfect for all kinds of occasions. From breakfast to dinner, lunch to coffee – the fine “Premium Bone Porcelain” brings harmony into every situation!
Villeroy & Boch's Hotel and Restaurant Division has introduced its newest range at the just-completed Hospitality Show in the U.K. New ‘AFFINITY‘ is, of course, stackable, space-saving, durable and attractively priced. But that’s not all this tableware has to offer. V&B will show that there is a multiplicity of ways to combine the 70 different items in the AFFINITY collection. A clever selection of tableware items is often all you need to showcase new culinary styles - and that is what new AFFINITY offers. That is the new message of functionality from Villeroy & Boch – experience oriented and efficient.And, it might be at large-scale culinary events that‘AFFINITY‘ can really showcase its assets. Cool design in versatile white and professional features Villeroy & Boch's Premium Porcelain impressively combines both virtues. For perfect performance, not just in the spotlight, but also behind the scenes. | |
 In the first three quarters of 2012, the Villeroy & Boch Group generated net revenue of €543.3 million after €551.3 million in the same period of the previous year. Global economic development slowed significantly in the period under review. The important euro zone markets for Villeroy & Boch are in a recession. Company and consumer confidence has again deteriorated dramatically over recent months as a result of the debt crisis and the continued fragile situation in the European banking sector. Germany, which has seen largely positive development to date, is also suffering from this loss of confidence. Net revenue on the German market was down 3% year-on-year at €147.6 million. In the same period of the previous year, the Tableware Division achieved a profit from a major order; no similar extraordinary project is planned for this year. Adjusted for this extraordinary transaction, revenue in the third quarter of 2012 was 2.5% higher than in the previous year. Revenue outside Germany was down slightly year-on-year at €395.7 million (‑1%). This was due in particular to the lower revenue in the Bathroom and Wellness Division in Mexico, with the sale of the plant in Saltillo also representing Villeroy & Boch’s targeted withdrawal from low-margin project business. The Tableware Division generated revenue of €187.4 million in the period from January to September 2012, down 4% on the previous year. The year-on-year decline in revenue of 11% in Germany in the first half of 2012 was almost fully recovered. There was further revenue growth in Russia (+36%), Austria (+22%) and the USA (+8%). Market development in Australia remains difficult (-7%). To read the entire release, go here: http://www.villeroy-boch.com/en/amo/home/the-company/press/press-releases/latest-news/single-news.html?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=2875&cHash=66106a5d8feb293f21b13ab248788bb9
Villeroy & Boch CERA. A combination of natural lines, expressive forms, attractive design and a mix of porcelain and glass materials to create a gorgeously simple....and stunning, tabletop. Life is complicated. Isn't it nice when your tabletop isn't?
 From Villeroy & Boch's Hotel & Restaurant Division office comes word that the famous cooking competition Bocuse d’Or 2013 will be held on January 29-30, 2013 in Lyon, France. Since 1995, Villeroy & Boch, who is an official partner of the haute cuisine cooking event held every two years, provides the collector's item plate. Traditionally, an official souvenir plate and a promoting poster are designed by world renowned artist Alain Vavro. In 2013 again, a limited edition of a Villeroy & Boch gourmet plate will be launched. As the most spectacular series of Villeroy & Boch are regularly chosen for the event, this year's selection is the New Wave 25 cm round gourmet plate. The director of the Villeroy & Boch Hotel & Restaurant division as well as the Marketing team recently met with world renowned chef Paul Bocuse as well as with artist Alain Vavro in Lyon to review the design for the 2013 souvenir plate. The artistic theme will be fresh and colourful and a strong expression of the delight in cooking.
Villeroy & Boch's NEW WAVE LONDON series. A little bit retail....sure. A whole lot fun......absolutely. Enjoy your coffee.
Imagine the splendor when guests sit for their first meal on board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train as it winds along its journey from London to Venice. Everything on board the trip has been luxurious and the meal service will be no different…..right down to the custom designed china by Villeroy & Boch. | In the three dining cars guests now enjoy eating their meals from high-quality Villeroy & Boch tableware, individually designed for the Orient Express.
This is how it happened: At the end of 2010 those responsible at the Orient-Express were looking for a suitable partner to equip the dining cars on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and initially approached a number of porcelain manufacturers, including Villeroy & Boch. The Hotel & Restaurant Division from Villeroy & Boch, which specialises in such individual projects, was delighted to take up the challenge and successfully convinced the decision-makers with décors that fulfill the high artistic standards of the art deco interiors.
For breakfast, which is served directly in the cabins, a golden décor was created for the ultra-fine porcelain of the Orient-Express collection. The 1920s style décor draws inspiration from the work of the decorator René Prou, who designed the oldest sleeping car of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express |  The custom designed breakfast service that Villeroy & Boch executed for Orient Express | And thus the three dining cars L’Oriental, Etoile du Nord and Côte d’Azur were equipped with appropriate tableware:
The décor Oriental is designed with majestic water birds, grasses and reeds in an oriental style. The black glaze of the petit fours plate is a true eye catcher. The Etoile du Nord collection uses warm shades with a floral theme to coordinate wonderfully with the predominantly wood interior of the dining car that bears the same name.  L'Oriental |  Etoile du Nord |  Cote d'Azur | Inspired by a motif from the world renowned glass manufacturer Lalique, a particularly delicate and artistic décor was developed for Côte d’Azur (right), echoing the figures and motifs that decorate the walls of the restaurant car.
The portfolio of the company Orient-Express Hotels Ltd consists of around 50 luxury hotels, restaurants, trains and river cruisers in 24 counties across the world. The Villeroy & Boch Hotel & Restaurant Division has equipped not only the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express for the company, but also a hotel in Portugal and a restaurant in Great Britain. Passengers on the Orient-Express, however, enjoy a charming privilege: they can purchase selected pieces of the exclusive tableware collection from the on-board boutique, and then take them away to use at home.
Cool cups and saucers.....actually, pretty damn cool cups and saucers!
Urban Nature.
Villeroy and Boch. (naturally)
|
