INDUSTRY INSIGHT 13 The Quarterly Magazine by Continental Supplies / ISSUE SIX

Tableware that comes out on top Texture has been a recurring theme in recent years, with high “There is definitely a trend towards demand for striking glazes and colours mixed with more organic shapes. From experimental chefs who are quite happy to let the more original, organic, individual tableware jostle and play for position with the being served to Table Art has been a staple feature at CCS for a whole decade! To mark this amazing more traditional chefs using classic colours and shapes, both will tableware as seek to agree that the days of a matching ensemble of whiteware on every strengthen their brand identity and feat, we look back at past Table Art issues at tableware trends and venture as to what table is now only seen in the banqueting suite. will be popular in the future. Written by Steve Roncon, Sales Director, CCS point of difference”. The tableware market is fast evolving - It’s astonishing to think that RAK began production in 2005 and has grown now to Table Art is now 10 years old and over the years we’ve had the chance the largest producer of porcelain tableware in the world. Not only to work with some of Britain’s finest chefs such as John Williams, are the larger manufacturers constantly pushing the boundaries in Terry Laybourne, Alan Murchison, Andrew Turner, Jeff Galvin, Jason terms of design and durability, but the emergence of smaller artisan Atherton, Mark Poynton and Shaun Rankin to name but a few. Each producers of handcrafted products is also on the rise. Jack Moore, a chef brought their own individuality, creativeness and style to our representative from Jars, explains “There is definitely a trend towards camera lens as they harmonised their dish by choosing an eclectic more original, organic, individual tableware as restaurants seek to mix of tableware that was available from CCS at the time. strengthen their brand identity and point of difference”. As well as more organic wares that are appearing on tables, there has been a rise Table Art enabled us to produce stunning food photography which in demand for retro styled tableware, including patterns on plates and showcased the craftsmanship of some of the world’s best tableware that hark back to decades forgotten and traditional enamelware producers. As well as displaying products made from porcelain, such as jugs and dishes. Anne Linn Olsen is Marketing Coordinator , and in a collective table-setting solution, we also at Figgjo. She has definitely noted a resurfacing and re-launching of helped to inspire and influence chefs and the way they present their old classics, “it testifies guests’ nostalgia and the need to surround dishes. Looking back over the hundreds of pages of images we’ve themselves with the familiar. We see that food trends are moving created, there have been subtle changes in the collections of tableware from fine dining to fun dining – high quality is important”. that have been used and it’s very interesting to track these trends over the past 10 years.

When Table Art was first imagined in 2004 there was a clear desire to choose tableware that produced clean lines - with square plates, .... food trends are moving from So, what will the trends be in 10 years’ time? We don’t know for sure, fine dining to fun dining – high but we can take an educated guess. CCS is working with some of the quality is important”. finest tableware manufacturers in the world on projects that will be launched in 12 or even 24 months into the future. Based on constant analysis of the market, customer feedback and the information we platters and shallow bowls with a distinct preference for stark get from suppliers it is obvious that individuality will become very whiteware and angular glassware. More accessories were then used important. We are working with some of the most renowned bespoke to accompany dishes; whether it was small Kilner jars or mini producers of tableware in an array of different materials such as saucepans, chefs seemed to let the tableware take a chunk of the porcelain, , glass and wood. These bespoke items can be spotlight and were much more aware of more novel ways to present produced to exact specifications and budget requirements, making food. uniqueness and individuality a staple in establishments. Whichever route is taken with , customers are certainly more A more casual approach to dining then took over. Whilst chefs critical of the overall dining experience and of course, how the food still maintained an extremely high standard of food, there was reacts with the tableware adds greatly to that experience. a noticeable absence of glass plates that had been very popular. Replacing these were textured plates such as the Plume range from Many of the tableware manufacturers that are exclusive to CCS such Jars, coupled with olive wood, copper and slate. We can speculate that as Jars, RAK, Jacques Pergay, Figgjo and Merlini offer bespoke items. this shift to a casual approach may have been the result of economic climate at the time, changing the tableware to fit comfortably with the discerning and food conscious clientele whilst still retaining a look For information on the bespoke items from CCS that was conventional. contact us on 0808 1001 777 or scan the code opposite.