March/April 2026
housewareslive.net
THE HOUSEWARES INTERVIEW The business has also moved away from trend-led design in favour of
a more timeless aesthetic. “If a product can still look good in 50 years’ time, we’ve done our job,” he adds. With a team of 20 people, Black + Blum remains agile, able to make quick decisions and adapt as needed. “We might not always get it right,” says he, “but we move fast and learn.” For retailers and buyers, the result is a more focused, more coherent
brand offering – one built on design credibility, practical innovation and alignment with long-term consumer trends. “We just want to make products people use every day,” Mr Black concludes, “and keep using for years.”
“It’s a category where you can make a real difference,” says Mr Black.
“You’re helping people reduce single-use packaging, prevent food waste and live more healthily. And the products should last.”
Finding a focus
Black + Blum was early to recognise the potential of the category, launching adult-focused lunch boxes at a time when the market was largely limited to children’s products. “There wasn’t really a lunch box market,” Mr Black notes. “We were doing serious volumes and it helped inspire the category.” The decision to narrow the company’s focus was not without
resistance. “Sales and finance were saying, ‘Why would you stop selling products that are doing well?’” he says. “But we knew we had to be about something.” Today, that clarity underpins the brand’s growth. Black + Blum has positioned itself firmly within food storage, hydration and meal prep, categories that continue to show strong momentum across retail. “We want to be known as the best at one thing,” says Mr Black. “That makes it much easier for retailers and consumers to understand us.” The company reports two consecutive years of 25% growth, driven in
part by its expansion into multifunction food storage.”Food storage and meal prep is actually a much bigger category than on the go,” Mr Black explains. “That’s been a big driver for us.” Product development remains central to the brand’s proposition, with
a strong emphasis on solving everyday frustrations. “As a designer, you’re very sensitive to annoyances,” says Mr Black. “You’re constantly thinking, how could this be better?” That mindset has led to extended development cycles on key
products. “We spent three years developing our travel cup,” he says. “We didn’t want to launch it unless it was genuinely better than what was already out there.” Attention to detail is a defining feature across the range, from
leakproof seals and modular components to ease of cleaning and material selection. “There’s a lot that goes into a product that you can’t always communicate,” Mr Black notes. “But when people use it, they feel it.”
Sustainability also plays a central role. Black + Blum is a member of 1% for the Planet, donating 1% of turnover to environmental causes, including City Harvest. “Food waste contributes more to CO2 emissions than single-use packaging,” says Mr Black. “So helping people store and carry food better is a meaningful way to address that.”
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