special report
Monday February 4 2019 THE NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM, BIRMINGHAM
Flying the flag: made in Britain S
Three leading housewares suppliers from very different product sectors explain why they are committed to manufacturing their goods in Britain
ilverwood started ‘making in Britain’ back in 1960 when the business was founded, and has been handcraſting professional
quality bakeware and cookware at its studio and factory in Birmingham ever since. Managing director David Jack explained: “I’m
proud to say that 100% of our products are made in Britain. Since our early beginnings, we’ve been committed to manufacturing at home, so that we know our product from start to finish. “We have complete control of our design,
purchasing of raw materials and manufacturing processes. This was one of our founding principles over 55 years ago and I’m proud to say we’ve never wavered from this. “Our bakeware is created using the highest
quality raw materials, combined with traditional skills and manufacturing techniques. We have a long serving, creative and loyal team, who have been able to adapt and create new products over the years. “Expert
knowledge, unrivalled skills and baking expertise - coupled with our meticulous design and manufacturing - have made us the go-to authority for bespoke items for
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commercial catering and bakeware items.” He said the advantages of making products at home compared with overseas include the ability to adapt, lead times, and manufacturing agility. “We have complete step-by-step manufacturing control to ensure consistency and quality. So we make in Britain and outreach to global markets.”
“Britain is at the
heart of our brand and heritage”
David also pointed out that nowadays, customers
are increasingly interested in where their products come from and how they are manufactured. “They’re not only concerned about the product quality but its provenance too,” he said. “Staff, environment, manufacturing process and the miles incurred to transport it are all considered by purchasers now.” So what are Silverwood’s best sellers? Outside seasonal variations, staple baking items (such as cake tins, loaf tins and baking sheets) remain popular – along with its award-winning Simple Simon Pie dishes and Eyecatcher tins (which feature a slide-out base for easy removal of brownies,
hat More UK is a manufacturer based in the north-west of England. Established in 1999, it has rapidly grown to become one of the UK’s largest suppliers of plastic housewares. Operating out of a 500,000sq ft manufacturing base at Burnley in Lancashire,
its products include household storage, bakeware, DIY toolboxes, organizers, garden pots, pet care, food storage and wooden brushes - all under the brand name Wham. Over recent years it has been selectively expanding its ranges, with the acquisition of the patented leak-proof bakeware brand PushPan in 2015, and the 2017 launch of the Baker & Salt brand of non-stick bakeware and enamelware, which is pressed and enamelled in North England. Director Tony Grimshaw OBE said: “We’ve been manufacturing in Britain since the company’s birth. British manufacture is recognised by the world as product manufactured to the highest of any standards - and we manufacture our product in Lancashire, which is renowned as the best manufacturing area in Britain. So a double stamp of approval. Plus, our machinery is the latest available and
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housewareslive.net •
HousewaresLive.net
traybakes and square cakes). He’s currently seeing an increase in sales of pie tins, cake tins and muffin trays ahead of the festive season. Looking ahead, David is fully committed to manufacturing in Britain. “We’re proud to be one of the last remaining bakeware manufacturers in the UK,” he said. “We use traditional methods - by hand - such as metal spinning and pressing, to produce our comprehensive range of over 200 everyday and specialist items. “And because we manufacture everything by hand and for ourselves, we have great flexibility in production. We’re well-known among our customers for our bespoke/custom service. I would never want to lose the flexibility for controlling the production of our products. “We’re a British company and Britain is at the
heart of our brand and heritage; we would lose so much of the Silverwood brand if we tried to manufacture abroad. Quality and control - from raw materials through to the finished product - is at the core of our business and integral to the production of our professional quality products.”
Silverwood’s award-winning Simple Simon Pie dishes
our staff are the best in our industry.” “Why do we choose to make in Britain? Because it gives us control, of our
exceptionally high product standards of both design and manufacture,” he said. “Will we continue to do so? Yes. Why try and change or fix something that definitely isn’t broken? Britain is Great. Support it! “We use the Union Flag with pride on all our manufactured products. In fact,
our international customers ask for that Flag – and we export our products to 72 countries around the world.”
What More UK director Tony Grimshaw OBE
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What More UK’s manufacturing base in Lancashire September/October 2018
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