PENDEFORD HOUSEWARES
Expanding the Portfolio
Housewares Magazine spoke to Lee Parkin, owner of Pendeford Housewares about the Wolverhampton-based business’ acquisition of wine-rack specialists, RTA Global.
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stablished in 1958, Pendeford Housewares was originally known for metal spinning, manufacturing polished aluminium cookware, teapots and kettles
As the decades went on, the business has evolved into a hybrid model as an importer and UK manufacturer of cookware, bakeware, kitchenware plastics and laundry categories for both customer private label and distributing its own portfolio of brands to retailers, wholesalers and hospitality sectors. Working from its 40,000 sq ft facility in Wolverhampton, Pendeford commissioned two state-of-the-art injection moulding production lines in Q1 2022 which has been used to produce its range of stain-free polycarbonate microwave cookware, with more product development of injection moulded products in the pipeline. Lee Parkin, who has 17 years of experience working in leading kitchenware companies such as Arc International and The Oneida Group, completed the acquisition of Pendeford in 2020. Taking the reins from the previous owner and managing director, Ralph Humphries, Parkin possesses a deep understanding of manufacturing and is an advocate of UK-manufactured products. Pendeford currently owns Supreme (Stainless steel cookware), Diamond Collection, I-Cook, Chefs Choice and Sapphire (non-stick aluminium cookware), Easy-Cook (Ceramic non-stick cookware and microwave cookware), Heat & Eat, Microwave IT, Creative Kitchen (microwave cookware and kitchen accessories)
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and I-Bake (non-stick bakeware). The business also signed a three-year license deal to bring USA-based cookware brand, Sur La Table to the UK, and the new range of cast iron cookware will make its debut at Spring Fair in 2023. Parkin believes the addition of RTA Global is a key step in growing the business and expanding its product portfolio. “Being a UK manufacturer since 1979 and exporting to over 20 countries, we believe RTA will open up further export opportunities for Pendeford. As we look to build on our UK manufacturing capabilities, it will allow us to leverage a larger export customer base while opening up the brand to all of Pendeford’s customer base. The Wolverhampton site accommodates itself well for RTA production with an already experienced team of press operators, assembly line workers in situ and will build on this with an aggressive recruitment drive. We see synergies in our customers and production, which allows us to move into a new product category being complimentary to Pendeford’s existing portfolio,” he says. Parkin adds “It will allow us to become established in a brand- new category. Wine storage lends itself well to Pendeford’s other product categories and provides the opportunity to for further new product development. Additionally, as RTA is one product group, many customers would otherwise struggle to become a stockist, adding RTA products to Pendeford’s range will give our customers access with ease. We’ve mapped out our five-year roadmap with some exciting new product development and additional licenses on the horizon. Our core focus remains; however, we are constantly exploring ways to better serve our customers so we can add value to their business ensuring we remain meaningful and relevant to them.”
January/February 2023 | 27
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