kitchen knives & accessories / bakeware Sharp objects
Housewares editor Bryony Andrews speaks to Phil Ellwood, managing director at Whitby & Co’s iconic knife brand Opinel.
What’s new from Opinel this season? What do you expect to be the best sellers?
What are consumers looking for in their kitchen knives? Kitchen knives that give customers years of high-quality use is something high on the priority list when selecting the perfect kitchen knives. Customers want a high- quality blade with good cutting edge, which with the correct maintenance, will be a staple in their kitchen for years to come. Some of Opinel’s kitchen knives such as the Intempora and Les Forgés 1890 range are specially designed in collaboration with BIG-GAME studio to ensure the balance, cutting edge and weight of the knife are designed and crafted with precision.
Bakeware W
New this season from Opinel sees them branching out further into tableware to add another great range onto their growing kitchen and homeware lines. Perpétue cutlery sets consist of knives with comfortable, rounded handles and micro-serrated blades, as well as sleekly designed forks and spoons, suitable for use with any Opinel table knives. Perpétue is a nod to Opinel’s long history and roots, named after Joseph Opinel’s grandmother. We feel this range sits well alongside Opinel’s existing high-quality tableware and kitchen knives, so it is great for someone looking
to have a cohesive collection of kitchen knives and accessories.
Do you provide any guidance/resources for retailers following the changed regulations around selling bladed items? Do you have any advice or comments on the changes to the act? We always support our retailers when it comes to the selling of bladed items and the complexities of ensuring this is done safely for everyone to limit the mis-use of knives. When it comes to the implementation of the Offensive Weapons Act from 2019, we have always sent out regular communications to our retail partners offering guidance and support as every part of the act was implemented by the government. The recent developments relating to age verification on delivery of bladed items did cause some complications initially but lots of couriers offer reliable services to ensure age verification is carried out correctly and legally on delivery.
ith the cost of living crisis continuing into 2022, consumers will be looking to shop less, but
shop smarter. Shoppers are becoming more attentive in their product research, with longevity and quality of materials becoming more of a key consideration in everyday purchasing decisions. This month, Simon Oliver, commercial director home and outdoor living at RKW Ltd, shared some insights with Housewares editor Bryony Andrews.
What are the current consumer priorities for their bakeware? Consumers want high performance bakeware at a competitive price point. Our Precision Plus range is designed to offer just this. Using best-in-class materials such as thick aluminised steel and our top-end Black Diamond non-stick coating, consumers can be assured that they are getting the best value for their money. Durability is also a concern for consumers today. Precision Plus is backed with a 20 year quality guarantee for additional peace of mind. Our customer
July/August 2022
service team provides ongoing support and free product replacements in the event of a fault during that guarantee period, reassuring consumers that Tower is a brand that they can trust and invest in for their continued needs at home and in the kitchen.
What should we be looking for in non- stick coatings? The best bakeware non-stick coatings have to be capable of withstanding regular use while also continuing to work effectively and efficiently for a long time. These are the key considerations we took on board when developing Precision Plus bakeware. We spent a long time researching the premium market to ensure that we could fulfil our commitment to high performance. Precision Plus uses our best-in-class Black Diamond non-stick coating that is 7x stronger than other bakeware coatings. Foremost, our non-stick coating ensures effortless food release and easy cleaning for all products in the collection. The surface doesn’t scratch when using metal
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utensils and is completely food-safe, free from harmful toxins such as BPA and PFOA. Due to the thick aluminised carbon steel,
they can also be used in the fridge, freezer and dishwasher. The materials we’ve used are incredibly hard-wearing in order to elevate the experience for our consumers. Precision Plus is a quality collection to cook with but is also an investment for many, lasting years to come to cut down spending on inadequate alternatives.
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