On the evening of December 9 we raised a glass with the Housewares industry to celebrate the 2020 Excellence in Housewares Award.
Great British Bakeoff star, Nadia Hussain helped to get proceedings off to a frying start, telling the Zoom audience that her top five kitchenware items were a spatula, whisk, rolling pin, sieve and a really good knife. Her top luxury item is her dehydrator, which she loves so much she convinced us we need one in our own kitchen. Nadia has successful licensed ranges with Bliss Home and Wilton Bradley and would love to do a really good mixer or dehydrator.
The highlight of the evening was the Outstanding Achievement sponsored by Lifetime Brands, which for the 21st edition of the awards was given to two individuals who’ve “elevated houseware into aspirational lifestyle must-have, with their distinct and coveted style language, they are champions of British design all around the world. These two people have brought real fresh thinking into housewares and brightened up millions of kitchens: Anthony and Richard Joseph co-founders of Joseph Joseph
The rest of this year’s winners are:
Best supermarket retailer of housewares sponsored by Ultimate Products. The finalists are Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose, Whole Foods Market and the winner is Sainsbury’s.
Best Garden Centre Retailer of Housewares sponsored by Burton McCall. The finalists are Barton Grange, Preston, Bents Glazebury, Blue Diamond Group, Dobbies, Fosseway Garden Centre, Moreton in the Marsh and Garsons, Esher. The Winner is Garsons of Esher.
Excellence in Online Retailing, sponsored by OXO, which celebrates 30 years in business this year. The finalists are Borough Kitchen, Dawsons eCookshop, Harts of Stur, Ocado, Online Kitchenware and Silver Mushroom – the winner is Silver Mushroom. (pictured above)
Excellence in Retail Training sponsored by RKW. The finalists are Borough Kitchen, Camp Hopson, Newbury, Dobbies, John Lewis Partnership, Lakeland, Ulster Stores, sponsored by RKW. The winer is Borough Kitchen.
Excellence in Retail Display – Independent sponsored by Meyer. Finalists are Car and Kitchen, Settle, Cooks Boutique Letchworth, Cook Central, St Andrews, The Kitchen Range, Market Harborough, Potters Cookshop, Hockley and Webbs of Wychbold. The winner is The Kitchen Range, Market Harborough.
Excellence in Retail Display – Multiple or Department Store, sponsored by Tefal. Finalists are Barkers Northallerton, Fenwick, Colchester, Harrods, London, Jarrold, Norwich, Lakeland and Selfridges. The winner is Harrods.
Excellence in Retail Initiative, sponsored by Gastroback. The finalists are Barkers and Barkers Home, Northallerton for its Fizz Bang Pop Christmas, Borough Kitchen for its Online Cook School, Hart of Stur for its Kitchenaid Velvet Blue Campaign, John Lewis & Partners for its NHS Mug, Lakeland for the My Lakeland Loyalty Programme and Wroes, Bude, for its Tea Emporium. The winner is Lakeland for My Lakeland Initiative.
Retail Employee of the Year sponsored by Tramontina. The finalists are Caroline Aldridge, sales consultant, Fenwick Brent Cross, Anne Brailsford, Cookshop manager, Camp Hopson, Newbury, Margherita Contu, assistant store manager, Cooks Boutique, Letchworth, Jenni Dixon, Merchandising Manager, Summerseat Garden Centre, Bury, Sarah Hardingham, consultant, Dinghams, Salisbury and Winchester, Shane Meehan, cookshop manager, Morleys of Brixton and Joyce Monogue, sales consultant, Fenwick, Newcastle. The Winner is Joyce Monogue.
Best Department Store – Independent sponsored by EKO. The finalists are Bakers and Larners of Holt, Barkers, Northallerton, Dawsons, Skipton and Clitheroe, Harrods, London, Jarrold, Norwich and Vincent Davies Haverfordwest. The Winner is Barkers, Northallerton.
Best Department Store – Multiple Branch or Group Member sponsored by Joseph Joseph. Finalists are Camp Hopson, Newbury, Elys of Wimbledon, Fenwick, Canterbury, Peter Jones, London, Selfridges, London and The White House Portrush. The winner is Camp Hopson, Newbury.
Independent Cookshop of the Year 2020 sponsored by Le Creuset. The finalists are Cooks Boutique Letchworth, Dinghams, Salisbury and Wincheser, Frankie and Johnny’s Cookshop, York, Kitchen Range, West Wickham, Kitchen Range Cookshop, Market Harborough, Potters Cookshop, Hockley, Trevor Mottram, Tunbridge Wells, Wooden Spoon the Cookshop Derby and Burton. The winner is, Trevor Motram.
Multiple or Small Group Retailer of the Year 2020 sponsored by DKB Household. Finalists are Art of Living, Reigate, Borough Kitchen, London, Leekes, South Wales, Lakeland, Lords and Home, London and Chorleywood and Oliver Bonas. The Winner, revealed by Prue Leigh, is Lakeland.
Excellence in Cookware inalists are Classic Stainless Steel Tri-Ply Pans from Samuel Groves, Lodge Chef Collection from Eddington, MasterClass Smart Stack Collection from Kitchencraft, Pizza Baker BBQ Mini from Boska, Scanpan HapIQ from Haus, Scanpan TechnIQ from Haus, Stellar Rocktanium from Horwood, Toughened Non-Stick from Le Creuset. The winner is Scanpan HaptIQ by Haus.
Top Tool or Gadget Award sponsored by Bira, The finalists are Adjustable V-Blade Slicer with Julienne Feature from Microplane, GEFU Conscio 8 Piece Coffee Capsule Set from Haus, Good Grips Citrus Prep Peeler & Zester from OXO, MasterClass Electric Gravity Salt or Pepper Mill from Kitchencraft, Multi-Grip Mandoline from Joseph Joseph, Peugeot Kronos Coffee Mill from Burton McCall, scoff from Just So Ideas and Zyliss Twist & Roll Mini Chopper from DKB Household.. The winner is Peugeot Kronos Coffee Mill from Burton McCall. (pictured left)
Plugged in Award sponsored by Exclusively Housewares. The finalists are Design Raclette Fondue Advanced from Gastroback, easyCharge 360 cordless iron from Morphy Richards, Electronic Wine Decanter from Cellardine, Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus 5.7L from Instant Brands, Judge Pizza Maker Non-Stick from Horwood, Tefal PerfectMix+ Tritan BL82AD40 High Speed Blender from Groupe SEB, Tower Cavaletto Collection from RKW and Wusthof Easy Edge Electric Knife Sharpener from Haus. The winner is Electronic Wine Decanter from Cellardine.
Cutting Edge Award sponsored by Autumn Fair. The finalists are Deco from T&G, Epicurean All in One Series from Eddingtons, Folio Steel from Joseph Joseph, Global 35th Anniversary Knife Set from Grunwerg, Good Grips Box Grater with Removable Zeste from OXO, Pro 7 Piece Self-Sharpening Knife Block from Zwilling, Viners Assure from the Rayware Group and Wusthof Crafter from Haus. The winner is Viners Assure from the Rayware Group.
Excellence in Homewares sponsored by The IHA and Inspired Home Show. The finalists are Aladdin Barista Range from Burton McCall, Children’s Aprons from Dexam, Gummy Bear Mold Kit from Eddingtons, Kozial Klikk Cutlery Set from haus, PoP Container from Scoop 1L from OXO, Sink Side from Brabantia, Stasher Tropical collection from PHA Kitchen Essentials and Taylor Touchless Tare Dual Kitchen Scales from Kitchencraft. The winner is Stasher Tropical collection from PHA Kitchen Essentials.
Top of the Table Award sponsored by Ambiente. The finalists are Artland Midnight Peacock from The DRH Collection, Borough from LSA, Core Coffee Press from Barista and Co, Final Touch Drinks Dispenser from Jeray, Luigi Bormioli from JWP, Mikasa Satori from Kitchencraft, Modus from Denby and zone Denmark Silicone Trivets. The winner is Modus Denby. (pictured above)
The Licensing Award sponsored by Licensing Source Book. The finalists are Corkcicle Keith Haring Collaboration from Auteur, Disney Frozen II Bakeware Collection from Nordic Ware, The Mary Berry Collections from Captivate Brands, Naturals Bakeware from Nordic Ware, Scion Mr Fox from Dexam, Star Wars x from Le Creuset, Stow Green Peter Rabbit Tea Caddy from Eddingtons and V&A Voysey Collection from Kitchencraft. The winner is Star Wars x from Le Creuset. (pictured top)
The Eco Award sponsored by POC. The finalists are Cambridge Glass Water Bottles from Ultimate Products, Eco Flex Straws from Creative Party, LocknLock ECO Oven Glass from JWP, Organic Cotton Fruit and Vegetable Bag from Dexam, Prestige Eco from Meyer, Stainless Steel Lunch Boxes from Smidge, Stojo Bottle from Tauteur and Wheatfibre Tools and Gadgets from Dexam. The winner is LocknLock ECO Oven Glass from JWP.
The Innovation Award sponsored by Expose Travel. The finalists are Adjustable V-Blade Slicer with Julienne Feature from Microplane, Bake-O-Glide Induction Hob Protector from Falcon Products, Beer Barrel Grill from Tramontina, Cocotte Every from Le Creuset, CupboardStore from Joseph Joseph, Go Pure Pod from Burton McCall and Kilner All in One Food to go set from Rayware Group and VPan for Life from Samuel Groves. The winner is, Bake-O-Glide Induction Hob Protector from Falcon Products.
The Icon Award finalists are Anodised Sandwich Tin from Silverwood, Breville Sandwich Toaster from Jarden Consumer Solutions, Global Knives from Grunwerg, Good Grips Y Peeler from OXO, Kitchen Devils Paring Knife from Fiskars, Prestige High Dome Pressure Cooker from Meyer, Stellar 7000 5-piece Saucepan Set from Horwood and Zyliss Susi Garlic Press from DKB Household. The winner is Global Knives from Grunwerg.
The Supplier Awards are voted for by a poll of housewares retailers:
Excellence in Development winner, Joseph Joseph.
Excellence in Marketing, Le Creuset
Excellence in Service, Dexam.
After a challenging start for the industry, many kitchen and housewares suppliers have been enjoying better than average sales this year due to the demand for cook and bakeware etc. The industry has got to keep hold of those engaged suppliers and be bold. If we all adopt a proactive and cohesive approach it will drive the industry forward for the benefit of all. The experience will make all of us stronger.
