NEW YORK— The year was challenging for the cookware category. Declining sales across most of the segments, with the exception of cast iron, as well as changing consumer buying habits, impacted the industry through the year. Open stock sales are still driving sales, but with lower pricepoints, as consumers are on a mission to create their own cookware sets based on preference.
Looking forward, vendors have pointed to the need for a revitalization of the cookware category and spent the second half of the year exploring new marketing avenues to grow going into 2018.
Moving & Shaking
• Hammer Stahl, a manufacturer of stainless steel cookware that is made in the U.S., rebranded its cookware collection. The line has officially become American Clad by Hammer Stahl.
• Meyer put the spotlight on Circulon this year with the release of an infomercial built around the brand’s legacy and technology story.
• Tramontina acquired a new building in Manitowoc, WI. The company was able to take over a 256,000-square-foot building adjacent to its existing cookware manufacturing facility. Tramontina will partition 8,600-square-feet of the new building for increased office space and an employee cafeteria.
Brand News
• In an effort to reach the Hispanic consumer, Meyer Corp. unveiled a new line under the Farberware brand, dubbed Buena Cocina
• Hammer Stahl signed on as the exclusive cookware sponsor for the new digital series, AZ Cooks, hosted and created by Andrew Zimmern, the four-time James Beard Award winning TV personality, author, teacher and chef.
• DKB Household debuted Zyliss Cook. The brand’s flagship collection is a line of non-stick cookware that is manufactured through a ball blasting process and is available with the company’s Rockpearl coating. Made from a forged aluminum material structure, the fry pans also have soft-touch, ergonomic handles. It is induction safe while additionally oven and grill safe up to 320 degrees Fahrenheit, and with a 10-year non-stick guarantee, the company said.
Product Pipeline
• Meyer U.S. formed a new collaboration with Ayesha Curry, cookbook author and star of “Ayesha’s Homemade” on The Food Network. The Ayesha Curry brand is part of Meyer’s celebrity division and the line rolled out at Target and J.C. Penney in the fall.
• Bradshaw International rolled out the Bialetti Titan cookware line and developed a new retail merchandiser in collaboration with Bed Bath & Beyond.
• Macy’s expanded its proprietary Crux brand beyond small electrics into cookware with the debut of a selection of pieces that are now available in-store and online.
• Lagostina, a Groupe SEB company, launched the Opera cookware collection, a new line that is exclusive to Williams Sonoma.
• Calphalon introduced the Calphalon Premier Space Saving line of non-stick and stainless steel cookware, which stacks securely to save space in the kitchen.
• Kuhn Rikon brought its new Hotpan Monument cookware to the market. Made with authentic stone, wood and leather, the company said that the cooking vessels were developed with both design and function in mind. The company also debuted a new Swiss Multiply frying pan, which is designed for fast and even heat distribution up to the rim, the company said.
• Mepra, in conjunction with design house Pininfarina, created Stile, a refined cookware collection for the lovers of Italian beauty, the companies said.
• Swiss Diamond introduced the Swiss Diamond XD lineup of cookware. The company said Swiss Diamond XD is its latest and most advanced diamond-reinforced non-stick cookware. It also brought a new cast iron line to market.
• Meyer introduced Farberware Luminescence cookware, which is featured in two metallic hues: Sapphire Shimmer and Copper Shine.
• Hampton Forge is continuing to develop new cookware assortments for its brands. The company launched new collections under its Skandia line as well as a new cookware line within its Tomodachi brand.
• Hammer Stahl debuted its 316Ti 7-ply American Clad stainless steel cookware while rolling out new merchandising displays.
• Gibson Overseas rolled out its new EcoFriendly Home Hummington ceramic non-stick cookware. The cookware, the company said, was designed to bring more durability and versatility to its EcoFriendly line of cookware.
• Robinson Home Products debuted a new 15-piece stainless steel copper clad base cookware set, a new 10-piece stainless steel set with copper exterior, a new 10-piece forged aluminum set with ceramic non-stick interior and metallic copper exterior and a new 10-piece aluminum set, which will be available in metallic red or metallic gray.
• Kyocera introduced four new ceramic coated non-stick cookware sets, featuring the brand’s proprietary Gen-2 ceramic non-stick coating technology.
• Lenox’s new Dansk cookware includes eight layers of coating, three layers of which are a durable stone coating, the company said. Other layers include a primer non-stick coating, a heat-resistant base coating and a heat-resistant top coating.
• Woll, which is distributed by Frieling USA, has expanded and enhanced its Diamond Lite cast aluminum cookware collection with the new Diamond Lite Pro. It features stainless steel handles and signature patented diamond-reinforced non-stick coating for strength and durability, the company said.
• Bradshaw expanded its Emeril line with The Perfect Sauté pan. According to the company, the sauté pan has been designed with an elliptical shape, plus a high backed leading edge, giving it a natural advantage in usability.
• IMUSA launched the new South Asian line, which included goods that focus on Indian cuisine. Created with authenticity and convenience in mind, the company said, the South Asian line contains a mix of products, vessel sizes, shapes and materials.
• Clipper Corporation launched a new heavy gauge hard anodized non-stick line of cookware for its licensed Viking brand.
• Range Kleen showcased its new style of pot racks, adding a hammered look to both its oval hanging pot rack design and extendable pot rack. The company also introduced a color addition to its Ivy Embossed collection of Burner Kovers by Rebecca Baer.
• Hestan, a manufacturer of high-end commercial kitchen equipment and residential outdoor grills, has launched the NanoBond cookware line.
• All-Clad has relaunched its LTD cookware with Williams-Sonoma. Originally launched 35 years ago, the LTD line is best known for its thick conductive aluminum body that heats quickly and retains heat while the stainless steel interior browns and sears, the company said.
