CHICAGO— In a push to position itself in the casual dining space, ThermoServ is debuting a new assortment of American-made melamine dinnerware and coordinating beverageware at the International Home + Housewares Show.
Both its melamine dinnerware and drinkware is manufactured in Dallas; ThermoServ is the only domestic manufacturer of melamine.
“Our focus is to offer the market a high value alternative to imported melamine products,” said Dana Dowdy, director of marketing, ThermoServ.
The melamine will be offered in a good, better, best strategy, with its Everyday Collection being the more lightweight of its options and the “good” level. From a retail perspective, it is targeted toward mass and mid-tier department stores.
ThermoServ’s Everyday Collection offers modern silhouettes in Stripes and Swirls and Dogwood Floral designs. The collection is offered in 16-piece dinnerware sets featuring, dinner, salad, bowl and heavy sham Tritan tumbler, with a suggested retail price of $49.99.
One evolution in product development in the everyday line, noted Dowdy, is that while the company has, in the past, always molded its dinnerware in white and decorated in color, at the Housewares Show, it will be launching plates in colored molds, which is intended to give it a richer, two-tone look.
ThermoServ’s Chef’s Collection, which represents the “better” and “best,” is a commercial-grade melamine that is designed with the foodie in mind, and it is available in a variety of silhouettes and colors. The Chef’s Collection dinner plate weighs in at 600 grams.
Under the Chef’s Collection, there are two lines: Cadence and the most premium, Classic. Cadence is available in solid colors in a 12-piece bistro set that pairs a dinner plate and entrée bowl with a Tritan heavy sham tumbler; it has a suggested retail of $49.99. In the Classic Collection, also available in solid colors, a 16-piece set is available that includes dinner and salad plate, bowl and a melamine coffee mug. Classic is said to mimic the look and feel of china, but has the benefit of being more durable. The set has a suggested retail price of $99.99.
From a retail perspective, Cadence is the most versatile, and can be targeted toward anywhere from mass to specialty and department stores. The Classic is geared more toward specialty housewares chains and department stores.
“Over the years, we’ve seen our customers wanting to bring the restaurant dining experience into their own homes,” said Tom Neth, president of ThermoServ. “Our Chef’s Collection is a perfect answer to those wanting a stylish and sturdy tableware option that’s sourced with the highest quality melamine available.”
Open stock options are also available.
Also at the Housewares Show, ThermoServ is launching a new series of its double wall Tritan tumblers, which includes a slim-body 18-ounce tumbler to complement the dinnerware collections. This size, without lid, is a good tabletop tumbler as well as an on-the-go one, Dowdy noted, and could be utilized for serving iced tea or lemonade to cocktails. This size is also available in four packs, in six design options that coordinate back to its melamine offerings. The four-pack has a suggested retail price of $31.99.
The double wall tumblers are also available in 24- and 28-ounce silhouettes, as well as in a 28-ounce water bottle. The tumblers feature the temperature retention and condensation reduction benefits that come with double wall insulation, and are also designed to fit in most car cup holders. They are said to be dishwasher, freezer and microwave safe and also feature an optional snap-fit, drink-thru lid.
“ThermoServ has always produced quality, American-made products that fit the needs of the casual consumer. We’re committed to developing and bringing to market new drinkware and tableware items that both look great and perform,” said Neth. “We are confident this new line of tumblers will strengthen our core offering of insulated drinkware, and provide improved drinkware options for retailers and consumers.”
