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Fortessa Tableware Names Smith as CEO, President

Fortessa Tableware Solutions, a global leader in the tableware industry, has appointed Jeff Smith as chief executive officer and president, effective March 1. This strategic decision follows Smith’s nearly two decades of dedicated service to the company, during which he has played a pivotal role in shaping its success and organizational evolution.  Smith previously served as the company’s COO and CFO.

Smith brings a wealth of experience and a comprehensive understanding of the company’s overall business. His embodiment of the distinct values and culture of Fortessa Tableware Solutions, coupled with broad credibility within the global team, has garnered the confidence of the board of directors, the group supervisory board, and owners Andreas Buske and Scott Hamberger.

Hamberger will be transitioning to the position of president emeritus. In this capacity, he will continue to contribute to the company’s success in an advisory role. Hamberger will continue as a director and will assume the role of vice chairman of the supervisory board of Zwiesel Kristallglas, AG, the parent company of Fortessa Tableware Solutions. 

Expressing his enthusiasm for the transition, Hamberger said, “My greatest professional joy has been to be a part of the growth and development of the wonderful people of this company. I look forward to continuing to contribute in a different way and from a different perspective.  As part of that I will be giving Jeff my full support as he takes the company forward.”

Group CEO Buske extends his best wishes to Smith, stating, “Jeff has earned the confidence of his colleagues across our group, as well as that of our Board of Directors in the United States and our Supervisory Board in Germany.  We wish him every success and look forward to working with him as he leads Fortessa Tableware Solutions to new heights.”

“I could not be more excited to lead this outstanding company of which I have been a part.  I appreciate the confidence of our ownership, governing boards, and my colleagues.  We have a great history and I’m looking forward to an even better future,” Smith said.

Fortessa Tableware Solutions is part of the Zwiesel Fortessa Group, a global leader in the tableware industry.  The company creates value around the table through customer solutions and innovative product.  For more information, visit www.fortessa.com.

For more news of interest to the tableware industry, subscribe to Kitchenware News & Housewares Review.

Pottery Barn, Ayesha Curry Team on Sweet July

Pottery Barn, a portfolio brand of Williams-Sonoma, Inc., the world’s largest digital-first, design-led and sustainable home retailer, has launched a collaboration with Sweet July, a lifestyle brand founded by renowned restaurateur, chef, two-time New York Times best-selling author and entrepreneur Ayesha Curry.

Anchored by natural textures, fresh patterns, and earthy tones, the Sweet July by Ayesha Curry collaboration for Pottery Barn features a well-crafted collection of beautiful items for the home.

The new Sweet July by Ayesha Curry x Pottery Barn collection is inspired by summer celebrations and embraces a range of neutral tones with pops of bold and rich terracotta for an elevated, modern look that mix and match seamlessly. From guest-ready bedding and bath accessories to modern barware, table linens, and Calacatta marble serveware and dinnerware debossed with a herringbone pattern, the collection’s thoughtful details celebrate Ayesha’s passion for design and love of al fresco dining.

“Our collaboration with Ayesha Curry has been so organic and inspiring because we share core values of bringing together good people and products through meaningful design,” said CEO of Pottery Barn Brands Marta Benson. “The new Sweet July collection showcases our shared passion for family and beautiful living in the home.”

“It’s been a dream working with the Pottery Barn design team to create a collection featuring products and designs that offer comfort and serenity throughout the home,” said Ayesha Curry, CEO & Founder of Sweet July. “I was inspired by neutral palettes, playing with clean lines and textures that can be mixed and matched in the spaces that mean most to you and your loved ones.”

The Sweet July by Ayesha Curry x Pottery Barn collection debuted for Summer 2023 on May 5 at potterybarn.com/sweetjuly and in select California Pottery Barn stores — the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto, the Westfield Galleria in Roseville, and Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek. See the new collection by following @potterybarn and @sweetjuly on Instagram.

Pottery Barn, a member of the Williams-Sonoma, Inc. portfolio of brands, is a premier specialty retailer for casual, comfortable and stylish home furnishings. The brand is dedicated to beautiful ideas for real life, quality products that are crafted to last, sustainability and service. Key product categories include furniture, bedding, bath, rugs, window treatments, tabletop, lighting and decorative accessories. Nearly all Pottery Barn products are designed in-house and are exclusive to its catalogs, stores and website. Pottery Barn operates company-owned stores in the United States, Canada and Australia and has unaffiliated franchisees that operate stores in the Middle East, India, the Philippines and South Korea, and stores and ecommerce websites in Mexico, as well as an ecommerce site at www.potterybarn.com that offers international shipping to customers worldwide. Pottery Barn provides complimentary design services and a comprehensive gift registry program for weddings and other special events. Pottery Barn now offers products for all life stages and every room in the home through Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, and Pottery Barn Teen. Pottery Barn is also part of The Key Rewards, a free-to-join loyalty program that offers members exclusive benefits across the Williams-Sonoma family of brands, the world’s largest digital-first, design-led and sustainable home retailer. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Ayesha Curry is a renowned restaurateur, chef, 2x New York Times bestselling author, producer, host, entrepreneur and was featured on the prestigious Forbes “30 Under 30” list. Her accessible approach to cooking has made her one of the most sought-after experts in food and lifestyle. Ayesha is the Founder and CEO of Sweet July, her burgeoning lifestyle brand with a focus to uplift an inclusive and eclectic array of creators through the products sold and stories shared. In 2019 Ayesha launched Sweet July, a quarterly lifestyle magazine that covers a range of topics such as wellness, fashion, fitness, beauty, entrepreneurism and food. Following the launch of the magazine, Ayesha opened a brick-and-mortar Sweet July storefront and café in Oakland, CA and its accompanying website, featuring thoughtfully created products alongside other carefully selected items from Black-owned and female-founded companies. In 2020, Ayesha launched Sweet July Productions, which focuses on creating content centered around food, family, faith and female empowerment. Most recently, Ayesha served as host and executive producer of HBO Max’s ABOUT LAST NIGHT. In 2022, Ayesha announced Sweet July Books in partnership with Zando. Sweet July Books will acquire fiction and nonfiction work, with a focus on diverse authors and women’s stories. Ayesha, along with her husband Stephen, is the co-founder of Eat. Learn. Play., an organization dedicated to unleashing the potential of every child and making a positive impact for generations to come.

Sweet July is a Black, female-owned lifestyle brand founded by Ayesha Curry. Launched in 2019 with an eponymous lifestyle magazine, Sweet July aims to uplift an inclusive and eclectic array of creators through the products sold and the stories shared. Additionally, Sweet July creates products for the self and home, from pantry essentials to self-care staples. The company opened their flagship store and café in 2021 in the heart of Oakland, featuring products from Sweet July, in addition to Black-owned and women-owned brands, thoughtfully curated by Ayesha and the Sweet July editorial team. Sweet July has also expanded to include a production company, Sweet July Productions, a publishing imprint, Sweet July Books and an online digital platform in sweetjuly.com for quality journalism with profiles, features, recipes and more content from a diverse array of contributors.

For more news of interest to the housewares industry, subscribe to Kitchenware News & Housewares Review.

Costa Nova Livia Collection Embraces Summer

Time to refocus. A summer about grounding.

Summer is the best time to take a break and reconnect. Appreciate and value life’s simple pleasures. Enjoy the simplicity in every day by awakening senses such as calm and comfort.

We introduce one of Costa Nova‘s new releases: The Livia Collection in the color Mauve Rose.

Nested in elegance and curvy silhouettes, Livia presents itself as a modern approach to tableware. Each piece features an organic look and feel over a contrasting matte- speckled glaze in mauve-rose. Designed to inspire our senses, this complete collection has all the elements to enhance any gathering.

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Italian Gatherings Inspire Casafina’s Fontana Collection

Whether exploring new places outdoors or staying in to relax, the warm and long days ripe for a summer adventure.

Revisiting one of Casafina’s colorful offerings: The Fontana Collection.

With organic shapes and a vibrant color palette, the Fontana collection was inspired by the Italian gatherings at the table. Mix and match to set a joyful and versatile table, suitable for any occasion. It can be used both indoors and outdoors. Fontana is the perfect collection for a happy and colorful summer.

For more kitchenware eye candy, subscribe to Kitchenware News & Housewares Review.

Markets Watch: Atlanta, Vegas, Juniper

Check out this month’s issue of Kitchenware News & Housewares Review for previews of the upcoming Atlanta Market (July 12-18) and Las Vegas Market (July 24-28). Here’s a roundup of exhibitors who are going to multiple shows, including IMC’s Juniper Market.

Bella Tunno
Atlanta: Ivystone Group, Floor 11
Las Vegas: Anne McGilvray and Co, Floor 10
JuniperMarket

Kids love snacks! Bella Tunno knows that and that kids love to have fun with snacks. Bella Tunno’s Happy Snacker is first in its class with its simple, two-piece design and 100 percent silicone composition. The key is the two-piece design, making it easy to clean and fill. The lid has super-soft flaps, which make it easy to grab snacks without spilling. The handles make for an easy grip that fits in most cup holders and stroller snack trays.

For wholesale orders: 888.290.8978, customerservice@bellatunno.com

Carmel Ceramica
Atlanta: Werner Frank, Bldg. 2, 12th floor
Las Vegas: Collective Home, C-507

Cozina stoneware bakers from Carmel Ceramica feature a softly sponged, custom glaze that creates a simple but elegant look. Handles on both sides of the bakers allow for easy maneuvering. Choose from rectangular, round and square. They’re available in white, gray, blue and claret/red. Made in Portugal, they’re dishwasher and microwave safe and oven safe to 480 degrees.

For wholesale orders: 831.717.4336, orders@carmelceramica.com

Casafina Living
Atlanta: Bldg. 2, Ste. 1208B
Las Vegas: C-123
JuniperMarket

Casafina Living presents the Poterie Collection, a modern approach to vintage culinary French pottery. Inspired by the timeless gems of Poterie en Grès, the collection pairs distinctive kitchenware and dinnerware pieces with different shapes, textures and dramatic finishes, welcoming a casual look to any home.

For wholesale orders: Matt Hullfish, VP Sales and General Manager, Costa Nova & Casafina. 914.374.0607, matt@casafinaliving.com

Gift Republic Ltd.
Atlanta: B2-1500
Las Vegas: C-1039

Hey, we made it through the pandemic, so we can have a little fun, right? Magenta has a bunch of products it’s bringing to Las Vegas that will help you party or at least smile.

Magenta’s new Beer Can Glass is modeled on the exact proportions of popular cans of beer and is perfect for getting that “beer can feel” while oozing class. It is recommended to wash before use and hand wash only. Not safe for microwaves or dishwashers.

And for those who drink “record” amounts of beer, there’s the Vinyl Bottle Opener, which puts a favorite record on to get in the swing of things. Friendly warning: Don’t get yourself in a spin with this classic bottle opener.

Put the pro in prosecco with a giant Celebration Flute. Pour any bubbly you want into it, but don’t put it in the microwave or dishwasher, which it probably doesn’t fit anyway. So what if it’s the size of a bottle of champagne; you just had one glass!

If the drink comes in a mug, there’s still some fun to be had. The heat-reveal Constellation Mug lights up the night sky. Just add hot water and watch as a world of stars appears. Now you can enjoy your drink by starlight, even in the middle of the day.

​​Embrace the outdoors in every way with the Butterflies Enamel Mug, a great way to blend in with the wildlife on any adventure. (Not safe for microwaves or dishwashers.)

This is the mug we’re glad someone made, the Vegan(ish) Mug. Know someone who is flexetarian? Ovo-lacto-vegan? Freegan? Whatever they call it, we know they cheated and the Vegan(ish) Mug is a great, humorous gift. The Vegan(ish) mugs describe the term Vegan (ish) as “a person who likes to dip their toe into the world of plant-based eating.” They’re not wrong, right? This simple statement is a perfect gift for anyone on the fence in this ishy world.

Make eating your veggies fun with the Jellyfish Food Spiralizer, an easy-to-use, adorable kitchen friend that allows you to spiralize your favorite foods. Simply twist the top to begin the fun.

The Narwhal Herb Infuser may look like it might be a bathtub toy, but it definitely belongs in the kitchen. Let this narwhal help you serve you the most perfectly flavored food every time. It’s a great way to add a bit of fun to your kitchen utensil collection with the cutest kitchen companion and amuse your dinner guests.
Contact information: 44.0.208.542.4836, info@giftrepublic.com

Home Essentials & Beyond
Atlanta: Suite 838A
Las Vegas: Suite 891
JuniperMarket

The 14-inch Oval Wood & Enamel Tray acts as an accent to any table or shelf. The neutral design and sleek shape make it easy to add to favorite serving pieces. ($29.99)

Contact: 732.5690.3600 Ext. 347, nisabella@homeess.com

Zootility Co.
Atlanta: Bldg. 2, Ste. 1500
Las Vegas C-1039

Meat eaters will love this cooking accessory that keeps track of how cooked those proteins are on and off the grill. Each pack consists of six charms: two rare, two medium rare, one medium and one medium well. (We love how there isn’t a well done!) These laser-cut stainless steel charms are food- and dishwasher-safe. The barbed tips allow the charms to stay in place on your proteins (but don’t eat them!). Made in the woods of Maine.

Before or after the barbecue, you can use the Grrilla, a bristle-free grill scraper. Zootility replaced traditional harmful bristles with a strong body of stainless steel, creating a dishwasher-safe grilling accessory. The compact tool lowers the risk of any breaking or chipping and allows for easy use and storage. The Grrilla scraper is compatible with almost any model of charcoal, propane (gas) and campground grills, unlike the grill, is dishwasher safe.

For wholesale orders: 207.536.0639, info@zootility.com

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