Bringing value, quality, color to the table; manufacturers dish out higher-end products and promote open-stock presentations - flatware and dinnerware

Discount Store News, Jan 15, 1996 by Joseph Dobrian

* Excel Marketing (RetroNu): It will offer eight new Farberware flatware patterns in multipiece sets, including 45-piece sets for eight and several banquet-size sets for 12. Five patterns feature gold accents over stainless steel in the full continental size. The Naturals collection includes Woods Rivet, an acrylic wood grain set featuring metal rivets. There are 26 new items slated for the Classic Stemware name, including a pitcher, beer mugs, wine glasses and carafe, chip and dip sets, salad bowls, stack-full able sugar/creamers and a line of extra-long stemware.

* Oneida: The company will debut a new cutlery line and a new stainless pattern for the discount market. Called Linea, the cutlery is available in 20- and 40-piece sets, at the better" price point in the good/better/best spectrum.

* Pfaltzgraff: It will add two new patterns, Country Market and Garden Breeze, to its Perennials by Pfaltzgraff line of 13% chrome flatware, including a full range of accessories and replacement pieces, with a suggested retail price of $39.99 to $49.99 for the 20-piece set. Two classic dinnerware patterns, Yorktowne and Folk Art, have been repackaged under the Pfaltzgraff Classics name. Several open-stock pieces have been added to the popular Tea Rose pattern.

* Roma Inc.: The company is expanding its palette of lighter colors and adding new rich blue and yellow patterns in its line of hand-painted serving bowls, individual ice cream/soup bowls and chip/dip bowls, in sets and open stock.

* Towle: The manufacturer has introduced a new pattern called Facets, a forged triangular-look pattern. Magnum (a Scandinavian-look) and Southwest are other popular patterns. In the bridal stainless line, the newest entries are London Shell, in 18/8 stainless; and Castle Hill, available at $160 retail with gold accents, or $99 retail without. Both come in service for eight.

* Universal Trading/Klipper Industries: The manufacturer will revive its promotional flatware program after a one-year absence from that arena.

* Utica Cutlery Co.: It will introduce the Hallmark series, which includes three new flatware patterns in 18/10 European-style stainless steel in a marble-finish gift box, priced about 30% higher than the company's well-known promotional lines. Promotions include a 64-piece service for 12 in a choice of two patterns, including a wooden storage/display chest. All of the products are available in open stock or gift-boxed sets.

* Wallace International: The company is entering the discount market with two well-known brands: International Silver and 1847 Rogers Brothers. Sets range in size from 20 to 114 pieces--some packed in chests and all with dynamic packaging. Private label programs are also available.

* Zak Designs: The company will be continuing its line of children's dinnerware featuring licensed characters from Disney, Mattel and Warner Bros. Its newest products are based on the blockbuster movies "Pocahontas" and "Batman Forever."