Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Next year will be a special one for cookware specialist Pendeford Housewares as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
The company was formed in 1958 by Bill Humphries and Harold Preece, both coming from the cookware industry and having decided to pool their manufacturing and commercial skills.
The first production took place at Pendeford Airport, hence the company name, where the men had leased units. As the popularity of non-stick coatings grew, the company began manufacturing their own under the Silver Shield and Black Velvet brands.
Later, with the development of own label in the national multiples, it was decided in 1976 to move to larger premises, and the current site in Willenhall was bought. This allowed every aspect of the manufacturing to be carried out – spinning, polishing, non-stick application, spraying and powder coating.
In 1988, following the death of his business partner, Bill Humphries decided to retire and the following year his son Ralph, who had served both his manufacturing and commercial apprenticeship in the cookware industry, took control and continued the development of the company.
Pendeford says it owes its continued existence to its ability to respond to change in the market. It has exhibited at the Spring Fair every year since the inaugural show in 1976 and will be back again in 2008 with a range of special promotions to celebrate its anniversary.
