The winners of the Housewares Innovation Awards were revealed at a glittering ceremony on Monday night (February 8), hosted by celebrity Jay Rayner.
The event was organised by Datateam Business Media Group, the publisher of Housewares Magazine and its digital partner Housewareslive.net.
Some 400 guests attended the ceremony, held at the Vox Conference Centre within Resorts World Birmingham at the NEC.The evening kicked off with a champagne reception followed by a three-course dinner. Journalist, writer and broadcaster Jay Rayner then took to the stage to present the awards.
Commenting on the proceedings, event director Hannah Dedman said: “These awards are designed to shine a spotlight on the UK’s most outstanding retailers and suppliers for ensuring that the end user, the consumer, gets the service, quality, style and functionality they expect. The team has worked incredibly hard on the event and Jay was perfect as host. Thanks must also go to our sponsors as without them, none of this would have been possible.”
Commemorating ‘30 years of cookware innovation’ for its cookware brand Circulon at the Spring Fair, Meyer continued its celebrations into the evening as headline sponsor, along with Spring Fair, of the awards. The event also enjoyed the very generous support of 22 other sponsors: Aspin, BHETA, bira direct, Creative Media Solutions, Creative Tops, EFG Housewares, Grunwerg, Horwood, ICTC, International Housewares Association, JWP, Kitchen Craft, La Cafetiere, Lakeland, Magimix, Polder Housewares, PR Direct, Rainy Day Trust, T& G Woodware, Spring Fair, Villeroy & Boch and What More UK.
During the evening, a collection was made among guests which raised funds for industry charity Rainy Day Trust, which provides financial assistance to individuals from the home improvement and enhancement sectors.
At the end of the night, the winners were invited to return to the stage for a group photo with Jay (pictured), before dancing the night away to music from a live band.
Here is the full list of 2016 winners:
Britain’s Best Cookshop Award – sponsored by Horwood
WINNER: Potters Cookshop, Hockley, Essex
HIGHLY COMMENDED: The Mill Shop, Isle of Man
Britain’s Best Rising Star – sponsored by Magimix
WINNER: Retro Cookshop, Deal, Kent
HIGHLY COMMENDED: The Colourful Cook Shop, Hunstanton, Norfolk
Britain’s Best Multiple Garden Centre Award – sponsored by Kitchen Craft
WINNER: Haskins Garden Centres
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Blue Diamond Group
Britain’s Best Independent Garden Centre Award – sponsored by Kitchen Craft
WINNER: Barton Grange Garden Centre, Preston, Lancashire
Britain’s Best Housewares Retail Website Award – sponsored by JWP
WINNER: www.HartsofStur.com
HIGHLY COMMENDED: www.Lakeland.co.uk
Britain’s Best Multiple Housewares Retailer Award – sponsored by Creative Tops
WINNER: Charlies Stores
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Lakeland
Britain’s Best Independent Department Store Award – sponsored by Grunwerg
WINNER: Bakers & Larners, Holt, Norfolk
HIGHLY COMMENDED: H & J Cutlack, Ely, Cambridgeshire
Small Electricals Innovation Award – sponsored by IHA
WINNER: Gourmet Gadgetry Retro Diner pizza oven & multi-grill
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Redmond RMC-M4502E Multicooker
Bakeware Innovation Award sponsored by Lakeland
WINNER: Horwood Stellar Hard Anodised oven & bakeware
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Kitchen Craft Crusty Bake 6-hole shallow baking pan
Food Preparation Innovation Award – sponsored by bira direct
WINNER: Joseph Joseph Lock Block child-safe knife block
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Kitchen Craft Spiralizers
Cookware Innovation Award – sponsored by Lakeland
WINNER: Horwood Stellar Tate cookware
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Dexam Chef’n Pop Top microwave popcorn popper
Kitchenware Innovation Award – sponsored by Spring Fair
WINNER: Auteur Scoop That! range
HIGHLY COMMENDED: CleverstiX child development cutlery
Tabletop Innovation Award – sponsored by What More UK
WINNER: Fairmont & Main Vie Naturelle stoneware collection
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Kitchen Craft Master Class Artesa range
Packaging Innovation Award – sponsored by PR Direct
WINNER: Arthur Price Warwick cutlery range
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Nosh Universal knife guards
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Kitchen Craft Master Class Artesa range
Britain’s Best Housewares Salesperson Award – sponsored by BHETA
WINNER: Paul Marchant
Britain’s Best Wholesaler Award – sponsored by Polder Housewares
WINNER: Stax Trade Centres
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Home Hardware South West
Service Award – sponsored by EFG Housewares
WINNER: Kitchen Craft
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Dexam
Kitchen Hero Award – sponsored by Housewares Magazine
WINNER: David & Charles Grunwerg
Winning smiles: The Housewares Innovation Awards 2016 winners with host Jay Rayner