As I'm sure you know, January is allegedly named after the Roman god, Janus, who looked back to the past and forward to the future in his role as god of beginnings and transitions......... and so here are my musings as we move from one year to the next.
Looking back on 2014 we were, as ever, delighted to welcome new stockists to the growing list, whilst we also bade a sad farewell to others. The retail trade is under siege at present, and it behoves us all to support the independent retailers who afford us choice, service and product knowledge in contrast to the faceless corporations swallowing up the "retail parks". Head into any of our stockists and you will get a warm welcome from people with a genuine love of what they are doing and knowledge of what they are selling. They will guide and advise you to make sure that what you leave with is something that you will use and possibly even treasure.
And of course, its' not just the cook shops to whom we are indebted - our eclectic list of independent retailers includes pubs, gifts shops, museum shops, farm shops, delicatessens, restaurants, service stations and even a couple of book shops. Hurrah for initiative, imagination and collaboration.
I would urge you all to support your local shops - they are often cheaper than you imagine them to be and you know the adage - use it or lose it - once they are gone, it is hard to get them back.
We are also very excited to add a very special name to the stockist list - that of Flesichwolf und Lotte - a fabulous cook shop in Berlin - the campaign to spread the word about Shropshire cookware globally is picking up pace. We hope to be able to bring you more news about export sales during 2015. Update: this lovely Berlin store has now closed, but Netherton cookware is available across Germany in the Manufactum stores
Right from the start, we have had some amazing backing from some great chefs, including Will Holland, Stevie Parle, Marcus Bean and Phil Leverington and this has continued throughout 2014.
Adam Gray, of the Michelin starred Skylon restaurant, used our pans for his demonstration at Taste of London Update: Adam is now at the Devonshire Club in London
Food writer Diana Henry described our range as her "find of the year", with the warning of "Look out" aimed at the giant that is le Creuset.
And to top it all off - what about Nigella Lawson owning one of our slow cookers and describing it as "a thing of beauty" - we can't wait to hear what she is going to cook in it.
Here it is in her kitchen.......
Food festivals
2014 saw us return for the second Shrewsbury Food Festival - and what a success story that is - all credit to the organisers for creating a "must go" event right from the off. Record attendances, great demonstrations from everyone on the Wenlock Spring stage - using Netherton Foundry pans of course - a mouth watering selection of food and drink suppliers, first class entertainment and the opportunity to meet up with old friends and make new ones. Where else will you meet a town crier who is over 7' tall.......
It was our first year at Ludlow Food Festival, which was phenomenally hard work and tremendous fun, we were invited to the Lichfield Food festival by our friends at the Kitchen Shop, where our Lichfield Oink went down a storm.
and a first all round for the Severn Valley railway - a brilliant combination of steam trains, food and drink.
Looking forward to 2015 - there is lots of exciting news in the pipeline, but we are sworn to secrecy, so you will have to be patient.
What I can tell you is that we are already working on new additions to the range (check out the recent Facebook postings), are in negotiations for some major export opportunities, will be back at Shrewsbury and Ludlow Food Festivals, are always on the lookout for new stockists..............and look forward to talking to as many of you as we can either through the power of social media, on the phone or even in person.
© Netherton Foundry Shropshire 2015
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