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NewsTabletop Trends: Ten things we learnt about Ambiente

Tabletop Trends: Ten things we learnt about Ambiente

Ten things we learnt about Ambiente

Ambiente took place on 7-11 February in Frankfurt, Germany. It’s the world’s largest consumer goods trade fair outside of Asia, so what was happening?  Some of FEA’s LET members who exhibited at the show give their thoughts….

  1. Ambiente is massive! Simply huge, even just the section on HoReCa takes a good day to get around.  And that’s if you’re quick!
  2. Trend: innovation – alongside new products, many companies were rejuvenating existing lines, for example with new colours. As you’d expect, most visitors were looking for products that helped make a point of difference. 
  3. Gorgeous stands: the tabletop suppliers especially went to town on some truly striking designs for their displays.
  4. Trend: cookware with ceramic non-stick coatings. This type of coating offers a sustainable cookware that is completely PFAS-free.  The smooth ceramic interior offers an exceptional glide during the cooking process, as well as long-lasting resilience – and it’s easy to clean, too. 
  5. Flying the flag: it was good to see UK companies exhibiting. FEA members there included Amefa, Contacto, Dalebrook, De Buyer (Signature), Dualit, Elia, Frilich, Grunwerg, Lifetime Brands, Pinti Inox (Signature), Tablecraft and Zodiac. 
  6. Trend: making food the focus seems to be a growing trend, both in terms of plate design and buffet displays. Neutrals and naturals abounded.  On the other hand, there’s also a continued emerging of colour and pattern – the choices are abundant!  Presenting food in bowls rather than plates continues to be a trend, too. 
  7. Quality visitors: there was a feeling that maybe the total number of visitors was down, at least for the HoReCa areas of the show, but the quality was very high.
  8. Trend: cutlery making a statement continues to be on point. PVD-coated options now include a growing choice of colours, such as gold, bronze, copper, titanium and champagne.  There’s also continued demand for a variety of finishes, including mirror polished, stonewashed and sandblasted.
  9. A brilliantly buzzy show: a great experience for both for exhibitors and visitors, so long as you wear comfy shoes… There was a real buzz to Ambiente 2025 – post covid and, hopefully, looking forward to a ‘post cost of living crisis’, the industry seems to be excited again. 
  10. Trend: It’s on everyone’s mind and it’s evident in areas such as the choice of sustainable materials for products. 

Thanks to Contacto/Frilich, Elia, Lifetime Brands, Signature and Zodiac for their input. 

 

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The next Light Equipment and Tableware Forum will be taking place on 20 & 21 May 2025 at the Oxford Belfry.

If you are a distributor or dealer of light equipment and tableware and want to experience the latest trends and innovations to hit the market then please register your interest to attend and we will make sure that you are notified as soon as tickets are live.

“There’s no way that our sales teams could visit this many suppliers over the course of one a half days. The LET Forum is brilliant for bringing everyone together, saving us time on the road, and ensuring that we are ahead of the curve for market innovations”, LET Distributor Delegate.

Our 2024 Light Equipment and Tableware forum treated delegates to product showcases from Amefa, Contacto, Dalebrook, Dualit, Elia, Foodservice Equipment Marketing (FEM), Frilich, Grunwerg, Lifetime Brands, Metcalfe, Mitchell and Cooper, Pro Foodservice Reps, Signature FSE, Tablecraft, Thunder Group, and Zodiac.

 

The LET Forum is free for Distributors to attend

You can sign-up to attend here - Ts&Cs apply

 

 

 

This article is part of Tabletop Trends - FEA's quarterly light equipment and tableware sector newsletter.

Tabletop Trends is produced and distributed by the Foodservice Equipment Association, the UK's largest independent foodservice equipment trade association. All suppliers listed in this article are FEA members. A full list of Light Equipment and Table suppliers can be found on our Meet Our Members section - simply select Light Equipment / Food Prep from the Product Type drop down menu

 

 

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