At the inaugural GulfHost, A. Ronai introduced a range of new products to its portfolio, in answer to F&B trends and demands from customers - alongside the successful merger with Direct Hotel Supplies.
In conversation with Caterer Middle East, A. Ronai managing director Gavin Dodd said: "The merger has been great from the aspect that it brings new blood to the equation." This includes Manesh Balani, who previously headed up DHS, and Stuart Wilkinson, who joined the company to become COO, moving on from his role as VP of sales at Steelite International.
Dodd said that A. Ronai has added a number of buffetware products to its portfolio which is a calculated move to address demands from customers. He said: "We are trying to grow our buffet range, because we get asked for it all the time. It was a gap in our portfolio." Creative Retail Display, a company from the UK, is one such firm whose buffetware products are now being distributed by A. Ronai.
Other trends that Dodd is seeing in the F&B market include a move in the 'rustic chic' trends. He commented: "Rustic chic is still going but it's moving on slightly, it’s moving to different colours now - from the coppers that clients were choosing before, they’re moving into the brushed stainless steel to get that grey matte effect." He also said stoneware is becoming more popular at the moment, which has led to introducing Steelite's Anfora collection.
Porcelain is still going strong, he revealed, with a new product on A. Ronai's books being Steelite's Wabi Sabi collection. With a semi-matte finish, the collection comes in a range of shades including slate, indigo, lichen and galet.
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