By Andrea Lillo
NEW YORK–Meyer Corp.’s BonJour brand, which has been known for its coffee and tea products since 1995, launched into the cookware category at the International Home & Housewares Show with a French-styled, high-end line for specialty stores.
The new collection has special meaning to Bob Rae, as the president of Meyer Corp. designed “this collection for myself … I’ve always liked the French theme.” He added that he’s designed many cookware collections in the past and has registered 30 patents for cookware, but “this one is my favorite.”
The collection includes a group with a copper core and stainless exterior, and another with an aluminum core and stainless exterior. All of the cookware pieces are thicker than the competition’s for increased durability, he added. A 10-piece set for the aluminum core will be $540, while one for the copper core line will retail for $1,100. “It’s priced very well from a consumer’s point of view,” he added. “It’s a great value.”
The collection’s details include rounded lids and hollow cast handles with a split-V construction so they don’t get hot, Rae said. The handles are handmade and one person can only make 12 a day, he added. The cookware rims have also been lasered closed so no aluminum is exposed, and are flared for dripless pouring. The line is manufactured in Thailand.
“Consumers think of French, Italian and Asian as the three gourmet cuisines,” Rae added. At Meyer, “We have modern contemporary looks, but not traditional French. We wanted to create something new and refreshing at the high end.”