Spacious showroom

Press, 22 October 1986, Page 33

Spacious showroom

Gibsons and Paterson (N.Z.), Ltd, leaders in the supply of equipment to the hospitality industry, has moved to professional new premises at 305 Cashel Street, with spacious showroom facilities for an extensive display of catering' equipment. The new building was officially opened on Monday by the Minister of Tourism, Mr Mike Moore, and a trade display is being held there at present for customers from the Canterbury area. The brand-new building was designed to allow Gibpat to properly display the whole range of items now available in modern surroundings and to improve the service the company could offer to its many customers throughout the South Island, said the South Island manager, Mr David Mansbridge. “We are probably better known as the ‘tabletop’ suppliers of crockery and glassware to the hospitality industry, such as restaurants and hotels,” Mr Mansbridge said, “but our range of supply extends to the kitchen and bedroom.

“As typefied by our modern, new premises, we are always trying to show the latest trends and products as we see them, and demonstrate the many ways in which varied and quality presentations can be achieved by our customers.

“Crown Lynn, manufactured in Auckland, was one of our first ranges, and is still the cornerstone of our crockery business.

“With the influx of overseas crockery under relaxed importing rules, Crown Lynn has had to compete with crockery from around the world. Thanks to a high bodystrength, Crown Lynn is still respected by many users.

"Also complementing the Crown range is Bristile high-strength vitrified commercial china, manufactured .in Perth, Australia.

“The demands of some restaurateurs have tended away from the directly functional to more aesthetic appearance; and the cost has tended to take second place to appearance — sometimes to the woe of the purchaser. “Gibpat still emphasises the need for suitable products, and combines as far as possible the eye appeal with the suitability of all items for the rigours of the harder use subjected to them in the

commercial area. “We now bring in finer products from around the world, including Langenthal porcelain, from Switzerland; Grafton bone china, Dudson vitrified china, and Duraline vitrified china, all from the United Kingdom; and Sango china, from Japan, but all suitable for our market. “One of our major European imports is the Langenthal porcelain, stronger than domestic crockery, but still very aesthetic. We have introduced the third stock pattern of their suites, and others can also be imported,” Mr Mansbridge said.