Pots firm going up in the world

For years families on self-catering holidays across the UK and even in Europe have been cooking with pots and pans made in the Black Country.

The same cookware is today being used by many leaving for holidays across the world as Willenhall’s Pendeford Housewares has just won a contract to supply to the newly-opened Terminal Five at Heathrow.

Together, these holiday-makers add to the thousands of people over the past half century who have used the cookware made first under its own Silver Shield and Black Velvet brands. Later it was sold to a wide range of retail cookware shops, cash & carries and holiday campsites run by the likes of Eurocamp.

The company was formed in 1958 by Bill Humphries and Harold Preece, who had both previously worked in the cookware industry. The first production took place in units they leased on the old Pendeford airport, which inspired the company name.

As the company moved from its own brands to supply national store chains it was decided in 1976 to move to larger premises and the current site in Neachells Lane, was purchased.

Here the company was able to set up the complete range of manufacturing steps it needed, from spinning the initial metal discs and pressing them into pot shapes to polishing, powder coating, spraying and applying non-stick coatings.

Bill Humphries retired in 1989 following the death of his business partner, and the following year his son Ralph, who had served both a manufacturing and commercial apprenticeship in the cookware industry, took over the reins.

The company now imports its stainless steel cookware from the Far East but still manufactures its own aluminium pots and pans. Turnover is now around £3 million and the factory employs two dozen people.

David Barrett, spokesman for the company which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year said : “Many of the big companies like Swann and Tower have gone, but we are still here and still winning work.”