VINERS THROUGH THE AGES

BUILDING THE BRAND

A history that begins in Sheffield

A royal seal of approval

Founded in 1908 by brothers Willie and Emile Viener, Viners has gone from strength to strength in its endeavour to become Britain’s favourite cutlery brand. Its Sheffield heritage has remained synonymous with the brand, ever since factory doors opened 110 years ago. Upon its launch, the company’s speciality was plated hollowware; specially crafted metal jugs, teapots, platters and butter plates that were incredibly popular with the everyday homeowner. Despite what many of us think, Viners hasn’t always made cutlery it was only after the First World War that the company began to make knives and forks, developing an innovative collection of high quality cutlery made from nickel and silver. This combination of durable metals became the basis of Viners Wear Wite brand, which was its best- selling line until the development of stainless steel alternatives.

In the 1930s, Viners was issued a Royal Warrant as Cutlers and Silversmiths to King George V. Following this prestigious seal of approval, the company began to produce silverware on a large scale, allowing it to branch out into London, Scotland, the North West and the Midlands. Word quickly spread about Viners, and homeowners across the nation wanted to get their hands on this sought-after, quality-assured cutlery. Production was put on hold at the start of the Second World War as the company catered for military needs, producing around 36,000 helmets a week for Britain’s soldiers. The extent of the damage to its Sheffield factories after the war meant the company was required to produce utility cutlery for a number of years. Supporting the war effort

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