Oneida Limited () is an American manufacturer and seller of tableware and cutlery. Oneida is one of the world's largest designers and sellers of stainless steel and silverplated cutlery and tableware for the consumer and foodservice industries; it is also the largest supplier of dinnerware to the foodservice industry in North America.
The company operates in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe and Asia, marketing and distributing tabletop products including flatware, dinnerware, crystal stemware, glassware, and kitchen tools and gadgets.
History
Origins
The company arose from the Oneida Community, established in Oneida, New York in 1848. The Oneida Association (later Oneida Community) was founded by a small group of Christian Perfectionists led by John Humphrey Noyes, Jonathan Burt, George W. Cragin, Harriet A. Noyes, George W. Noyes, John L. Skinner and a few others. In 1880, after more than 30 years operating as a commune, the Oneida Community voted to transfer much of the common property to a joint-stock company to be known as Oneida Community Ltd. effective January 1, 1881.
Oneida Community Ltd. was one of the earliest joint-stock companies in the U.S. Its founders' religious philosophy helped inform the early development of the company, in which members of the former Oneida Community became shareholders. Its progressive nature also allowed for a woman, Harriet Joselyn, to sit on the board of directors—a departure from the norm of the time.
Oneida Community started production of silver-plated flatware and hollowware in 1899 using the "Community Plate" mark. The Oneida Community purchased the Wm A. Rogers company in 1881. In 1929, the merged company began producing a somewhat lower-quality line of products using those companies' marks. In 1935, Oneida Community changed its name to Oneida Ltd.
Post-war growth
Oneida Limited successfully adapted to the difficult economic conditions of the First World War and Second World War. Throughout both of these world economic upheavals, Oneida adapted its manufacturing capabilities. During World War I, Oneida produced ammunition clips, lead-plated gas shells, combat knives and surgical instruments; during World War II, the company added Army trucks, aircraft survival kits and jet engine parts to its manufacturing repertoire. In 1976, Oneida purchased the Camden Wire Co., Inc., a major manufacturer of industrial wire products.
By the 1980s, Oneida made at least half of all flatware purchased in the U.S.. In 1984, Oneida acquired D.J. Tableware, a flatware and china manufacturer that targeted the foodservice industry.
Modern era
At the end of the 1990s, the company encountered tough economic times but tried to hold on to its mantle as the last remaining U.S.-based manufacturer of flatware, knives, forks and spoons. The events surrounding 9/11 negatively affected the hospitality and consumer tableware markets. In November 2003, Oneida sold its 100-year-old Buffalo China plant and four overseas factories in Mexico, China and Italy. In February 2004, it sold off more assets to BC Acquisition Co. LLC for $5.5 million. Eventually, the manufacturing facilities in Sherrill, New York were sold to Sherrill Manufacturing on March 22, 2005.
In 1996, Oneida Limited acquired THC Systems, Inc. and its team of professionals, which operated under the name Rego China.
Oneida Limited transitioned from its manufacturing history and focused on design and marketing of globally sourced products. Sales, marketing, advertising, procurement, customer service, legal and operational support are still based in Oneida, New York. In 2006, the company was taken private. Oneida no longer operates manufacturing in the United States. In 2006, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. After stabilizing financially and reducing its debt load, the company was purchased by a group of hedge funds led by Monarch Alternative Capital. In September 2010, Oneida launched a new website, Oneida.com.
Oneida Limited was acquired by Monomoy Capital Partners, a mid-sized New York City equity fund, in November 2011. In 2012, Monomoy merged Oneida with Anchor Hocking and created EveryWare Global. In January 2014, EveryWare Global announced its plans to close its regional office and the Oneida outlet store, both in Sherrill, NY, with the process starting in April.
The original Oneida outlet store in Sherrill, New York, was closed April 26, 2014. EveryWare Global filed for bankruptcy in 2015.
In January 2019, The Oneida Group sold the majority of its foodservice business (excluding Anchor Hocking glassware) to Crown Brands, LLC. Subsequently, in January 2020, Crown Brands renamed itself to Oneida Hospitality Group.
Oneida Consumer LLC, including the Oneida brand, was acquired by competitor Lenox Corporation in June 2021. On July 13, 2021, The Oneida Group was renamed Anchor Hocking Holdings, Inc.
Operations
Manufacturing
Oneida has had a variety of manufacturing facilities and capabilities throughout its existence. In addition to tableware, the company began by manufacturing silk, traps and chains. It phased out these enterprises as they became less profitable. In 1916, Oneida opened its first international factory in Niagara Falls, Ontario. It closed those factories in 2004. The factory in upstate New York was sold to Liberty Tabletop, sole manufacturer of U.S.-made flatware.
Since its acquisition by Monomoy Capital Partners, Oneida has manufactured its products across North America, South America, Asia and Europe by means of 50 manufacturing contracts.
Advertising
Starting in 1899, Coles Phillips illustrated dozens of ads for the company, which was then known as Oneida Community. Noteworthy artists Maxfield Parrish and Jon Whitcomb also illustrated advertisements for Oneida's products.
Oneida also focused on print advertisements in home, fashion, bridal and epicurean publications, and was one of the first to employ celebrity spokespeople such as Bob Hope. More recently, Oneida's advertising campaigns have won several Clio Awards.
Brands
Oneida Limited serves various customer segments by selling different brands of banquetware, flatware, glassware and tableware. Its foodservice industry brands are Schonwald, Sant'Andrea, Oneida and Buffalo. Its consumer products include the Oneida, Westminster and Stanley Rogers brands. The line is known for its trendsetting designs, advanced technology and high quality. Schonwald is the company's 5-star luxury brand of foodservice dinnerware.
Sant'Andrea
Oneida Limited established the European-based Sant'Andrea brand in 1990. The line focuses on premium stainless steel or traditional silverplate flatware. Oneida, through its Italian subsidiary, Sant'Andrea, S.r.l., acquired Table Top Engineering & Design, S.r.l. in 1998. TTE&D had been the primary manufacturer of its Sant'Andrea line of fine foodservice dinnerware.
Oneida
200px|thumb|Silver-plated tea service manufactured by Oneida
Oneida Limited's main line has been available since the company's very beginning. The Oneida line is broken up into three sub-lines: Oneida Flatware, Oneida Holloware and Oneida Dinnerware. The Oneida line of flatware and dinnerware is used by fine dining establishments, family restaurants and hotels.
Buffalo
In 1983, Oneida Limited purchased Buffalo China, Inc., at the time one of the country's largest makers of commercial chinaware.