Bars and restaurants continue to incorporate unique and specific glassware in response to the burgeoning demand for high-end cocktails and spirits.

The National Restaurant Association Show named 16 products from 15 companies as the recipients of its 2021 Kitchen Innovations Awards. Determined by a panel of independent judges, these awards honor foodservice equipment that increases efficiencies and productivity in commercial kitchens.

Anne Ladd, director of tabletop and merchandising at TriMark SS Kemp, Cleveland shares her expertise.

While operators may have a good sense of glassware styles their businesses need, they should weigh several other factors when specifying these items.

Glassware can help tailor a tabletop presentation to be a unique, personal experience for customers. Unlike dinnerware, where food takes precedence, in this category, it’s as much about the glass as it is about the beverage it holds.

Microbreweries or craft breweries continue to give big beer brands a run for their money. In fact, many craft breweries, such as Minnesota-based Surly, have their own restaurants and other culinary outlets.