BrandSource’s new luxury partner Ilve offers elegant, handcrafted ranges at affordable prices.
By Alan Wolf, YSN
Looking to add some Old World elegance to your kitchen appliance assortment? One of BrandSource’s newest vendor additions, Ilve, can do just that with its luxury line of handcrafted ranges and hoods.
Pronounced “il-vay,” the company has been building luxury cooking products by hand since 1952, when it started out by supplying ovens to local restaurants near Venice. Since then, the Italian manufacturer has brought its commercial-grade, country-style ovens to consumers around the world, and has earned a reputation for quality and attention to detail. Those attributes are reflected in the use of 304 surgical grade stainless steel; triple-glazed doors that remain cool to the touch; solid brass burners backed by a 2-year warranty; heavy-duty hinges that can hold a 55-pound load; and high-gloss enamel finishes that can be customized with a choice of 1,625 colors.
The ranges themselves range from 24-inches to 60-inches wide, and are available in three price tiers:
- the entry-level Nostalgie, reflecting the company’s traditional country designs;
- the mid-tier Professional Plus, a sleek, contemporary collection; and
- the top-of-the-line Majestic platform, which melds design elements of both.
In the U.S., the products are shipped nationwide from New Jersey by distributor Superior Marketing. The Brooklyn-based company has inventory on hand for most models, although custom designs and colors generally require a 12-week window. Superior says Ilve’s ranges, hoods and cooktops are currently carried by Wayfair and regional retailers, and the brand’s cooking accessories — which include grill pans, simmer plates, griddle domes and warming shelves — will soon be sold by Williams Sonoma.
Looking ahead, Superior Marketing spokesperson Aleen Hamadani said “We aim to significantly grow our business via dealer network partnerships,” and are looking to tap into the designer, architect, builder and cabinetry channels, which “are all experiencing tremendous growth.”
Hamadani described Ilve’s new partnership with BrandSource as an important opportunity to bring its competitively priced luxury ranges to the buying group’s high-end customer base, at a time when consumers are cooking at home and updating their appliances.
“This pandemic has created unprecedented growth in our category,” she said, “and we are at the forefront.”
BrandSource, a unit of YSN publisher AVB Inc., is a nationwide buying group for independent appliance, mattress, furniture and CE dealers.
