Blog
Kadai History – Their Story!
Jul
In 1990 Christo spent a year travelling round India on his Enfield motorbike and discovered the culture, people and treasures of this remarkable country. Finding new places and meeting new people. A culture new to him, exploring ways of cooking he had never seen before.
In 1995 Christo started selling treasures he’d brought back from frequent visits to India. this all started in a small antiques market in Church Stretton. After becoming busier and busier in 2002 he started to develop a range of sandstone, all hand carved by highly skilled craftsman in Rajasthan using classic English designs from the 18th Century. After a year of sourcing Christo formed wonderful partnerships between the company and the main Indian Suppliers. All of their products are made mainly by hand in small family run workshops across Rajasthan. Kadai UK visit on a regular basis and know all workers personally.
In 2004 Kadai ventured into their first RHS Chelsea Flower Show with a stand designed by Julian Faulkner. They received the first of many Merit Awards for Outstanding Presentation on the stand. This was Kadai UK’s first public showing not as a cooking bowl but as a water feature.
Having seen traditional Kadais being used as cooking bowls in India with the fire based underneath, they started experimenting with one at home and came up with the idea of putting the fire inside the bowl instead. In 2006 Kadai reentered the RHS Chelsea Flower Show to launch the original Kadai Bowls, later that summer they introduced the grills to create an amazing BBQ.
2008 was upon them and RHS Hampton Court Flower Show in July and they launch the recycled Fire bowl. Hand made in India from old oil drums. In 2009 they developed the Kadai range coming out with new accessories and stands. In 2011 Kadai took their bowls again to the Chelsea Flower introducing their new range of Accessories. this is where the charcoal maker was launched into the Product of the year Award… and it won! in true Kadai Style.
In 2017 Kadai had an exciting year launching the new Fire bowl called the Wilstone. This is created with one sheet of thick steel. this provides a contemporary looking fire bowl built to last! The following year 2018 the Kadai Tula was created for customers to enjoy the bowl purely as a firepit.
In 2019 Kadai had grown from 4 people to 10 employees with over 200 stockist in the UK and Europe. after a few design tweaks Kadai introduced their new 5 year warranty. The Kadai brand has again grown over the last few years realising new and exciting accessories to go alongside their range of Firebowls. As a company we share very a similar ethos looking after the people we work for and with. Supplier to Customer its all about providing the best care possible with the best products on the Market. Due to this we feel its the perfect edition to the ever-growing Auldton Stoves outdoor living range.