Hundreds Rush to Hampshire for Discounted Cookware
A hundred years ago, two Belgian inventors figured out how to enamel cast iron, and that’s how Le Creuset cookware started. Today, Le Creuset is still a popular brand that people love to have in their kitchens. Even though it can be expensive, fans are always looking for good deals. The cookware is still made in the same factory that was built in 1925 in Fresnoy-le-Grand, France.
Massive Demand for Andover Warehouse Sale
This weekend, Le Creuset announced a big warehouse sale in Andover, Hampshire, and the demand was even higher than expected. People waited in line for up to four hours at the industrial estate, trying to get discounted casserole dishes, saucepans, kettles, and more, with prices up to 50% off.
The sale was so popular that it caused traffic problems, and Hampshire police had to help out. Videos on social media showed hundreds of cars parked along nearby roads.
“We went to London Road and the A3093 in Andover on Saturday morning after getting reports of heavy traffic,” said a spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary. “Reports started coming in at 9:45 a.m., and we helped with traffic control until things calmed down around 11:15 a.m.”
One shopper posted on a local Facebook group that she got there shortly after 9 a.m. but had to wait in line until 2 p.m. Others posted TikTok videos showing the long wait.
First-Come, First-Served Event
The sale was billed as the “largest in-person event” by the company, and it was unticketed, meaning it was first-come, first-served. This was the second sale at this location this year, following a similar event in March. Le Creuset’s famous casserole dishes, which usually cost between £200 and £400, were being sold at big discounts. By the time the people at the end of the line got in, “most things were gone,” one shopper wrote on Facebook.
The Legacy of Le Creuset
Le Creuset has been popular since it was founded by Armand Desaegher and Octave Aubecq, who made the first cocotte in the well-known orange color called “Volcanic.” The color was inspired by the bright orange of molten iron in the foundry. In the 1960s, the company also introduced a yellow range called “Elysee.”
One of the most expensive Le Creuset sets ever belonged to Marilyn Monroe. Her yellow Elysee set was sold at an auction for $25,300 (£19,600) in 1999. Today, Le Creuset makes cookware in many different colors, and entire collections can be found in stores like Costco. Recently, a pallet of 157 pieces, including tableware and bakeware, was sold at Costco in the US for $4,500 (around £3,500).