What Hollowick does

Hollowick is a Manlius, New York-based manufacturer founded in 1971 that produces restaurant lighting and food warming products for the commercial foodservice and hospitality industry. Its core technology centers on proprietary liquid candles — non-flammable liquid wax in replaceable fuel cells — alongside conventional wax candles, decorative table lamps, flameless LED lighting, and chafing-fuel heating products used at buffets and catered events. The product portfolio is organized across sub-brands including Gala, Nexis, Platinum+, and V12, covering different price points and aesthetics for hotels, restaurants, banquet venues, and catering operators. Glass vessels, bases, and lamps are designed to mix and match, allowing operators to standardize a tabletop presentation system that can be refreshed incrementally.

Hollowick operates a dual go-to-market combining independent sales representatives serving local markets with international distribution partners serving global hospitality accounts, supplemented by direct e-commerce for smaller and direct buyers. Pricing is not publicly disclosed but is consistent with a B2B wholesale model where operators configure kits of fuel cells, glasses, and lamps. The 51–100 employee headcount and the niche specialty-goods profile are consistent with a mid-sized industrial manufacturer rather than a high-volume commodity producer.

Since approximately 2021, Hollowick has operated as a subsidiary of Steelite International, a major hospitality tableware company. The Steelite ownership provides access to a global hospitality distribution network and the ability to bundle Hollowick's lighting and warming products alongside Steelite's ceramics and tableware in turnkey tabletop solutions for hotels and restaurants. Active product development has continued post-acquisition, with new votive styles, lamp height and base options, and plastic cylinder globes introduced into the catalog.

Name

Hollowick

Legal name

Hollowick Inc.

Website

https://hollowick.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Hollowick is a Manlius, New York-based manufacturer founded in 1971 that produces restaurant lighting and food warming products — liquid candles, table lamps, flameless LED lighting, and chafing fuel — for hotels, restaurants, banquet venues, and caterers, operating as a subsidiary of Steelite International.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Foodservice Lighting and Table Ambiance

NAICS

Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (33513), Residential Electric Lighting Fixture Manufacturing (335131)

SIC

Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Air Care & Home Fragrance (Air Fresheners, Candles, Plug-ins, Diffusers) (CRADAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lighting Parts, Shades & Accessories Retail (Harps, Finials, Glass, Mounting) (CRAIAHAI), Candles, Home Fragrance & Diffusers Retail (CRAIACAC), Scented Candles & Wax Melts (Home Fragrance) (CRAJAEAD)

Keywords

• Restaurant lighting products
• Table lamp manufacturing
• Liquid candle fuel
• Chafing fuel products
• Hospitality tabletop supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

Manlius

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Lighting Products: Sale of table lamps, votives, candlesticks, globes, cylinders, and related lighting fixtures for the foodservice and hospitality industry.
2. Liquid Candles and Fuel: Disposable and refillable liquid candle fuel cells along with liquid candle wax refills.
3. Food Warming Products: Liquid chafing fuel, gel chafing fuel, and butane fuel for food warming applications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Hollowick manufactures and sells commercial table lighting products (table lamps, liquid candles, wax candles, flameless rechargeable LED systems, globes, shades, and accessories) and food warming products (liquid, gel, and butane chafing fuels) for the foodservice and hospitality industry. The product portfolio centers on its proprietary non-flammable liquid candle fuel cell technology paired with mix-and-match lamp bases and shades, sold through a B2B network of sales reps, distributors, and direct e-commerce.

Product overview

Hollowick is a manufacturer of fine quality restaurant lighting and food warming products for the hospitality and foodservice industry, serving the market since 1971. The company operates as part of Steelite International and offers three main product categories: Liquid Candles (disposable no-mess fuel cells in various burn times from 8-50 hours), Lamps (table lamps, bases, globes, shades, and accessories in diverse styles), and Heating Products (liquid chafing fuel, gel chafing fuel, and butane fuel). The product portfolio includes branded lines such as Gala Fuel Cell Covers, Nexis/Platinum+/V12 Flameless Lighting Systems, H71 Cast Iron Bases, and Mod/Classic/Chantilly lamp collections. Hollowick products feature mix-and-match compatibility, with bases designed to work with specific globes and fuel cells, enabling customized ambient lighting solutions for fine dining establishments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gala™: Fuel cell covers for liquid wax candles
• Nexis®
• Platinum+
• V12™

Products and services

• Liquid Candles (HD Series Disposable Fuel Cells) No-mess disposable liquid wax fuel cells for Hollowick lamps, available in burn times from 8 to 50 hours with standard and HIGH LIGHT (3x brightness) variants. Features non-flammable liquid wax that eliminates thermal shock breakage of glassware and costs pennies per hour to burn; designed for foodservice operators seeking safe, low-maintenance ambient lighting.
• Table Lamps (Tealight, Midsize, Full-Size) Table lamps in tealight, midsize, and full-size configurations with mix-and-match compatible bases, globes, and shades. Designs range from traditional (Classic, Mod, Chantilly perforated metal) to contemporary (Horizon Scandinavian, Aurora, Onyx, Crackle) with finishes including brushed stainless, dark bronze, polished chrome, satin brass, copper, concrete, and cast iron; intended for restaurant and hospitality venues.
• Wax Candles Traditional wax candles including tealights, votives, pillars, floating candles, taper candles, and specialty candle formats (cartridge, birthday, knobby). Supplied to foodservice operators for classic ambient table lighting applications.
• Flameless LED Rechargeable Lighting Systems Rechargeable battery-powered LED lighting systems providing flameless alternatives to traditional open-flame candles for hospitality settings where fire codes restrict real flames. Includes the Nexis, Platinum+, and V12 rechargeable systems plus standalone battery-powered LED lighting and rechargeable system accessories.
• Heating / Chafing Fuel Products Food warming fuels for buffet, banquet, and catering use including liquid chafing fuel, gel chafing fuel for consistent heat, and butane fuel with accessories. Supplied for chafing dish and food warming equipment in commercial foodservice operations.
• Globes, Shades, and Lamp Components Glass globes, cylinders, and lamp shades (including Empire, Drum, and Tapered Square fire-retardant candlestick shades) plus frames and burner assemblies. Components are designed for compatibility with Hollowick lamp bases to enable customized combinations.
• Gala Fuel Cell Covers Steel covers designed to fit Hollowick HD36 and HD50 (full-size) and HD17/HD26 (midsize) disposable liquid wax fuel cells. Available in Polished Chrome and White finishes; cover the fuel cell while fitting Hollowick lamp styles to provide finished tabletop presentation.
• Liquid Candle Wax (Bulk Refill) Bulk liquid candle wax available in gallon jugs and quart bottles for refilling Hollowick refillable fuel cells, providing approximately 7 hours burn time per ounce for ongoing operations.
• Burner Assemblies Replacement 3-inch and 6.5-inch burner assemblies with wicking for refillable Hollowick fuel cells, including cap, stem, hex nut, and wick components for lamp maintenance.
• Liquid Wax Pumps Pumps designed for refilling Hollowick liquid candle wax into refillable cells, used with HFO-GAL gallon refillable containers for safe, clean transfer of fuel.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Vollrath: Foodservice equipment and smallwares manufacturer including food warming solutions. Comparable foodservice customer base and product overlap in chafing/warming, with a much broader equipment portfolio.
• Yankee Candle (Newell Brands): Largest US candle brand and a Newell Brands portfolio company. Overlaps with Hollowick's wax candle and home fragrance category but is consumer-focused with much broader scale and brand recognition outside foodservice.
• Libbey Inc. Major foodservice tabletop manufacturer (glassware, dinnerware) sold through the same hospitality distribution channels as Hollowick. Adjacent in product category and customer base, but does not specialize in lighting or warming.
• Carlisle FoodService Products: Large foodservice supplies manufacturer (buffet equipment, servingware, beverage service). Comparable foodservice customer base and distribution model but much broader product portfolio and no specialization in lighting/candles.
• Nachtmann (Riedel): Crystal glassware and tabletop brand serving hotels, restaurants, and premium hospitality. Comparable premium tabletop positioning and global hospitality distribution, but focused on glassware rather than lighting or warming.

Direct peers

• PartyLite: Global direct-seller of candles, home fragrance, and flameless lighting. Comparable product mix (wax candles, LED flameless, diffusers) and overlapping customer demand for ambient lighting, though primarily consumer-channel rather than foodservice.
• Gold Canyon Candle: Direct-sales candle and home fragrance company with a comparable wax candle, jar candle, and flameless portfolio. Similar product positioning to Hollowick's wax candle line, though distributed via a different sales channel.
• Sterno Group: Direct competitor in chafing fuels, table lighting, and portable food warming solutions for the foodservice industry. Sterno and Hollowick sell overlapping products (chafing fuel, table lamps, flameless lighting) to the same restaurant and catering customers.
• Luminara International: Specializes in flameless LED candles and rechargeable hospitality lighting — directly comparable to Hollowick's Nexis, Platinum+, and V12 flameless rechargeable product lines for restaurants, hotels, and event venues.

Others

• Steelite International: Hollowick's parent company and a global tabletop solutions provider. Adjacent rather than competing — Steelite sells dinnerware, flatware, and glassware that complements Hollowick's lighting and warming products inside the same hospitality accounts.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hollowick
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/HollowickInc
• Facebookfacebook.com/HollowickInc
• Pinterestbr.pinterest.com/hollowickinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hollowick