ZWILLING J.A. HENCKELS turns 275 – Passion for the best.

1731 Eintragung in die Messermacherrolle, 1771 Johann Abraham Henckels

It is June 13, 1731. Peter Henckels registers the twin (Zwilling) with the Cutlers’s Guild in Solingen. This is the foundation stone for an unequalled career. 275 years later the knife manufacturer from Germany is a global player.

Every day millions of people around the globe use products by ZWILLING J.A. HENCKELS: kitchen knives, scissors, beauty and household products from cookware to kitchen gadgets and flatware. For many years ZWILLING J.A. HENCKELS has been a company of worldwide recognition with quality and function - the cornerstones of its products.

There are not many companies as old and as successful as this one. 2005 was the most successful year in the company’s history with turnover exceeding 250 million Euro.

And the story doesn’t end here. With the acquisition of the Japanese knife manufacturer NIPPA (October 2004) and the U.S. beauty specialist TWEEZERMAN (December 2004) the seed for growth in the anniversary year (and beyond) was prepared at an early stage.

At the consumer fair „Ambiente“ in Frankfurt the manufacturer of premium goods presents itself well prepared for the increasing competition on the worldwide markets. That English is the company’s official language instead of German is no hubris but born out of necessity.

Johann Abraham Henckels who gave the company it name, went onto the international stage at a very early date: the New York branch was opened in 1883, to be followed a year later by Vienna, 1897 by Copenhagen and Rotterdam and so on.
Today ten subsidiaries and a tightly knit distribution network in more than 100 countries play their vital part that the ZWILLING J.A. HENCKELS brand is recognized all over the world.
It is not without reason that approx. 80% of the total turnover is made outside the home market.

ZWILLING J.A. HENCKELS stands for quality, innovation and reliability. Approx. 2.300 employees worldwide ensure that the high demands on the products are put into action. Products are made in Germany at headquarters in Solingen but also in the U.S., Japan and China where the group is engaged in a joint venture since 1995.

As befits a global market leader ZWILLING J.A. HENCKELS will celebrate its anniversary in style. A number of new products will be launched during the course of the year in the core product segments of Kitchen, Flatware and Beauty.

Because premium products need to be presented accordingly, ZWILLING J.A. HENCKELS is not only a dedicated partner of the specialist retail trade but has taken charge of marketing its own products at a very early stage. ZWILLING J.A. HENCKELS has its own shops in Germany and abroad. The company also operates studios in leading department stores in its home market and partner shops in major European cities.

In 2005 ZWILLING J.A. HENCKELS opened its first concept shop in Paris. More shops are planned later this year. Whether in Paris or in the new studio that has just been opened in Frankfurt in the flagship store of German department store chain Karstadt: the consumer is the centre of all activities - and the claim of practice-oriented, cosumer-friendly presentation.

(Photo: ZWILLING J.A. HENCKELS)