Cuisinart
 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Consumer Goods |
| Founded | 1971 |
| Founder | Carl Sontheimer |
| Headquarters | , U.S. |
| Products | Cookware, ovenware, kitchen tools, kitchen accessories |
| Parent | Conair Corporation (1989-present) |
| Website | cuisinart |
Cuisinart (/ˈkwiːzɪnɑːrt/ kwee-zin-art) is an American kitchen appliance and cookware brand owned by Conair Corporation. Cuisinart was founded in 1971 by Carl Sontheimer and initially produced food processors, which were introduced at a food show in Chicago in 1973.[1] The name "Cuisinart" became synonymous with "food processor." The brand's name is a portmanteau of "cuisine" and "art." Cuisinart was purchased by Conair Corporation in 1989.[2]
History
Cuisinart was founded in 1971 by Carl Sontheimer, a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology who was inspired by his love of French food.[1] This led to the creation of Cuisinart and its main product, the food processor.[3] Cuisinart introduced its brand in January 1973 at a trade show in Chicago. The success of Cuisinart was limited at first, until a review in Gourmet magazine helped to lift sales.[1]
Throughout the mid-1970s, Cuisinart sales rose due to the brand's association with celebrity chefs such as James Beard, a close friend of Carl Sontheimer.[1] Cuisinart hired industrial designer Marc Harrison in the 1970s to design new products and improve other existing designs, many of the company's products became associated with universal design.[4] Harrison made its products more functional for users with disabilities, designing larger fonts so that people with vision problems could see them.[5]
By the mid-to-late 1980s, Cuisinart incurred financial troubles and suffered from falling sales. A group of investors bought Sontheimer's interest in the company in 1987 for $42 million. In August 1989, the company filed for bankruptcy.[6] This led to Conair buying the company for $27 million.[2]
Legal troubles with Robot-Coupe
In the late 1970s, a legal dispute between Robot-Coupe and Cuisinart began when Robot-Coupe stopped distributing Cuisinart products and released the products under their own name.[7] Robot-Coupe hired Alvin Fineman, Cuisinart's former marketing director in 1979,[7] who engaged in competitive advertisements that resulted in a lawsuit. Robot-Coupe was ordered to stop insinuating that Cuisinart sold products manufactured by Robot-Coupe.[6]
Products
Products produced under the Cuisinart brand include:
- Air fryers
- Bakeware
- Handheld and standing blenders
- Bread machines
- Countertop blenders
- Brick ovens
- Can openers
- Coffeemakers
- Coffee grinders
- Convection ovens
- Cookware
- Cutlery
- Cutting boards
- Deep fryers
- Dutch ovens
- Espresso makers
- Food processors
- Grills, griddles
- Hand mixers
- Ice cream and sorbet makers
- Juice extractors
- Kettles
- Microwave ovens
- Popcorn makers
- Raclettes
- Rice cookers
- Scales
- Slow cookers
- Speciality appliances
- Stand mixers
- Toasters
- Toaster oven broilers
- Waffle makers
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