Meyer Corporation
Encyclopedia
Meyer Corporation is a cookware distributor based in Vallejo, California
, USA, whose parent company is Meyer Manufacturing Co. Ltd. It is the largest cookware distributor in the United States and second largest in the world. Cookware labels or lines for which Meyer is the parent firm include Circulon
, Anolon, NapaStyle, SilverStone
, Prestige and Bonjour. Meyer owns the licenses for cookware produced under the KitchenAid
and Farberware labels in addition to producing private label cookware for Macy's
and Sur La Table
.
The roots of the company began in Hong Kong
with aluminum goods manufacturing and changed to cookware beginning in 1971 with the ascension of Stanley K. Cheng
as CEO and chief inventor. The name of the firm is a transliteration of the Chinese words 'beautiful' (mei) and 'Asia' (yah). In 1972, the first line of cookware produced by Meyer was sold in London. Marketing distribution centers in Liverpool
, England
, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin
, were founded in 1976 and 1980, respectively. Meyer's cookware is manufactured and distributed internationally with factories in China, Thailand and Italy. Cookware lines are stainless steel, hard-anodized aluminum, and non-stick aluminum. The parent manufacturing firm is still based in Hong Kong while the distribution company moved to California
in 1992. Revenues for the parent and subsidiary distributor were $287 million (US) for fiscal year 2005.
in 1984 with the innovation of non-stick cookware bonded to hard-anodized aluminum and tiny grooves in the interior that reduced abrasion of the Teflon surface. The "high-low food release system" was developed and patented by Stanley K. Cheng. The development of Anolon was to satisfy the marketplace which desired thicker gauge non-stick pans that were also dishwasher safe. The Anolon technology was not patented and was quickly incorporated by rivals into their own cookware lines.
Vallejo, California
Vallejo is the largest city in Solano County, California, United States. The population was 115,942 at the 2010 census. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area on the northeastern shore of San Pablo Bay...
, USA, whose parent company is Meyer Manufacturing Co. Ltd. It is the largest cookware distributor in the United States and second largest in the world. Cookware labels or lines for which Meyer is the parent firm include Circulon
Circulon
Circulon is a name given to tough non-stick saucepans, frying pans and other cookware manufactured by Meyer. Circulon's non-stick coating is bonded to hard anodized aluminum which is twice as hard as stainless steel...
, Anolon, NapaStyle, SilverStone
Silverstone (plastic)
Silverstone is a non-stick plastic coating. A three-coat fluoropolymer system that produces a more durable finish than Teflon, Silverstone was released in 1976 by DuPont.-External links:*...
, Prestige and Bonjour. Meyer owns the licenses for cookware produced under the KitchenAid
KitchenAid
KitchenAid is a home appliance brand owned by Whirlpool Corporation. The company was started in 1919 by The Hobart Corporation to give restaurants a countertop alternative to their industrial sized mixers. The first model weighed 69 lbs. Each unit is still assembled by hand in Greenville, Ohio...
and Farberware labels in addition to producing private label cookware for Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
and Sur La Table
Sur La Table
Sur La Table, Inc. is a privately held American retail company based in Seattle, Washington, that sells kitchenware products, including cookware, cutlery, cooks' tools, small electrics, tabletop and linens, bakeware, glassware and bar, housewares, food and outdoor...
.
The roots of the company began in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
with aluminum goods manufacturing and changed to cookware beginning in 1971 with the ascension of Stanley K. Cheng
Stanley K. Cheng
Stanley K. Cheng is the CEO of Meyer Corporation and Director of Meyer Manufacturing Co. Ltd., he is considered an innovator of cookware design with his development of the Circulon and Anolon lines of cookware which married non-stick surfaces to hard-anodized aluminum with the patented "hi-low...
as CEO and chief inventor. The name of the firm is a transliteration of the Chinese words 'beautiful' (mei) and 'Asia' (yah). In 1972, the first line of cookware produced by Meyer was sold in London. Marketing distribution centers in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, were founded in 1976 and 1980, respectively. Meyer's cookware is manufactured and distributed internationally with factories in China, Thailand and Italy. Cookware lines are stainless steel, hard-anodized aluminum, and non-stick aluminum. The parent manufacturing firm is still based in Hong Kong while the distribution company moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1992. Revenues for the parent and subsidiary distributor were $287 million (US) for fiscal year 2005.
Cookware innovations
Meyer Corporation developed CirculonCirculon
Circulon is a name given to tough non-stick saucepans, frying pans and other cookware manufactured by Meyer. Circulon's non-stick coating is bonded to hard anodized aluminum which is twice as hard as stainless steel...
in 1984 with the innovation of non-stick cookware bonded to hard-anodized aluminum and tiny grooves in the interior that reduced abrasion of the Teflon surface. The "high-low food release system" was developed and patented by Stanley K. Cheng. The development of Anolon was to satisfy the marketplace which desired thicker gauge non-stick pans that were also dishwasher safe. The Anolon technology was not patented and was quickly incorporated by rivals into their own cookware lines.
Brands owned or licensed
- Anolon
- Bonjour
- CirculonCirculonCirculon is a name given to tough non-stick saucepans, frying pans and other cookware manufactured by Meyer. Circulon's non-stick coating is bonded to hard anodized aluminum which is twice as hard as stainless steel...
- Essteele
- Farberware
- Fujimaru
- KitchenAidKitchenAidKitchenAid is a home appliance brand owned by Whirlpool Corporation. The company was started in 1919 by The Hobart Corporation to give restaurants a countertop alternative to their industrial sized mixers. The first model weighed 69 lbs. Each unit is still assembled by hand in Greenville, Ohio...
- Meyer Commercialware
- NapaStyle
- Prestige
- Raco
- Select
- SilverstoneSilverstone (plastic)Silverstone is a non-stick plastic coating. A three-coat fluoropolymer system that produces a more durable finish than Teflon, Silverstone was released in 1976 by DuPont.-External links:*...