June/July 2026
housewareslive.net
More recently, customer feedback identified one remaining frustration. “The blade couldn’t be removed for cleaning. That sounds like a small thing, but consumers kept telling us about it.” Today’s version features a removable blade assembly that can be placed in the dishwasher.
“I actually had somebody come up to me at a trade show, shake my hand and say, ‘Finally, you’ve solved the one thing that stopped it being perfect.’ “We’re always looking at pain points because they change over time.
Innovation isn’t about changing products for the sake of it; it’s about making them genuinely better.” While 2025 marks 75 years of Zyliss, Ms Ohnemus believes another landmark year arrived more recently. “In 2023 we began a complete transformation of the brand.”
Zyliss’ evolution
The company modernised its branding, strengthened its Swiss design identity and made sustainability central to future product development. “We wanted the brand to feel more timeless and contemporary while also placing much greater importance on sustainability.” That commitment can now be seen throughout the range. Virgin plastic has been reduced through the introduction of wheat
straw material, while packaging has been redesigned using recycled and recyclable components wherever possible. “There are some exceptions, such as knives, where safety has to come first, but wherever we can we’ve eliminated unnecessary plastic.” The new direction has already been recognised internationally. This year alone, Zyliss has received Red Dot Awards for both the latest Susi 4 garlic press and its new professional cheese grater set, alongside an impressive 27 iF Design Awards across the new product portfolio.
THE HOUSEWARES INTERVIEW: ZYLISS “It’s incredibly rewarding
to see the industry recognise the direction we’re taking.” She continues: “Sometimes
inspiration comes from chefs, sometimes retailers, sometimes customer feedback, and sometimes from our own design team simply noticing a problem that hasn’t been solved.” A good example is the company’s new Swiss made stackable 3 piece peeler set. Rather than requiring a
separate storage clip, the peelers lock directly into one another, inspired by the
simple interlocking concept behind Lego bricks. “It sounds straightforward, but it saves space, reduces clutter and
makes the product much easier to store.” The same thinking can be found across the entire portfolio. Handheld graters feature non-slip feet, bowl hooks and blade covers that double as scrapers. Our professional cheese graters can be configured for both left- and right-handed users. Even seemingly simple products receive extraordinary attention to
detail.
“Our R&D and design team spends a huge amount of time thinking about these small details because they’re often what make the biggest difference to the user experience.”
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