Taylor Parent Adds Consumer Housewares Firm

Taylor Precision Products, parent company of foodservice thermometer maker Taylor and brands in four other industries, has acquired The Chef’n Corp., a housewares products business offering kitchen gadgets and tools, measuring and baking equipment, grinders, cleaning utensils, strainers and steamers, salad preparation tools, beverageware and other accessories under the Chef’n and Vibe brands.

Chef’n, based in Seattle, is Taylor’s third acquisition since the Oak Brook, Ill., company was bought by Centre Partners, a New York-based private equity firm, in conjunction with Rob Kay, who serves as chairman and CEO.

Taylor will retain Chef’n’s Seattle operations, where the company has been based for 32 years. “Chef’n maintains a best-in-class innovation and design team that supports the company’s new product development efforts,” Kay said. “We look forward to leveraging these exemplary talents across the entire Taylor organization.”

Chef’n was founded by David Holcomb in 1982, when he introduced a device for chopping fresh garlic cloves. Today, the company has more than 300 patents and offers products in more than 40 countries.