CRISTEL: 200 YEARS OF EXPERTISE, 40 YEARS OF INNOVATION AND THE SAME PASSION FOR COOKING

TWO CENTURIES OF HISTORY, A 40-YEAR-OLD BRAND

At Cristel, anniversaries are measured on two different timelines. There are the 40 years of the brand, founded in 1986 when Damien Dodane’s parents took over the business, and there are the 200 years of expertise behind the historic factory in Fesches-le-Châtel, in the Doubs region of France, where Cristel still manufactures its products today.

Damien Dodane explains: “It was on this historic industrial site that, as early as 1830, the world’s first stamped saucepan was created. Two centuries later, this industrial heritage has become a source of inspiration for a new collection: Bicentenaire. Cristel has taken the shape of this historic vessel and reinterpreted it using contemporary technologies, bringing to it forty years of research, design and expertise.”

A FAMILY STORY, BUILT ON TRANSMISSION

This sense of continuity is deeply rooted in Cristel’s management and identity.

Damien Dodane: “Today, we are a family-owned company, with three generations working side by side.”

It is a rare model in French industry, and even more so in the world of cookware. Cristel now positions itself as France’s leading manufacturer of high-end stainless-steel cookware, with the majority of its production carried out in Fesches-le-Châtel. The brand manufactures around 90% of its products at its historic site, where stainless steel has become an iconic signature over the decades.

STAINLESS STEEL: THE MATERIAL OF CHOICE

Damien Dodane: “If stainless steel appeals so strongly to both professionals and home cooks, it is particularly because of its hygienic properties and durability. The 18/10 stainless steel used by Cristel helps preserve the taste and quality of food while preventing unwanted exchanges between the material and the food during cooking.”

Stainless steel does, however, present a technical challenge: on its own, it is not the best conductor of heat. Cristel’s expertise therefore lies in working with the material and combining it with others to achieve even, precise cooking.

Thermal diffusers featuring aluminium bonded to the cooking vessel, as well as multi-layer constructions designed to distribute aluminium throughout the stainless steel: Cristel’s different collections offer several solutions to the same goal, controlling heat distribution and temperature response.

The choice of aluminium rather than copper also reflects considerations of weight, cost and the availability of a material that has become increasingly strategic.

THE HANDLE THAT CHANGED CRISTEL’S DESTINY

But if there is one innovation that embodies the modern history of Cristel, it is undoubtedly its removable handle.

Created by Damien Dodane’s father in 1986, it quickly became one of the brand’s defining features. The principle is simple yet remarkably visionary: detach the handle from the cookware to save space, move seamlessly from stovetop to oven, or bring the saucepan directly to the table.

“The innovation brought by the removable handle was essential to the brand’s international development. Cristel is now present in around fifty countries worldwide. ” explains Damien Dodane.

Another key milestone came in 1991, when Cristel developed its first collections fully compatible with induction cooking, at a time when the technology was still far from widespread. Once again, the brand anticipated changes in cooking habits and kitchen technology.

FROM THE FAMILY KITCHEN TO THE WORLD’S GREAT TABLES

This commitment to technical excellence naturally brought Cristel closer to professional chefs. The Castel’Pro collection, in particular, has become a benchmark among both passionate home cooks and professionals.

A partner of Top Chef on M6 since 2012, as well as Relais & Châteaux and Les Grandes Tables du Monde, Cristel seeks to demonstrate its performance directly to those for whom precision in cooking is essential.

Castel’Pro combines rapid heating and cooling, even heat distribution, a handle designed to remain cool, and ergonomics developed for intensive use.

A philosophy that could be summed up in just a few words: less artifice, more control.

A NEW CHAPTER WITH NOÉ DUCHAUFOUR-LAWRANCE

For this year’s Maison&Objet edition, Cristel is not simply telling its story. The company is also using the event to open a new chapter in its creative journey.

For the first time, the brand has entrusted the design of one of its removable handles to an external designer: Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance.

The result is a wooden removable handle, bringing a warmer, more tactile dimension to an object traditionally associated with the technical performance of stainless steel.

The result is a meeting between heritage and contemporary design, a new expression of Cristel’s identity.

From September 10 to 14, Cristel invites visitors to discover its anniversary exhibition and explore a story built around a simple idea: a good cooking utensil should disappear behind the cook’s gesture.