Iron Chef Cat Cora is back in the housewares arena though a licensing partnership with Harold Import Company (HIC).
HIC will launch new collections of Cat Cora-branded cutlery and kitchen tools at the forthcoming Inspired Home Show in Chicago. These collections are positioned to offer specialty housewares retailers affordably priced, premium products backed by Cora’s deep culinary experience and influence.
Cora, a chef, television personality, restaurateur, cookbook author and philanthropist, is best known for being the first female Iron Chef on Iron Chef America and co-host of Around the World in 80 Plates. She has opened more than 18 restaurants across the United States and globally, highlighting her platform on health, wellness and sustainability.
Cora is also the official brand ambassador and a board advisor for Little Kitchen Academy, a Montessori-inspired cooking academy providing a safe and empowering environment to learn practical life skills, confidence, independence and healthy eating habits.
Cora’s licensing partnership with HIC marks a return to the housewares market for Cora, who in 2011 launched a line of cookware with Starfrit.
HIC markets a wide range of kitchenware brands primarily through gourmet specialty retail channels.
The new Cat Cora kitchenware program from HIC is led by forged and stamped collections of cutlery produced by Cutlery–Pro, a veteran cutlery manufacturer for consumer and professional markets and a longtime HIC brand partner. The Cat Cora cutlery from HIC is made of high-grade German stainless steel and is supported by NSF certification.
Cat Cora Forged Cutlery Series
The forged cutlery showcases full-tang, single-piece, hot-drop forged construction. Equipped with a forged bolster and trifle-rivet handles, the forged cutlery line has seven items priced to retail from $29.99 to $59.99.
The stamped “Soft Grip” cutlery in the Cat Cora collection is designed for enhanced user comfort and control, according to HIC. The stamped line launches with nine items retailing from $9.99 to $29.99.
Cat Cora Garnishing and Measuring Tools
The Cat Cora collection from HIC includes a range of premium specialty kitchen tools, including zesters, etched graters, a tomato stem corer, an apple corer and measuring spoons. The NSF-certified line showcases Japanese stainless steel and soft–grip handles at retail prices ranging from $7.99 to $14.99. Swiss–style peelers made with German steel, herb scissors and a manual knife sharpener are also included in the Cat Cora kitchen tools program.
Other Cat Cora kitchen accessories include a salad spinner with one-handed pump action operation, priced at $39.99; and a salt-and-pepper mill made from Italian olivewood and featuring a ceramic grinding mechanism, also priced at $39.99.
Cat Cora with the new one-handed Salad Spinner
The initial Cat Cora cutlery and kitchen accessories are set to be in stores at the beginning of May. HIC President Robert Laub said HIC and Cora are collaborating on line extensions that could begin previewing by mid-year.
A line of Cat Cora kitchen textiles by KAF Home is set to roll out soon, and Cora said she is exploring additional licensing partnerships into other kitchen and home products.
“We set out to create the highest quality product at affordable prices,” Cora said of the collaboration with HIC. “I’m a mom of six, and I know what it’s like to be on a budget. If I’m going to buy a kitchen knife or a peeler, I want it to be of the highest quality but something I can afford.”
Laub said Cora’s philosophy aligns with a ripe marketing opportunity for the Cat Cora brand of premium cutlery and kitchen tools. “Cat has been such a true professional — a professional that’s committed to making premium quality and a premium cooking experience accessible to the home chef,” Laub said.
Cora is on the schedule to demonstrate the new cutlery and kitchen tools at the HIC booth during the Inspired Show 2025, March 2-4, at Chicago’s McCormick Place.
Cora also will appear at the 17th annual Culinary Futures benefit organized by HIC and set for Sunday, March 2, 6:30-9:30 p.m. at One East Wacker in Chicago. Culinary Futures is partnering again for the 2025 benefit with No Matter What, a non-profit that invests in underserved Chicago area youth through mentorship, career readiness training and mental health healing. The Culinary Futures Chicago event since 2009 has funded more than 75 culinary scholarships for high school students within the Chicago Public Schools.
Cat Cora (left) with HIC President Robert Laub (right)
Cora and HIC plan a comprehensive content marketing program in support of the cutlery and kitchenware rollout. HIC and Cora have begun producing digital content, presenting recipes and cooking demos using cutlery and tools from the new collections.
Cora emphasized today’s expansive and influential social media marketplace as a major difference — and a significant marketing opportunity — compared to when she first became involved in the housewares business. “Social media has been a game changer,” she said.
Cora and Laub noted how the COVID home cooking surge and continued emphasis on home-cooked meals primed the opportunity to engage a full spectrum of consumer generations when it comes to preparing and cooking healthy meals using proper tools and techniques. Cora cited her work with Little Kitchen Academy as another avenue for bringing families together and cultivating the next generation of home cooks.
Said Laub, “We really want to build the Cat Cora brand for the long term. We want retailers to know they can come back to this brand and really get behind it in their stores.”
