The M.E. Heuck Co. has come a long way from its beginnings in 1922.
Founded when Mathilde E. Heuck, a renowned cook and homemaker, raided her husband's tool box one day and took out a few nails and a piece of string. She improvised and created the Heuck Turkey Lacer, which made the preparation of poultry dressing easier for home cooks.
Nearly 90 years later the Mason, Ohio firm is staying environmentally conscious, albeit with new technology. Later in 2011, it is bringing out a new line of cookware, called
Zeroca, which is certified as carbon neutral. Through the purchase of carbon offsets, every metric ton of carbon dioxide emitted by Zeroca's manufacturing and distribution process is being matched by an equivalent reduction in carbon offset projects in the United States and around the world, said company president Chris McCarthy. Because carbon dioxide is widely considered to be the major cause of global climate change, the offsets effectively neutralize Zeroca's impact on the planet.
"We are very proud and excited to bring Zeroca to market," McCarthy said. "As the first line of CarbonNeutral kitchenware, we have taken a giant step to reduce the environmental impact of an entire line of products that families use every day."
The product line is expected to be in stores by this summer. It will include cookware sets, along with individual pots and pans, such as saucepans, Dutch ovens, and sauté pans. It will be for sale both online and in retail stores.
All the items will be made with recycled steel and farm-managed bamboo handles, further demonstrating the new brand's mission of sustainability, McCarthy said.
M.E. Heuck Co. will continue to sell its other product lines which include more than 500 kitchen gadgets, barbeque accessories, nutcrackers, seafood items, and a wide variety of cookware, including non-stick pots and pans and pre-seasoned cast iron.
McCarthy said the company's emphasis on moderate pricing, which makes its items affordable to all home cooks, have helped it survive the recession.
"Like all businesses, it has been difficult, but we have survived the recent downturn better than most," he said. "Our core business is driven by strong values in moderately priced house wares items, … (and) as families have started to cook more due to the downturn, this has helped moderately priced items."
Indeed, the company is moving its warehouse from rented facilities in Lebanon, Ohio, to an 110,000 square-foot facility on Gano Road. The corporate offices will remain on Western Row Road in Mason, McCarthy said.
Writer: Paul A. Long
Source: Chris McCarthy, president M.E. Heuck Co.