Our 40th Year

1978 - 2018

August marks the 40th Anniversary since moving our business from San Francisco to Seattle. Previously we covered the Northwest from California and by participating twice yearly in the Seattle Gift Show.

Jill and Peter decided to move to Seattle as many new kitchen shops were opening and becoming dealers for their represented product line: Cuisinarts. They opened a new showroom in the 6100 Building Gift Mart in addition to one at the San Francisco Merchandise Mart.

Eventually the entire business was based on Northwest customers and the California operation was closed.

Bang-Knudsen, Inc. is now based in Seattle’s Pioneer Square and will entertain customers for their 80th Seattle Gift Show since 1978.

B-K Team Tours Glassworks

Top North American representatives of Riedel Glass USA went on a 10 Day tour of glass factories in Europe during July 2018. Jacob Bang-Knudsen and Jeff Helmick visited glassworks in Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic to learn how Riedel produces fine crystal wine glasses. The historic multi-generational producer continues to be a leading designer and manufacturer of hand-crafted and machine made crystal beverage ware.

Jeff and Jacob were among the leading U.S. business producers on the tour. Regional restaurants including Michelin Starred were part of the Riedel-hosted business tour. Glass museums rounded out the tour.

Jacob Bang-Knudsen To Head B-K, Inc.

On August 1st 2018 Jacob Bang-Knudsen becomes President of Bang-Knudsen, Inc. After nearly 50 years in the business Peter and Jill are ready to reduce their schedule and assume an advisory capacity while their sons Jacob and Paul run day-to-day operations.

As the 4th Generation family member to head the business Jacob continues a tradition founded by his great-grandfather in 1895. Bang-Knudsen began as a retail and wholesale housewares business in Esbjerg, Denmark and has been active in the same trade to the present. The U.S. continuation of the family business by Jacob’s Grandfather Hugo Bang-Knudsen in 1950 was incorporated in California and Washington in 1978.

Jacob joined Bang-Knudsen, Inc. in 2002 after Graduating from University of Washington.

Recommended Reading

January & February issue of a leading cooking magazine:”Testing High End Blenders”. As with several previous tests VitaMix was “Highly Recommended”. Two machines were rated this high while other brands were listed as recommended. The magazine has rated VitaMix several times in past years. We continue to find excellent results with retailers who offer in-store demonstrations.

We represent Global!

As you may know, ScanPan is the U.S. distributor for Global knives. This Danish designer and maker of highest quality cookware teamed up with the leading manufacturer of high design, high quality kitchen cutlery from Japan so that you may now include Global knives in your ScanPan cookware order from California.

Check with our office to learn about 2018 specials by Global and complement your collection of European knives with Global knives and sharpening products. We have displays available to feature Global in your store. We will have Global at the upcoming gift shows and will be showing the entire range at the Chicago Housewares Show.