There will hardly be any person who doesn’t have a favorite dish on earth. And when you talk about your favorite dish, a whole world of cooking, chopping and all other tasks related to cooking comes to mind. In this blog, we will focus on chopping, which is one of the major parts of the entire cooking process.
Sure, it’s simple to toss some canned or frozen vegetables and meat into a meal and call it a day, but fresh vegetables always win out unless you are creating a soup, stew, or any other dish that you had expected to bite into some mushy vegetables! Maybe, except for the whole chopping them up bit.
But just imagine biting into a sandwich or a pizza with mushy vegetables, how awful would that feel? Slicing, chopping, and cutting in the kitchen is thus a professional task that requires a good amount of skill. Even when compared to home cooking, chopping is a skill that takes time to master. However, using professional kitchen knives can speed up your chopping and help you cook gourmet meals.
ICEL knives are one of the leading professional knife brands. ICEL knives are regarded as high quality and are one of the most respected brands of kitchen accessories and equipment from Europe to Asia and almost the entire world. In this blog by Mostafawi Group, the leading ICEL supplier in Dubai, we will look at the detailed history of the ICEL brand, how it came into existence, its ups and downs, and the inspiration behind this brand. So stay tuned and read this blog until the end without missing any parts.
The Early History
ICEL rose from a tiny family workshop where steel was forged and agricultural and kitchen cutlery products were produced in the 1940s by three brothers. As they say, necessity is the mother of invention similar is the story of the birth of iconic ICEL knives.
This tiny home workshop was situated in the hamlet of Ribafria, which is close to Benedita. The first product offering was limited to a few fully handmade knives and pocket knives. It started as a friendly gesture because a few friends and family members had requested the knives. What started in the 1940s as a homegrown brand making occasional knives for friends and family is today a leading brand for kitchen knives around the world. ICEL knives in Dubai have a great reputation as well, and a couple of decades ago, Mostafawi Group introduced this iconic brand to the Middle Eastern markets.
The steel utilized in the initial ICEL knives was carbon steel, which was forged and hardened using crude machinery and coal-fired energy. Animal horns and bones were used to create the handles of those knives. As manufacturing increased, regional distribution took over from local distribution, and the products were subsequently offered in stores and markets across the nation, with the majority of their transportation coming by rail. Nobody in the family imagined that their small backyard venture would grow into an iconic professional knife brand.
Today, not just knives but also ICEL kitchen accessories in Dubai are very popular. Back in the 1940s, the modest workshop employed 25 people by 1945, at which point it was decided to form a business called Indstria de Cutelarias da Estremadura, Lda, from which the initial brand name ICEL would emerge.
ICEL Company Profile
The company, which was established in 1945, relied on its history and tradition to uphold the commitment it had made to the market to provide high-quality goods and services both domestically and abroad. Handles made of animal bones and similar artifacts were completely new to the foreign markets. It was a traditional practice native to the region that was mixed with high-quality craftsmanship and modern technology by the family. The same strategy was used to market ICEL knives all over the world, including in the Middle East and the UAE. Mostafawi Group, which is an exclusive ICEL supplier in Dubai, played a pivotal role in popularizing this brand in the Middle East region. From creating a chain of stores to training the staff to provide services that match the ICEL brand, the Mostafawi group took great care of the ICEL brand in its initial days.
ICEL’s Growth Strategy
To grow strategically and sustainably, ICEL has made investments from the beginning. In 1973, it started exporting to high-demand areas like the United States, Canada, Australia, Sweden, and Denmark. ICEL now has a presence in 80 countries across three continents, including a large network of shops and ICEL stores in Dubai and the UAE.
This success is attributable to crucial elements like the ability to assess and effectively respond to various market requirements, which helped develop a culture of innovation in the products and materials. It is also due to the great production flexibility brought about by updated technology that has modernized the processes, as well as a persistent concern for the qualifications of every employee.
Currently, the company employs approximately 200 people, produces 3.2 million items for the household and professional markets, and generates close to millions of euros in revenue annually, with exports accounting for 80% of this total. In the market for professional and household cutlery, it is a national leader.
ICEL’s Mission as a Brand
The goal of ICEL is to provide customers with high-quality cutlery goods that meet their needs promptly and at competitive costs for both home and foreign markets. Which ICEL has been accomplishing over the past decades.
ICEL’s journey is truly an inspiration for everyone. When you order a gourmet meal at your favorite restaurant, chances are it was prepared with ICEL knives. So don’t forget to appreciate the craftsmanship and work of multiple people who manufacture and maintain a traditional technique, preserving it for generations.