Chef'sChoice is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. In 1985, Chef'sChoice took knife sharpening from its primitive roots of sharpening sticks, elementary sharpening wheels and stones to the 21st century with the introduction of the first professional home use sharpener, the Chef'sChoice Diamond Hone Sharpener Model 100. It was the world's first advanced technology electric knife sharpener (other electric sharpeners on the market were modified bench grinders or offered as a free accessory on the back of can openers).

Today, EdgeCraft Corporation produces the most technologically advanced sharpeners on the market with over 100 models available, more than 100 product trademarks and several hundred patents. Manufactured in the United States and marketed in over 60 countries, Chef'sChoice® sharpeners are recognized as market leaders worldwide. Several best-selling Chef'sChoice electric sharpeners were recently awarded a rarely granted registered trademark from the U.S. Patents and Trademark Office for their highly recognizable design. This type of trademark protection is not historically granted to product shapes until the consuming public widely recognizes and associates the shape with the product itself. (An example of a product previously granted a registered trademark for design is the Coke bottle.)

The success of the Chef'sChoice electric and manual sharpening categories was instrumental in the creation of Chef'sChoice new Hybrid™ line of sharpeners, featuring both electrically powered and manually operated sharpening stages in one compact and affordable unit. The new Hybrid™ sharpening line will roll out to stores early 2010, making EdgeCraft Corporation the only manufacturer in the industry to provide knife sharpeners in all three home use categories, all manufactured under the Chef'sChoice brand. The knife sharpener categories are: professional, fully electric powered sharpeners; the Hybrid™ category, featuring sharpeners combining electric powered and manual sharpening; and manual sharpeners, which include a variety of hand-held units ranging from two stage-guided Diamond Hone sharpeners to diamond-coated sharpening stones.

In addition to the core business of manufacturing quality electric and manual knife sharpeners, the Chef'sChoice brand is also recognized worldwide for its other small kitchen appliances, which include: cutlery, electric food slicers and meat grinder; waffle makers and mixes; hot beverage products; and an egg cooker. Chef'sChoice also offers a complete line of household, sports-oriented and commercial products.

Headquartered in Avondale, Pa., EdgeCraft Corporation's Chef's Choice brand products are sold around the world in leading department, cutlery, cookware, specialty, commercial foodservice, hardware, sporting goods and sewing stores, as well as through mail order and online retailers. Call 800-342-3255 or visit www.chefschoice.com for more information.