Cookware startups stir the pot with patented innovations

Cumin Co holds three patents for materials and design, including its proprietary multi-layer enamel coating

- Sowmya Ramasubramanian

A new wave of startups is shaking up India's kitchenware market with patented innovations, toxin-free materials and unique supply chains, presenting a tough challenge to established incumbents that have built their business selling affordable products to both urban and rural households.

As Indian households gradually turn away from Teflon-coated, non-stick cooking utensils amid growing health awareness, new-age startups like Cumin Co, The Indus Valley, and Nestasia are finding success by returning to the roots. These companies are going back to traditional materials like stainless steel and cast iron, creating durable kadhais (deep, circular pans used to cook vegetables etc), pans, and pressure cookers that resonate with consumers looking for safer cooking alternatives.