Rumilly: Great French Know-how
Tefal is in Rumilly, on the edge of the Bauges Mountains Nature Park
The town of Rumilly, proud to be known as the "frying pan capital of the world", is part of the industrial culture emblematic of French know-how. It is the birthplace of the brand and the world centre for expertise and research in cooking utensils.
At the start, there was Marc.
In the 1950s, engineer Marc Grégoire discovered polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a non-stick material. He then had the idea of applying these non-stick properties to frying pans.
The Tefal company was born in 1956. Its success was immediate and millions of French kitchens now contain Tefal products.
Success and exporting our know-how
In 1961, Tefal began exporting to the US and was eagerly adopted by Jackie Kennedy, then First Lady. The photo of her buying a Tefal pan made the brand famous worldwide. The same year, Tefal created its production site in Rumilly, 20 km west of Annecy.
Proud to be Made in France.
Our Thermo Signal® technology which tells you when to start cooking was born at our Rumilly site, which employs more than 1,600 people. In 2022, more than 35 million kitchen items were made there. At the town's museum, you can even see the 500 millionth pan to come out of the factory, made on 26 March 1994.
Tefal History - Some Key Dates
The 1950s
The invention of the non-stick pan
Following his wife's advice, engineer Marc Grégoire developed and marketed the first non-stick pan.
The 1960s
Tefal is booming all around the world
The brand becomes a world famous cookware brand and finally integrates Groupe Seb in 1968
The 1990s
Ingenio® was born
An ingenious system of removeable handles which has revolutionised the cooking world
The years 2000
Controlled cooking
Our Thermo-Spot® technology was launched, enabling you to start cooking at the ideal temperature.
And now?
New allies in the kitchen
Tefal is constantly innovating, guaranteeing perfect cooking and delicious meals
Our Popular Products in Action
Tefal Ingenio
Experience ultimate versatility with Tefal Ingenio cookware. Featuring detachable handles, stackable design, and oven-to-table capability, it’s ideal for compact kitchens and multi-purpose cooking.
Tefal LOV
Tefal LOV cast iron cookware offers superior heat retention and durability, perfect for slow cooking, searing and rich flavors. A stylish, premium choice for passionate home chefs.
Tefal Renew
Tefal Renew Black cookware offers modern simplicity and durability. With a sleek non-stick finish, it's designed for easy cooking and cleaning, perfect for beginners and everyday chefs.
Discover Tefal in a few clicks
Tefal: Secrets of Manufacture
Discover the fascinating process whereby our experts transform simple aluminium discs into frying pans and saucepans.
The Tefal Brand: Made in France
Find out more about our know-how, teams and values, making every day more simple, easier and more fun
Discover Tefal's PTFE Coating
Polytetrafluoroethylene, to give it its full name, is a polymer from the perfluorinated family. Find out everything about PTFE at TEFAL.
Tefal: Lifecycle, Care, Recycling
From their design to their use in our kitchens, our utensils go through some crucial stages combining know-how, innovation and quality requirements.