Zyliss
Swiss kitchen-utensil brand known for practical food-preparation tools such as garlic presses, onion choppers, and salad spinners.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Zyliss is a Swiss kitchen-utensil brand established in 1951 by Karl Zysset, a trained bicycle mechanic, in Lyss, Switzerland. The brand name combines Zysset's surname with the name of the town where the first factory was established. Zyliss began with a practical food-preparation invention, an onion chopper, promoted with the slogan "Zig-Zig Zyliss." That early emphasis on reducing effort in everyday kitchen work became a defining feature of the brand. Over time, Zyliss developed a portfolio of manual kitchen tools rather than positioning itself primarily as a cookware or electrical-appliance manufacturer. Its best-known products include the Susi garlic press, salad spinners, onion choppers, and slicing mandolines. The Susi garlic press became particularly associated with the company and has been manufactured since the mid-twentieth century. It is designed with an accompanying cleaning tool, reflecting Zyliss's focus on convenience, maintenance, and repetitive household tasks. The company also produced the Zyliss vise, a home-improvement tool introduced during the 1970s, although kitchen utensils remain the core of the brand's identity. Zyliss was originally privately held. In 1982, it was sold to two investors, who transferred the operation in 1985 to the Diethelm Keller Holding Group, the predecessor of the modern DKSH group. The business was later consolidated into DKSH, and Zyliss AG was delisted in 2006. Zyliss is operated by DKB Household Switzerland AG, a DKSH household-utensil subsidiary that also manages other household and appliance brands, including Cole & Mason, Koenig, and Turmix. Design collaborations became an important part of Zyliss's development. In 2001, the brand worked with IDEO on a series of kitchen products that achieved international distribution and recognition. The collaboration helped combine the functional tradition of Zyliss tools with more contemporary industrial design. In 2008, Zyliss partnered with RKS Design to create a broader brand language. Products from this design program included a salad spinner that received a Red Dot design award, strengthening the brand's profile in design-conscious kitchenware. The company also experienced operational restructuring in the 2000s. In 2003, its workforce was reduced from 105 to 80 employees, and management announced plans to relocate the production site. Following protests in Switzerland, the relocation was cancelled. During the middle of the decade, 30 members of a 50-person Swiss team moved to China, while the company's headquarters moved to Zurich in December 2005. These changes reflected the pressures facing a traditional consumer-goods manufacturer as production and supply activities became more internationally distributed. Today, Zyliss remains an active household-tools brand within the DKSH group. Its positioning centers on durable, ergonomic, and easy-to-use utensils that make routine preparation tasks faster and less labor-intensive. The brand's historical strength lies in turning simple kitchen problems—such as chopping onions, pressing garlic, or drying salad leaves—into recognizable purpose-built tools. Its international design partnerships and continued association with manual kitchen equipment have allowed it to retain a distinct identity within the broader housewares market.
History
Zyliss was founded in 1951 in Lyss, Switzerland, by Karl Zysset, a trained bicycle mechanic. The brand name was formed from Zysset's surname and the name of Lyss, where the company's first factory was located. Its first product was an onion chopper, introduced with the slogan "Zig-Zig Zyliss." From the beginning, the company concentrated on tools intended to make ordinary kitchen preparation quicker and easier. The company subsequently became known for several manual kitchen inventions. The Susi garlic press, introduced in the mid-twentieth century, became one of its signature products. Its design included a tool for cleaning the press, an example of the brand's emphasis on practical details. Zyliss also developed salad spinners and slicing mandolines, while expanding for a period into home-improvement equipment with the Zyliss vise during the 1970s. Zyliss remained a private company until 1982, when it was sold to two investors. Those investors sold the operation in 1985 to the Diethelm Keller Holding Group. Diethelm Keller later became part of the corporate history of DKSH, the Swiss holding and services group. Zyliss was eventually consolidated into DKSH, and Zyliss AG was delisted in 2006. The brand is now operated by DKB Household Switzerland AG, a DKSH subsidiary focused on household utensils and appliances. The subsidiary also manages the Cole & Mason, Koenig, and Turmix brands. Design became increasingly prominent in Zyliss's product development during the 2000s. In 2001, the company partnered with IDEO to develop a range of kitchen products. The collaboration produced products that achieved international success and helped modernize the visual and functional presentation of the brand. In 2008, Zyliss worked with RKS Design on a new brand language. One result was a salad spinner recognized with a Red Dot design award, giving the company additional visibility among design-oriented consumers. Zyliss underwent organizational and production changes during the same period. In 2003, the workforce declined from 105 employees to 80, and management announced that the production site would be relocated. Swiss protests contributed to the cancellation of that move. During the middle of the decade, 30 of the 50 employees in the Swiss team moved to China. The headquarters were transferred to Zurich in December 2005. These developments indicate a shift from a primarily Swiss production organization toward a more internationally distributed operating model. The brand remains active as a DKSH-owned name in kitchen utensils. Its historical identity is based on purpose-built manual tools rather than broad consumer appliances. Zyliss products address recurring preparation tasks, including chopping, pressing, spinning, slicing, and cleaning. Its combination of Swiss origins, functional engineering, ergonomic design, and external design collaborations provides the main basis for its position in the international housewares market.
- 2008
RKS Design partnership and Red Dot recognition
[1]Zyliss works with RKS Design on a new brand language, including a Red Dot-winning salad spinner.
- 2006
Delisting and DKSH consolidation
[1]Zyliss AG is delisted and consolidated into DKSH.
- 2005
Headquarters move to Zurich
[1]The company's headquarters move from the earlier Swiss operating base to Zurich in December.
- 2003
Workforce and production restructuring
[1]Zyliss reduces its workforce and announces a production-site relocation, which is later cancelled after protests in Switzerland.
- 2001
IDEO design partnership
[1]Zyliss collaborates with IDEO on a series of kitchen products that later achieve worldwide success.
- 1985
Acquisition by Diethelm Keller Holding
[1]The investor owners sell Zyliss to the Diethelm Keller Holding Group.
- 1982
Ownership changes
[1]Zyliss is sold to two investors.
- 1970
Zyliss expands into home-improvement tools
[1]The company begins creating and selling the Zyliss vise, extending beyond kitchen utensils into a selected home-improvement category.
- 1951
Zyliss is founded in Lyss
[1]Karl Zysset establishes Zyliss in Lyss, Switzerland, and introduces the company's first onion chopper.
Products and positioning
A Swiss-designed kitchen-tools brand focused on practical, ergonomic, and durable manual utensils that simplify repetitive food-preparation tasks.
Food-preparation tool
Susi garlic press
The Susi garlic press is one of Zyliss's signature products and has been produced since the mid-twentieth century. It is designed to press garlic efficiently and includes an accompanying cleaning tool. The integrated cleaning detail reflects Zyliss's broader approach of combining a straightforward kitchen function with features intended to reduce maintenance and improve everyday usability.
Food-preparation tool · 1951
Onion chopper
The onion chopper was Zyliss's first product, launched when the company was founded in 1951. It established the brand's focus on mechanizing repetitive preparation tasks and was promoted with the slogan "Zig-Zig Zyliss." The product is historically important because it connected Zyliss's name with a simple, recognizable solution for chopping ingredients.
Food-preparation tool
Salad spinner
Zyliss salad spinners are manual kitchen tools designed to remove water from washed salad leaves and other produce. The category became particularly important to the brand's design profile through its collaboration with IDEO and later work with RKS Design. A Zyliss salad spinner associated with the latter design program received a Red Dot award.
Food-preparation tool
Slicing mandoline
The slicing mandoline represents Zyliss's extension into tools for controlled, repeatable ingredient slicing. It fits the brand's traditional emphasis on reducing manual effort and producing consistent preparation results. Specific model details, launch dates, and current distribution are not established in the available reference material.
Home-improvement tool · 1970
Zyliss vise
The Zyliss vise was a home-improvement product developed and sold by the company beginning in the 1970s. It shows that Zyliss's historical product scope was not limited exclusively to kitchen utensils, although household food-preparation tools remained the central expression of the brand.
Marketing campaigns
- 2008RKS Design brand-language program
International
Zyliss worked with RKS Design to create a new visual and product-design language for the brand.
Outcome. The program included a salad spinner that received a Red Dot design award.
- 2001IDEO product-design collaboration
International
Zyliss partnered with IDEO to develop a series of kitchen products that combined the company's functional-utensil heritage with contemporary industrial design.
Outcome. The resulting products achieved worldwide success according to the available reference material.
- 1951Zig-Zig Zyliss
Switzerland
The slogan used to promote Zyliss's first onion chopper linked the brand name with the product's quick, repetitive chopping action.
Outcome. It became an early expression of Zyliss's practical, task-oriented brand identity.
Brand decisions
2008
New design language with RKS DesignGeneration changeBackground
Following its earlier IDEO collaboration, Zyliss continued to invest in a coherent contemporary design identity.
Action taken
The company partnered with RKS Design to develop a new brand language and associated products.
Aftermath
A related salad spinner won Red Dot recognition, providing external validation for the design-led direction.
2006
Consolidation into DKSHStrategyBackground
Zyliss was being integrated into the wider Diethelm Keller/DKSH corporate structure.
Action taken
Zyliss AG was delisted and consolidated into DKSH.
Aftermath
Zyliss continued as a brand rather than as a separately listed company and became associated with DKB Household Switzerland AG.
2003
Production-site relocation proposalStrategyBackground
Zyliss reduced its workforce from 105 to 80 employees while reviewing the location of production.
Action taken
Management announced a plan to relocate the production site.
Aftermath
Following protests in Switzerland, the relocation plan was cancelled. Later restructuring included the transfer of 30 members of a 50-person Swiss team to China during the mid-2000s.
2001
IDEO-developed kitchen-product seriesProduct launchBackground
Zyliss sought to develop kitchen tools that retained practical functionality while presenting a more contemporary design language.
Action taken
The company partnered with IDEO on a series of kitchen products.
Aftermath
The products achieved worldwide success and reinforced design as part of Zyliss's competitive identity.
1985
Sale to Diethelm Keller HoldingM&ABackground
After being sold to two investors in 1982, Zyliss entered a new ownership phase in 1985.
Action taken
The investors sold the operation to the Diethelm Keller Holding Group.
Aftermath
The transaction ultimately placed Zyliss within the corporate history that led to DKSH ownership and consolidation.
Recent events
- 2008
Zyliss develops a new brand language with RKS Design[1]
Campaign · Product launch
Zyliss partnered with RKS Design on a new brand language, including a salad spinner that received a Red Dot design award.
- 2006
Zyliss AG is delisted and consolidated into DKSH[1]
M&A
Zyliss AG was delisted and consolidated into DKSH, ending its separate listed-company status.
- 2005
Zyliss headquarters move to Zurich[1]
Other
Zyliss moved its headquarters to Zurich in December 2005 amid broader operational changes.
- 2003
Zyliss announces workforce reduction and production relocation[1]
Other
The company reduced its workforce from 105 to 80 employees and announced plans to relocate its production site. Protests in Switzerland followed, and the proposed relocation was cancelled.
- 1985
Zyliss joins the Diethelm Keller Holding Group[1]
M&A
The investors sold the Zyliss operation to the Diethelm Keller Holding Group, which later became associated with DKSH.
- 1982
Zyliss is sold to investors[1]
M&A · Other
Zyliss was sold to two investors, beginning a later ownership transition that led to its acquisition by the Diethelm Keller Holding Group.
Sources1 sources
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