NORWALK, Conn.–Wüsthof-Trident of America celebrated the official opening of its new U.S. headquarters, distribution center and on-premise shop here, with a festive ceremony with guests including local city and state officials, customers and business associates. The highlight of the grand opening event was a culinary-themed cake cutting ceremony featuring two large, 14-inch Wüsthof Classic cook’s knives—and the presentation of a Wüsthof $5,000 scholarship check to the Connecticut Culinary Institute.
Twenty students and several chef-instructors, donning white chef jackets and checkered chef pants, came to the grand opening ceremony, bringing with them a cake designed in the shape of the state of Connecticut, and professionally decorated with perfect moldings of Wüsthof knives, a Wüsthof sharpening steel and a Wüsthof chef’s carrying case.
In attendance from the company’s world headquarters in Solingen, Germany, were Harold Wüsthof, global chief executive, and Wolfgang Wüsthof, who established the brand in the United States in the 1960s and retired in 2008.
Richard A. Moccia, the mayor of Norwalk, and Connecticut Lieutenant Governor Michael Fedele presented their congratulations and thanks to Wüsthof for selecting their city and state for the company’s new home.
Prior to the presentations in the warehouse facility, guests were treated to German beer, grilled sausages and German-style pretzels. Following the official cake-cutting ceremony and presentation of the scholarship check to the culinary school, guests were given group tours of the new facilities including the 45,000-square-foot warehouse. The company has 45 employees in its U.S. division.