The company was founded in 1888 by Edward Katzinger, a journeyman tinsmith from Austria. By 1913, the small business had expanded into being factories that produced assorted cooking and baking utensils.
In 1945, the small company went public under the name Ekco, for the initials of its founder. By the late 1950s, it is believed that Ekco produced 65 percent of all kitchen utensils and 40 percent of all cutlery. The company continually acquired other companies, growing by leaps and bounds. In 1972, the highly profitable company divided into three divisions: Ekco products Inc, Ekco Housewares and Prestige Group, Inc.
One CEO of Ekco Housewares wanted to make the kitchenware more attractive. He felt that by making it more innovative and prettier he could encourage bigger sales. However, the company was sold soon after that, so he did not get a chance to put his ideas into play. Perhaps it is a good thing. Today, the name “Ekco” on a utensil means that buyers are getting sturdy, basic utensils that do the job in the same way they did since the early 1900s.