Who we are, andhow we got here.

A family got into the housewares business and never left it. We still make the things people gather around, and now we make them for every room in the house.

0
Years in the housewares business
0+
Team members worldwide
0
Offices around the globe
0K
Sq ft of warehouse & distribution
From factories to retail stores

We own the whole journey.

We identify, incubate and scale what's next for the home while it is still early: building, launching and growing innovative products across the full home ecosystem.

A family of Epoca products across cookware, bakeware, coffee and drinkware FIG · ONE HOUSE, MANY SHELVES
01

Category & product design

Guided by emerging trends, our teams deliver award-winning designs, backed by 15 patents and 6 global design awards.

02

Global manufacturing & quality

A global sourcing and quality-control team delivers over 50 million units annually with precision and scale.

03

Omnichannel fulfillment

300,000+ sq ft of warehouse space and a distribution network built for speed, scale, and seamless fulfillment.

04

Demand generation & retail activation

Through social commerce and digital strategy, our licensed brands engage one in two Americans monthly, driving meaningful connection and measurable growth.

Fast fashion for the home

Trend-right products, launched at retail speed.

We bring fashion-cycle thinking to home categories: shorter trend cycles, faster concept-to-shelf, and a higher cadence of newness. Home purchases today are identity-driven and trend-driven, retail wins with frequent drops, and brand heat translates fastest through seasonal micro-collections.

01

Micro-trend detection

Apparel-style trend reading applied to kitchen and home, so we see the shift while it is still a signal.

02

Faster concept-to-shelf

Compressed development cycles move a trend from insight to retail-ready product at fashion speed.

03

Frequent refreshes

Seasonal and micro-collection architecture keeps shelves new, driving conversion, repeat visits, and social relevance.

The green thread

Family-founded. Performance-driven. Evolving with the consumer.

  1. 1971

    Vandel International is founded

    Henry Melzer enters the housewares industry, laying the foundation for Epoca.

  2. 1991

    Epoca is born

    Steven Melzer founds Epoca International, focusing on Italian-made imports.

  3. 1994

    First major distribution deal

    Epoca becomes the North American distributor for Italian cookware brand Ballarini.

  4. 1995

    Primula is launched

    A proprietary brand focused on beverage preparation and home brewing.

    Primula cold brew
  5. 2008

    Ecolution enters the market

    An eco-conscious cookware brand built on sustainability and performance.

    Ecolution bakeware
  6. 2015

    First major licensing deal

    Cooking Light kitchenware joins the portfolio, expanding into branded licensing.

  7. 2016

    Launch with BuzzFeed Tasty

    Tasty kitchenware debuts in partnership with Walmart, becoming a viral retail success.

    Tasty pink cookware
  8. 2018

    Goodful licensing signed

    BuzzFeed's wellness brand joins with a focus on self-care and sustainability.

  9. 2020

    Country Living joins the portfolio

    A beloved Hearst brand brings farmhouse-inspired kitchenware to Epoca.

  10. 2021

    Paris Hilton housewares launches

    A glam housewares collection with the iconic entrepreneur and influencer.

    Paris Hilton cocktail collection
  11. 2026

    Von Dutch license execution

    Epoca officially partners with Von Dutch, a legacy brand known for attitude, iconography, and rule-breaking style.

    Von Dutch skull mugs
Brian Melzer
Leadership & vision

“Epoca means “New Age,” and that is exactly how we approach home. We bring brands to life through product, guided by data and consumer trends, paving new roads in the industry that set us apart.”

Brian Melzer
President & CEO

The family behind the house.

Barbara Pizzella
Barbara PizzellaExecutive Vice President
Joshua Melzer
Joshua MelzerSVP, Marketing & Communications
Bud Haley
Bud HaleySVP, Sales & National Accounts
Mark Brelsford
Mark BrelsfordVP, Sales, North America
Melinda Slayden
Melinda SlaydenVP, Finance
Award-winning by design

Six awards. Fifteen patents.

Flavor It, 3-in-1 Beverage System, award-winning Epoca design
GOOD DESIGN

Flavor It

3-in-1 Beverage System

Park, Pour Over Coffee Set, award-winning Epoca design
GOOD DESIGN

Park

Pour Over Coffee Set

Micro-Pop, Microwave Popcorn Popper, award-winning Epoca design
GOOD DESIGN

Micro-Pop

Microwave Popcorn Popper

Burke, Cold Brew Coffee Maker, award-winning Epoca design
RED DOT

Burke

Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Addison, Glass Tea Steeper, award-winning Epoca design
GOOD DESIGN

Addison

Glass Tea Steeper

Kedzie, Cold Brew Coffee Maker, award-winning Epoca design
GOOD DESIGN

Kedzie

Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Strategic partnerships

We license in. We license out.

Two directions, one business. A name we license in becomes a full product line under our own roof, start to finish, and lands on shelves as ours to answer for.

A name we license out goes to manufacturers we hand-pick, reaching categories, countries and retail channels beyond the ones we build ourselves. Here is the ground a partnership can cover.

Kitchen Essentials

CookwareBakewareGadgetsCutleryElectricsMicrowaveDrinkwareServewareTabletopTextiles

Beauty & Personal Care

SkincareHair ProductsBathHealth & Beauty

Home & Lifestyle

Home DécorCandlesFurnitureStorageJournals & Calendars

Entertainment & Leisure

GamesTravelElectronics & Entertainment

Pet & Wellness

Pet Food & Accessories
What we stand for

The EPOCA values.

Our mission: to develop trusted, trend-right products for every room of the home, designed for real life and built for retail performance. These are the values that guide it.

E

Excellence

In product quality and responsible manufacturing.

P

Passion

For bringing bold ideas to life through design.

O

Objectivity

Through honest, transparent decision-making.

C

Collaboration

Across teams, cultures, and retail partners.

A

Analytical thinking

Driven by insights, powered by data.

“As we move into a fast-paced era of instant fulfillment and social commerce, Epoca maintains a firm commitment to quality.”

Safe, effective productsPFOA-free cookwareResponsible manufacturingDiversity & equality
Global partnership

Stronger with Fackelmann.

Fackelmann has led kitchen innovation since 1919, and now it powers our expansion across Europe and beyond. Together we combine its heritage of German precision with Epoca's speed and vision to build programs that resonate worldwide.

#1
Kitchen-tools leader in Europe & Asia
41
Locations worldwide
8
Production sites
200
Major retailers supplied worldwide
3,500
Employees
10K
Products
Let’s make it feel like home.

Retail partner or brand owner, tell us what you want to put in people's homes.

Partner with us