In short: the Fackelmann brand is a German family-owned group based in Hersbruck, near Nuremberg, specializing in everyday kitchen utensils. At Raclette Club, you’ll find it here with a cheese dome and a set of six fondue forks: two no-frills accessories, made to be used often.
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The Fackelmann brand in a Nutshell
According to the history published by the brand, it all begins in 1919 in Nuremberg. Three brothers, August, Ludwig and Heinrich Fackelmann, leave the family farm in Lower Franconia and, led by Heinrich, set up a sales agency for household goods and hardware. In 1948, after Heinrich’s premature death, his son Sebastian takes over the business, at first as a sales representative. In 1958, he launches series production of wooden items in a first factory in Altensittenbach, near Hersbruck. Some of the brand’s documents actually date its founding to 1948: both dates are in circulation.
What follows is the story of a group that grows step by step: plastic utensils in Hersbruck from 1981, a first foreign subsidiary in Hong Kong in 1987, then a series of subsidiaries across Europe from 1993, the takeover of the German baking-pan specialist Zenker in 2003, and the opening of the Fackelmann Welt store at the Hersbruck headquarters for the 100th anniversary, in 2019. Today, the brand reports 15 brands, 41 sites worldwide, more than 10,000 products and 8 production sites. The group also makes bathroom furniture, which always comes as a bit of a surprise when you’re looking for fondue forks.
On Video
Video: Fackelmann on YouTube. Official video introducing the Fackelmann Welt store at the Hersbruck headquarters (in German).
Video: Fackelmann on YouTube. Official video of a Parmesan grater from the brand: another cheese accessory, not one of those in our selection.
Video: 750g on YouTube. Savoyard fondue recipe by the food media outlet 750g, so you can see the forks at work; they aren’t necessarily Fackelmann ones.
Its Products at Raclette Club
| Model | Type | Who it’s for | Review | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheese dome 31035 (ASIN B09V12GYZP) | Glass dome on an FSC-certified wooden base, compact size | Those who keep one or two cheeses out on the sideboard | Review coming soon | Check the price on Amazon.fr |
| Fondue forks 48491 (ASIN B0009JJZLW) | Set of 6 forks, 27 cm, stainless steel and plastic, dishwasher-safe | Those equipping a fondue pot for six | Review coming soon | Check the price on Amazon.fr |
| Set of 6 wooden spatulas 8641550 (ASIN B0BQ7MDNXD) | FSC wooden spatulas, 12.8 cm | Those who lost or damaged the original spatulas | Read the review | Check the price on Amazon.com |
What We Think
Fackelmann is the utensil you always end up with in a drawer without remembering buying it. No grand speeches about terroir here: simple objects in glass, wood and stainless steel that do one thing. The 48491 forks go in the dishwasher according to their Amazon.fr listing and work just as well for Savoyard or Burgundy fondue as for chocolate; the 31035 dome protects a Camembert and a tomme without taking up half the sideboard.
The flip side is the vagueness of the listings. For the dome, the stated dimensions don’t match from one line to the next on the same page, and reviews report a wooden base that warps. For the forks, the length varies between 25 and 27 cm depending on the seller. Nothing serious for accessories like these, but we advise checking the size before you buy, especially if your favorite cheese is a whole wheel.
Which Model Should You Choose?
- To protect a cheese on the table: the compact 31035 dome. For a more generous platter, see our selection of boards and platters.
- For a cheese fondue for six: the 48491 forks, to pair with a fondue pot from our comparison of fondue pots.
- For a chocolate fondue: the same forks are suitable according to their listing; our ideas are in chocolate raclette.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the warranty on Fackelmann accessories?
The listings for our two products don’t mention a commercial warranty. For a purchase in France from a professional seller, the 2-year legal guarantee of conformity applies: keep your receipt.
Can you buy a single replacement piece from Fackelmann?
For these simple accessories, there aren’t really any spare parts: the forks are bought again in sets of six, and the dome is replaced as a whole. Check the exact reference to find the same model.
Where can I buy Fackelmann?
Our two products are sold on Amazon.fr. The brand also has an online shop in Germany and its Fackelmann Welt store in Hersbruck.
