OUR HERITAGE

Tala is one of the oldest and best loved kitchenware brands. A trusted supplier, of baking and cake decorating equipment since 1899, Tala has grown to supply cooks and bakers all over the world. 

THE TALA STORY BEGINS

Taylor Law & Co Ltd was established in 1899, by Frederick Taylor and Thomas Law, to satisfy the developing Victorian kitchenware and hardware market across Britain. They produced a wide range of metal goods for the kitchen and garden which proved to be successful and the workforce grew. The factory created products that ranged from baking pans and icing syringes to make delicious homemade food, to galvanised tubs and travelers trunks.

1914-1920

During the First World War, Tala carried on creating their baking and cooking products, in addition to numerous munitions and even ration books too. 

After the war, Thomas Law’s son, Frank took over. He combined the founders’ names to create the ‘Tala’ brand as we know it today. Continuing to supply Britain with a developing range of kitchenware gadgets and icing equipment, Tala was quickly becoming a household name.

TALA DRY COOK'S MEASURE

It is during the 1920s that we can find the first records of the Tala Dry Cook's Measure, an iconic symbol of British baking, which is now approaching 100 successful years of production in the UK! 

1930s & 40s

In our 1933 product catalogue, the 1690 Tala Icing Syringe is already described as ‘an old favourite’, which is a testament to Tala’s influence on baking trends and cake decorating during the first half of the 20th Century.

It is during the 1930s that Tala becomes well established as a leading kitchenware supplier in the international market, with representatives in over 21 countries including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Palestine, supplying high quality cooking and baking supplies that included egg racks, peelers, serving utensils and steamers. Then throughout the Second World War, the Tala factory was again engaged in producing munitions in addition to its kitchenware and household products.

1950s & 60s

During the post-war optimism of the 1950s and 60s, pride in cooking and housekeeping grew, with families spending more on kitchenware and homeware and placing wholesome, homemade food at the heart of family life. Tala introduced “Matched Colourware”, a bright and coordinated kitchenware collection aimed at the successful housewife and hostess. Supported by advertising and retailer displays worldwide, the growing Tala baking brand eventually moved to Stourbridge and Birmingham to meet rising demand.

Tala also collaborated with baking and icing expert Anne Anson, creating specialist cake decorating ideas for both novice and experienced cooks. We still have some of the original ‘How to Decorate a Cake’ booklets, featuring spectacular recipes and decorating ideas that remain relevant today.

1970s ONWARDS

Frank Law relinquished ownership of Tala to a large French company, and frozen ready meals became an increasingly popular trend. Both of these contributed to a short-term decline in Tala’s home and kitchenware products as less people were eager to cook good, old fashioned homemade meals.

It is during the 1930s that Tala becomes well established as a leading kitchenware supplier in the international market, with representatives in over 21 countries including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Palestine, supplying high quality cooking and baking supplies that included egg racks, peelers, serving utensils and steamers. Then throughout the Second World War, the Tala factory was again engaged in producing munitions in addition to its kitchenware and household products.

100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

In 1999, Tala celebrated its 100 year anniversary! With a century of trading under its belt, Tala became a truly heritage kitchenware brand

2000s

Tala came back to the UK! Now owned by British company George East Housewares Ltd, based in Suffolk with a marketing office in Bath, the new owners were determined to make Tala great again. Now known as Dayes Ltd, the company focused on bringing more Tala manufacturing back to Great Britain.

During the 2000s, British consumers began moving away from convenience meals and back towards nutritious, homemade food. This renewed interest in cooking was matched by a desire for high-quality, British-made kitchenware, helping drive the resurgence of this much-loved UK brand.

TALA TODAY

Best known for our baking and cake decorating products, Tala is a much-loved British kitchenware brand that strives to manufacture in the UK wherever possible. Today, Tala products are made across the UK, including in Liverpool, Accrington, Norfolk, Suffolk and Burnley, using traditional manufacturing methods.

Our iconic Cook’s Measure is handmade in Liverpool on machinery dating back to the 1920s, with over 20 hand processes involved in its production. Each one is crafted by a small team of highly skilled makers.

Designed to last a lifetime, Tala products are often passed down through generations. Our Icing Syringe is another example of this enduring quality, involving 48 hand processes and retaining the same traditional design used for generations.