Cangshan Cutlery will formally introduce its new corporate identity as Austin Cutlery & Tool at The Inspired Home Show, marking a broader strategic shift toward domestic manufacturing and a unified three-brand portfolio.
The rebrand unifies three businesses — Cangshan, New Star Foodservice and Artaste — under one parent company as domestic manufacturing preparations accelerate in the Lone Star State.
Henry Liu, founder and president of Austin Cutlery & Tool, told HomePage News that the transition has been in the works since 2021, when leadership relocated Cangshan (knife set pictured above) and New Star from California to the Austin area.
“The goal was to create a pathway toward true American manufacturing while strengthening operational control, innovation capacity and long-term resilience,” Liu said.
Henry Liu, Founder & President, Austin Cutlery & Tool
The goal was to create a pathway toward true American manufacturing while strengthening operational control, innovation capacity and long-term resilience.
Originally established as a family-owned manufacturing operation in China supported by a global supply chain network, the company grew into a premium player across retail and foodservice. As ambitions expanded, leadership moved toward building a U.S.-based cutlery platform, with manufacturing scheduled to launch in 2027 at a new headquarters and production facility in Georgetown, TX, near Austin.
As plans advanced, the company determined a unified parent structure was necessary. Austin Cutlery & Tool now serves as the umbrella organization overseeing the three brands, providing centralized manufacturing, innovation and strategic direction.
Under the new structure, each brand retains a distinct market focus.
Cangshan remains the design-driven, innovation-led cutlery brand targeting professional chefs and premium home cooks, Liu said. New Star Foodservice maintains its commercial orientation, offering more than 6,000 SKUs engineered for operational reliability in foodservice environments. Artaste targets the everyday home kitchen, expanding from its direct-to-consumer flatware roots into a broader kitchenware assortment that includes measuring cups, boards, grill tools and knife collections.
Liu described the collective strategy as a layered portfolio approach: premium innovation, commercial breadth and accessible everyday solutions.
At The Inspired Home Show, Austin Cutlery & Tool will formally introduce its corporate identity and showcase product initiatives across its brands.
Austin Cutlery Wooden Utensil Set
Artaste Measuring Cups & Spoons Set
Artaste Grill Set
Cangshan will debut the Akka Series, a minimalist knife line crafted from Swedish 14C28N steel, alongside the Rain II flatware collection in finishes including mirror, gold, copper and black. New Star Foodservice will introduce the Essential Series, a commercial cutlery line engineered with X50CrMoV15 German steel and polymer handles for high-volume kitchen use. Artaste will unveil an expanded kitchenware assortment designed to broaden its lifestyle positioning.
All products shown in Chicago are slated for availability in March, with additional rollouts expected in late spring and summer.
Beyond product launches, the formation of Austin Cutlery & Tool represents a longer-term structural shift, Liu said. Cangshan is expanding into adjacent tabletop and specialty categories; New Star is broadening its commercial scope while exploring select retail opportunities; and Artaste is transitioning into a more comprehensive kitchenware platform.
The official debut at The Inspired Home Show marks the first public step in a multi-year strategy leading to the 2027 opening of the Georgetown manufacturing facility.
According to Liu, the new structure strengthens internal innovation pipelines while providing customers, from foodservice operators to home cooks, with clearly defined brands supported by disciplined manufacturing and long-term domestic investment.
