The Instant Pot Was Beloved. Now Its Maker Has Filed for Bankruptcy. (Published 2023) (2024)

Business|The Instant Pot Was Beloved. Now Its Maker Has Filed for Bankruptcy.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/15/business/instant-brands-bankruptcy.html

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Since sales surged during the pandemic, Instant Brands has struggled to find new fans for its beloved Instant Pot and other products.

Drop in some ground beef, onions, bell peppers, tomatoes and spices. Press a button, head out for work and return hours later to a perfectly prepared chili.

For a while, the Instant Pot, an electronically controlled device that could pressure-cook and slow-cook food, was the kitchen tool everyone wanted. The product hit the market in 2010, quickly became a top seller, and spawned a legion of fans who called themselves “Potheads” and used their Instant Pots to create dozens of recipes.

Those Potheads are still around, making soups, stews and puddings. But over the past few years, the Instant Pot has failed to attract new fans, and its parent company is struggling.

Instant Brands, the maker of the Instant Pot and other household brands such as Pyrex, Snapware and CorningWare, announced on Monday that it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The move, according to the company, will secure $132.5 million in funding to allow it to stay afloat and restructure rather than liquidate its business. The company did not respond to a request for comment on Wednesday about its sales.

Ben Gadbois, president and chief executive of Instant Brands, said in a statement on Monday that “after successfully navigating the Covid-19 pandemic and the global supply chain crisis, we continue to face additional global macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges that have affected our business.”

“In particular, tightening of credit terms and higher interest rates impacted our liquidity levels and made our capital structure unsustainable,” Mr. Gadbois said.

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The Instant Pot Was Beloved. Now Its Maker Has Filed for Bankruptcy. (Published 2023) (2024)

FAQs

The Instant Pot Was Beloved. Now Its Maker Has Filed for Bankruptcy. (Published 2023)? ›

A few years and one pandemic later, the company filed for bankruptcy on Monday, weighed down by more than $500 million in debt after years of supply-chain chaos and limited success expanding the Instant brand into other categories of household gadgetry.

Is Instant Pot being discontinued? ›

Instant Brands, the company that makes the Instant Pot (as well as Pyrex, Corelle, and a few other product lines), announced that it was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June 2023. But that doesn't mean the company is going under, and for now it hasn't affected the availability of the Instant Pot.

Is Instant Pot a Chinese company? ›

Yes, Instant Pots are manufactured in China, though it is a Canadian company. Researching this question leads to many rabbit holes, but the Instant Pot live chat team and the branding on the packaging answer the question definitively. The company was founded in Canada and led by an Asian American.

Who bought Instant Brands? ›

Centre Lane Completes Purchase of Instant Brands Appliances.

What is the average life of an Instant Pot? ›

The average lifespan of an Instant Pot ranges from 2-5 years, but it can last longer depending on how often it's used and how well-maintained it is. So it's safe to say Instant Pots aren't commonly being replaced, and may even be a one-time purchase.

Why did Instapot go out of business? ›

“In particular, tightening of credit terms and higher interest rates impacted our liquidity levels and made our capital structure unsustainable,” Mr. Gadbois said. Instant Brands said in a statement on Wednesday that the new financing would allow the company to continue paying workers, vendors and suppliers.

What model of Instant Pot is being recalled? ›

The recall was announced on March 1, 2018 for the “Instant Pot Gem 65 8-in-1 Multicookers” after at least 107 reports involving overheating, including 5 incidents that caused property damage. The problem is caused by a manufacturing defect that allows that cooker to overheat and melt on the underside of the unit.

Who owns Instant Pot now? ›

With the merger, Instant Brands is now owned by Cornell Capital LLC and headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois. On June 12, 2023, Instant Brands filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after high interest rates and waning access to credit hit its cash position and made its debts unsustainable.

Is there an Instant Pot made in the USA? ›

Where Is Instant Pot Made? The short answer to this question: Instant Pot is made in China by one of the premiere pressure cooker manufacturing plants. It was however designed by Canadians and although it is usually found in 110v it can also be found in electrical configurations for the European 220v market.

Do professional chefs use Instant Pot? ›

Even professional Chefs find benefits in the Instant Pot's ability to reduce total cooking time. The pressure cooker's steam moistens the food in the pot. This cooks the food quickly without losing moisture. Little to no nutritional value is lost because pressure cooking is a closed cooking method.

Is Instant Brands owned by Corelle? ›

Corelle Brands is home to iconic, category-leading brands, including Instant™, Corelle®, Pyrex®, Corningware®, Snapware® and Chicago Cutlery®. We're passionate about delivering products that facilitate the joy we find in cooking and sharing food with family and friends.

Where are Instant Brands located? ›

About Instant Brands

The Company is headquartered in Downers Grove, Ill., and employs more than 2,000 people across four continents. Today, Instant Brands' products are in millions of homes worldwide.

Does Instant Brands own Pyrex? ›

About Instant Brands

The Company designs, manufactures and markets a global portfolio of innovative and iconic consumer lifestyle brands: Pyrex®, Corelle®, Corningware®, Snapware®, Chicago Cutlery® and Visions®.

What is the disadvantage of Instant Pot? ›

Con– The Instant Pot uses steam under pressure to cook food and not everything is meant to be cooked in the Instant Pot. I attempted a crustless quiche which turned out well but it was too wet and moist to my liking and I prefer to cook it in the oven with dry heat.

Do Instant Pots go bad? ›

If you're using your pressure cooker on a daily basis and investing in regular maintenance, it may last you up to five years. On average, though, most pressure cookers perform well for up to three years. After that, it's time to consider investing in a replacement.

Does anyone still use Instant Pot? ›

To be clear, plenty of people are holding onto their Instant Pots, as proven when I teased this idea on Twitter. “I literally cannot imagine why anyone would want to get rid of their Instant Pot,” one person wrote in reply.

Do people still use Instant Pot? ›

Sales for multicookers such as the Instant Pot fell by more than half in 2022 compared with 2020, The Associated Press reported. Instant Brands faces many struggles as it restructures, but the Instant Pot's impact deserves to be celebrated even if it's no longer considered the hottest gadget in the kitchen.

Why not to get an Instant Pot? ›

They're never as good as individual appliances — Instant Pots may be versatile, but they will never be as good as the appliance designed for that cooking purpose. Cooking rice in the Instant Pot was never as fluffy as my trusted rice cooker, while steaming broccoli often ended up an overcooked and soggy mess.

Why don t chefs use Instant Pot? ›

They are most commonly used in industrial settings to quickly prepare meat or stocks. However, in most scenarios, Elite Chefs avoid using pressure cookers because they provide less control over the final dish. Chefs often prefer slow cooking techniques that accentuate and pull out the flavors of the food.

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