Nordic Ware was founded in 1946 in Minneapolis by Dotty and Dave Dalquist, initially producing specialty Scandinavian cookware like krumkake and ebelskiver irons. Their defining innovation came in 1950 with the creation of the cast-aluminum "Bundt" pan, at the request of a local women's organization. While initially a modest seller, the pan's popularity exploded in 1966 after the "Tunnel of Fudge" cake won the Pillsbury Bake-Off, causing national demand to skyrocket. Remaining a family-owned business, Nordic Ware has since sold over 75 million Bundt pans and diversified its product lines, continuing to manufacture most of its kitchenware in the United States.