The story
behind Radiance
Born from a near-death experience and a deep conviction that families deserve cookware they can truly trust.
Why Non-Toxic Cookware Matters
In 2014, Radiance founder Nancy Umeh nearly lost her life to an asthma attack triggered by Teflon Flu — an inhalation fever caused by heating PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), the chemical coating on most non-stick pans. This experience became the founding purpose of Radiance: to ensure no family has to unknowingly cook with toxic materials.
How it all began
Radiance Cookware was founded in 2016 by Nancy Umeh, a registered nurse, public health scientist (Nigeria and United Kingdom), and professional chef. After nearly losing her life in 2014 to a Teflon Flu asthma attack, she was driven to find a safer way for families to cook.
“I couldn’t find safe cookware that was readily available. So I decided to source it myself — and then share it with everyone I knew.”
Nancy sourced her first cast iron cookwares abroad, fell in love with the cooking experience, and began sharing videos of her discovery on social media. Friends and family quickly began demanding cast iron for themselves. As the demand grew, she travelled the world to learn how these cookwares were made, paying close attention to the safety of every lining and enamel.
She officially registered the company in 2018, beginning commercial sales and distribution of cast iron cookwares. Today, Radiance has grown to a team of 12 — including 3 healthcare professionals — all dedicated to helping families transition to safe cookware.