Type Private Headquarters Guelph, Ontario | Industry Home appliances Website danby.com | |
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Founded 1947; 70 years ago (1947)
Montreal, Quebec Key people Jim Estill (President and CEO) | ||
Danby is the name of a line of appliances marketed by Danby Products Ltd., led by Guelph’s Wood family. The company claimed the largest market share in the compact appliance category in North America (in 2012). It is a privately held Canadian company headquartered on the outskirts of Guelph, Ontario. The company has additional locations in Findlay, Ohio and Foxboro, Massachusetts as well as a location in Guangzhou, China. Danby is not a manufacturer. It is affiliated with manufacturers in China, Mexico, and the United States. Although this is a closely held company, annual sales are estimated at about 400 million dollars through the sale of compact and specialty appliances such as microwaves, compact refrigerators, wine coolers, ranges, washing machines, air conditioners and dehumidifiers and employs a staff of approximately 110.
Danby's current CEO, since mid-2015, is Jim Estill.
The family-owned company first began business in Montreal, Quebec in 1947. Their first products were hot plates and slow cookers. Danby also marketed an early form of a portable air conditioner. Current products are marketed under brand names such as Danby, Danby Designer, Danby Diplomat, Danby Premiere, MicroFridge, Simplicity, Arcticaire, and Silhouette, as well as some private brands like Sunbeam for major retail stores.
In November 2015, the company opened a factory outlet store on their head office premises, to be open six days a week (except on statutory holidays). Their web site,indicates that customers have access to the ″latest line-up to older generations of our household appliances - microwaves, dehumidifiers, refrigerators, wine coolers, chest freezers, air conditioners, etc.″, as well as a new line, the premium-grade BergHOFF branded kitchenware and tableware. A Belgian company, BergHOFF's products, are sold in over 60 countries.
Note, too, that Danby Products Ltd. is now the Canadian BergHOFF distributor, in addition to selling the products in its outlet store, as confirmed by an October 30, 2015 press release issued by BergHOFF International's VP of Canadian Sales.