Global Growth
“Lou, Emory and Fred were believers. They believed if they did their work well and stood behind the products they built, others would believe in them and their products too.
“Over the years, leadership has passed to a succession of believers … from Lou Upton to Bud Gray, then to John Platts, and now to me … all of us equally dedicated to maintaining the philosophies of the founders.
“In addition to preserving our heritage and protecting the values we hold dear, it is my challenge to lead us where we can compete and succeed internationally. Our markets now and in the future are not in the United States alone. We are serving and competing in a global marketplace.”
— Excerpt taken from a 1986 open letter
signed by Jack Sparks, Former Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Officer
The Upton Machine Company (renamed The Nineteen Hundred Corporation in 1929 and then Whirlpool Corporation in 1950) was founded by Lou and Emory Upton in Benton Harbor, Michigan, to produce electric motor–driven wringer washers. With the financial aid of Lowell Bassford, the small family business got its start on November 11, 1911. Lou’s younger brother, Fred Upton, joined the company soon after and was an integral part of the business.
As early as the mid-1930s, the stage was set for Whirlpool Corporation to sell appliances in France, Sweden, Iceland and South Africa. This was followed by a successful partnership in Brazil in the 1950s. Building on these early international successes, we declared a bold vision in the 1980s of meeting consumer needs in “Every Home, Everywhere” around the world. Whirlpool Corporation was the first appliance company to truly take a strategic view of the global industry. Our ability to adapt and customize products to address local needs and expectations has transformed us into the global industry leader we are today.
Keeping our core appliance business healthy and growing is a fundamental component of our global growth strategy. We expect to see tremendous growth as more consumers in emerging markets are able to purchase appliances and benefit from the quality and convenience they provide. But beyond just emerging markets, we also expect growth in more established countries during the next five years due to our strong consumer brand positions. We continue to expand our brand portfolio across all product categories to create the next generation of solutions that make life easier and better.
Whirlpool Corporation’s global footprint positions us well to grow our business around the world. In today’s global marketplace, we remain committed to being flexible and agile, and to meeting the unique needs of consumers everywhere around the world with our consumer-relevant, life-enhancing innovations.
Global Growth
Whirlpool Corporation’s family has grown to include other companies that — though separated by continents — all share the same entrepreneurial spirit and value system as the Upton Machine Company founders, ultimately creating a company of families for families.
