Who makes your Kenmore appliances? Who owns GE?
Do you own a Kenmore appliance?Maybe a whole house full of them?You might wonder who makes the appliances.You like knowing who makes the things in my house.You need parts or an owner's manual.
In this day and age of convoluted corporate divisions, subsidiaries, and partnerships, it is difficult to see who makes what.
There is quite a bit of interesting information in answer to that question.
Sears used to be the exclusive distributor of Kenmore products.It would be easy to assume that Sears made all of the Kenmore appliances.
The truth is that it is made by a group of companies.A group of companies make the Kenmore brand of appliances.
For over 100 years, Sears was a staple of America's retail world.Kenmore is over 100 years old.The Consumers Digest Best Buy Award is one of the many awards that Kenmore has won.
Did you know that the Kenmore name first appeared on a sewing machine?We associate brands like Singer with sewing machines.They had their first sewing machine in 1913.
In the decades that followed, they branched out into the laundry market, manufacturing wringer-washers that promised to clean clothes in three to seven minutes.They made vacuum cleaners, dryers, ovens and cooktops, dishwashers, microwaves, and even grills.
Between the 1920s and the 1970s, all of this innovation took place.In the United States, 25 percent of the appliance market was made up by Kenmore.
In the U.S., companies would debut their own products under the Kenmore name first.The same appliance would be released under the Whirlpool name.They would sell them at Sears.
Sears has had increasing problems competing with other retailers over the last couple of decades, including big box home improvement stores.They had to file for Chapter 11 protection.They had to reorganize the company.They had to sell off many of their brands.
Sears did not actually make any of the appliances they sold.The companies that have made the Kenmore appliances for Sears have always been the ones that make them.
Sears had partnerships for a long time.With Sears looking like it would go under, some companies pulled their products completely.
These companies don't need Kenmore anymore.In the early 2000s, Sears valued Kenmore at $2 billion.They were trying to find someone to buy the brand.Sears was worth only $150 million at that point.
Who makes the Kenmore appliances now?We don't have any companies that make all of the Kenmore appliances.
Some of the Kenmore washing machines and dishwashers are made by Whirlpool.Sears and this partnership were one of the longest partnerships.Less than 3% of its worldwide sales came from Sears.
Despite being one of the leading appliance makers in the U.S., they don't list Kenmore on their website.The fact that Sears was able to stay in business may also play a role.
Frigidaire and other appliance brands are made by the parent company, Electrolux.You might be wondering how they can make something other than what Frigidaire makes.
There is a difference here.Most of the side-by-side and French-door units are made by Frigidaire.
The Kenmore brand of kitchen appliances is made by the brand known for its quality.They make some of the Kenmore fridges and freezers.Most of the ovens and cooktops are made by them.
The entire Kenmore Elite line of appliances is made by LG.They have high-end refrigerator-freezers, washing machines, and dryers.
Most of the standard and lower-end appliances in these lines are made by Whirlpool, Electrolux, and Frigidaire.Kitchen appliances include fridges and freezers, ovens and cooktops, washers and dryers.
The number of Kenmore appliances made by the company is not as high as other companies.They make air-conditioning units for both brands.
General Electric makes Kenmore appliances.Some of the ranges and cooktops are made by them.They do not make washers and dryers under the same name.
Panasonic previously made vacuum cleaners.Panasonic has been winding down their American operations for some time, and someone had to take over the vacuum cleaners.Sears and Cleva entered into an agreement regarding their vacuum cleaners in early 2019.
Is it possible to tell which companies made which appliances in your house?The ins and outs of who makes what can be confusing.Trying to compare designs is not a good idea.
It is easy to determine who made your specific Kenmore appliances.Here is how to do it.
If you find a model number with the word "109" in it, then the company that made it is Whirlpool.The name of the company is Frigidaire.
You are not alone if you don't know what to look for.This example shows what the prefix may look like on your appliance's tag.
Most companies have at least one prefix associated with them.They all have several, as do the others.General Electric is one of many that do.
Even though Sears is in trouble and never made any Kenmore appliances, it's still a decent brand.If you do side-by-side comparisons, you may find that the Kenmore appliances are more basic versions of their manufacturers own name-brand counterparts.
That is not a bad thing.There are times when you don't want all the bells and whistles.
If Sears had sold the brand, you wouldn't have to worry about your warranty like you do now.Many of these companies have parts that are interchangeable with Kenmore parts.
You are better informed about the entire Kenmore brand now that you know who makes them.