Igloo Products
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Manufacturing |
| Founded | 1947 |
| Headquarters | Katy , United States |
Area served | United States, International |
| Products | Ice chests, beverage containers, drink dispensers, marine-grade coolers |
| Parent | Dometic Group |
Igloo Products Corp. is a U.S.-based producer specializing in ice chests, beverage containers, and related products, with its main office situated in Katy, Waller County, Texas. As a part of the Dometic Group, Igloo was established in 1947 and is well-known for its distinctive blue and white cooler designs. The company's offerings range from compact personal coolers to sizable commercial units, including drink dispensers and marine-grade coolers.
History
The origins of Igloo trace back to 1947 when it operated as a metal fabrication workshop crafting metal water coolers aimed at laborers. In 1960, it merged with Production Tooling Company, forming Texas Tennessee Industries (TTI), with marketing responsibilities managed by the John T. Everett Company based in Memphis, Tennessee.
By 1971, TTI intended to adopt the name Igloo Products Corp. The first fully plastic ice chest was launched in 1962, a development credited to James F. Hutchison. Currently, Igloo's catalog features over 500 items distributed through thousands of retail outlets both within the United States and internationally, reaching nearly 75% of American households.
In 2001, private equity firm Westar Capital purchased Igloo from Brunswick. Subsequently, in 2008, majority ownership transferred to J.H. Whitney & Company. Later on, in March 2014, ACON Investments from Washington, DC acquired Igloo from J.H. Whitney, which maintained a minority interest.
The Swedish manufacturer of recreational vehicle products, Dometic Group, acquired Igloo from ACON Investments in September 2021 for $677 million, highlighting the expanding demand within the cooler industry.
Corporate affairs
Igloo's corporate headquarters are positioned in unincorporated Waller County, Texas, just west of Katy, Texas. The facility covers nearly on a site. This location houses the company's consolidated headquarters along with its distribution and manufacturing operations. Recent expansions include a corporate office building and a combined distribution and production center designed by Powers Brown Architecture and constructed by D.E. Harvey Construction. These new structures supplement an existing facility that has been operational for over 25 years.
During the 1980s, Igloo's main office was located in Houston. Prior to 2004, manufacturing activities were divided between Katy and a facility in Spring Branch, Houston, which also contained corporate offices. In 2004, all company functions were centralized at the Katy site.