Fisher & Paykel Brand History

Fisher and Paykel started in New Zealand Based on imports of household appliances from the United States, the company - now run by Maurice Paykel and Wulf Fisher - grew rapidly until the New Zealand government banned the import of industrial products due to the fact that the currency was in such a deficit in 1938 year.

Fisher & Paykel responded, deciding to change his whole approach. The government continued to allow the import of the parts, so Wulf and Maurice decided to set up the plant and begin assembling the equipment under license to companies such as Kelvinator.

While this was successful, making the devices licensed, the savings on the Fisher & Paykel scale could generate, was limited, so finding a way to create a point of difference became significant.

The answer lies in the technology. Developing plastic liners and insulation using polyurethane foam coolers, we were the first in the world to commercialize this technology.

Around the same time, in 1955, Fischer and Paikel purchased the Dunedin H. E. Shacklock Ltd culinary product manufacturer, which dominated the New Zealand household appliance market in this era of government protectionism. With a history in the production of kitchen cabinets from 1873, this legacy continues to shape Fisher & Paykel's modern approach to cooking.

In 2010, Fisher & Paykel underwent a major brand renewal, rethinking the appearance and culture of the company. The commitment to explore how people cook, how they use their kitchens, and how the role and appearance of the kitchen is changing has prompted the company to create a philosophy around The Social Kitchen.

"The Social Kitchen" sums up the philosophy of Fisher and Paikel. The kitchen is people. And when you think about people - about your habits, how they live and interact, you get a rich experience that often ignores traditional kitchen planning and technology. Social cuisine is where food meets design to create food that will turn the assumptions around and start new conversations.

In 2011, Fisher & Paykel launched the first of a series of events that covered the concept of social cuisine.