Candy (company)
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'''Candy''' is an [[Italy|Italian]] company based in [[Brugherio]], near [[Milan]], which manufactures [[domestic appliance]]s.
==Early history==
Candy was founded by [[Eden Fumagalli]] in 1945 and the following year, the company's first [[washing machine]]s were launched at the Milan Fair.
Fumagalli's sons Enzo, Niso and Peppino took control of the company and it began to diversify, making a decisive move in 1954 when they introduced the first semi-automatic washing machine with a spin dryer. Six years later, they developed and released their first fully-automatic washer.
Candy later opened a production plant in [[France]], its first outside of Italy, and expanded its product range to include cookers, [[air conditioning]] units, [[refrigerator]]s, freezers and [[dishwasher]]s.
==Acquisitions and sales==
In the 1970s, Candy's growth allowed them to acquire other companies beginning in Italy with [[Parma]]-based La Sovrana, a historic brand name in the cooking sector. This was followed by the purchase of the Italian division of [[Kelvinator]], a company internationally famous for its refrigerators and freezers. Candy also drew up an agreement with Kelvinator America in 1980 allowing Italian-produced, Kelvinator-branded products to be distributed all over the world. Candy still owns the Kelvinator name in the [[United Kingdom]] and the company's [[Bromborough]] factory is still operational.
In 1985, two more successful Italian brand names join the Candy Group: Zerowatt, manufacturers of washing machines and tumble dryers, and Gasfire, specialists in built-in cookers. Three more companies were acquired by Candy in the next eight years: French built-in cooker manufacturer Rosières (1987), Spanish washing machine company Otsein (1992), and refrigeration specialists Iberna (1993).
In 1995, Candy bought the European division of [[The Hoover Company]] from its parent company [[Maytag]], who had suffered colossal losses due to the infamous [[Hoover free flights promotion]], which had begun in 1992, and the purchase by Candy included the acquisition of three more production plants in [[Wales]], [[Scotland]] and [[Portugal]].
==Sports sponsorship==
===Formula One===
As part of Candy's international expansion in the 1970s the company decided to enter the high-dollar world of [[Formula One]]. Midway through the [[1979 Formula One season|1979 season]], Candy became the marquee sponsor for the [[Tyrrell Racing|Tyrrell]] team with drivers [[Jean-Pierre Jarier]] and [[Didier Pironi]]. Tyrrell enjoyed some success in 1979, finishing 4th in the Constructor's Championship, and Candy stayed on as the team's sponsor for the [[1980 Formula One season|1980 season]]. In [[1981 Formula One season|1981]], Candy sponsored the [[Toleman]] team and was also later involved with [[Ligier]] but eventually withdrew from F1.
===Liverpool F.C.===
Candy were the shirt sponsors of [[Liverpool F.C.]] between 1988 and 1992, debuting in the [[FA Cup Final 1988]] and remembered as the sponsors the last time Liverpool were [[Football League|League]] champions.
==Present day==
Today, Candy's appliances are known more through their continued marketing of the Hoover and Kelvinator brands. Hoover-branded washing machines are largely Candy designs and are made up from Candy components. As well as in Europe, Candy operates manufacturing facilities in [[China]], [[Russia]], [[Turkey (country)|Turkey]], [[Ivory Coast]], [[Syria]], [[Nigeria]], [[United Kingdom]], and [[Egypt]].
As of 2006, Candy remains a family-owned company; Peppino Fumagalli is the Chairman of the Board.
==External links==
*[http://www.candy-group.com/ Candy Group Corporate Information]
*[http://www.candy-domestic.co.uk/history.htm Company history (UK site)]
[[Category:Home appliance manufacturers]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies of Italy]]
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