Whirlpool Corp. in Benton Harbor today announced it has joined forces with Fort Worth, Texas’ D.R. Horton, the nation’s largest homebuilder, to provide large appliances to homeowners across the country.
The five-year exclusive agreement will see Whirlpool, the world’s leading manufacturer of major home appliances, supply Amana, Whirlpool, Maytag, and KitchenAid appliances in all newly built D.R. Horton homes as of Jan. 1, 2020.
Overall, the homebuilder, which operates under the D.R. Horton, Express Homes, Freedom Homes, and Emerald Homes brands, has operations in 84 markets in 29 states across the United States and closed 52,569 homes in the 12-month period that ended on Dec. 31, 2018.
“From first-time homebuyers to empty nesters, D.R. Horton and its family of brands ensure every home built is tailored to meet its customers’ individual needs,” says Dave Cichocki, vice president of U.S. Sales at Whirlpool.
Whirlpool is the world’s leading major home appliance company, with approximately $21 billion in annual sales, 92,000 employees, and 65 manufacturing and technology research centers in 2018
“D.R. Horton and Whirlpool have a solid history together, and we are pleased to be working with them again,” says Brad Conlon, D.R. Horton’s director of national accounts. “Whirlpool’s product diversity and emphasis on best-in-class customer service make them the ideal exclusive appliance provider for our family of brands.”
Whirlpool, founded in 1911, has approximately 25,000 workers in the U.S., including around 18,000 workers at manufacturing plants and 4,000 workers in southwest Michigan.
“In today’s world, manufacturing remains an integral part of the American economy, and Whirlpool is an industry leader,” said Kelly Safis, general manager, builder sales at Whirlpool. “We are pleased to team with D.R. Horton, another long-standing American company committed to creating high-quality homes outfitted with outstanding products.”
