Product and marketing investment at all-time high.

Fisher & Paykel CEO and managing director Stuart Broadhurst has set his sights on building the appliance brand as the number one premium brand globally.

Speaking at a dinner to celebrate the Fisher & Paykel 30th anniversary in Australia, Broadhurst said that with the brand now selling in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, Europe, UK, China, Singapore, UAE and Pacific Islands, a continued focus on premium brand positioning remains the goal.

“For us we have solid foundations in place and are focused on global growth to become the number one premium brand in the world,” Broadhurst said.

“Fisher & Paykel has always invested heavily in research and development – knowing it is the blueprint for our company’s future and our time as part of the Haier Group has been no exception.”

Broadhurst reinforced the company’s strong performance in Australia with Fisher & Paykel experiencing its strongest ever June trading month across the 30 year history of the company.

“It is a great pleasure this evening to be celebrating 30 years of Fisher & Paykel in Australia,” Broadhurst said to the assembled guests and visiting executives from Haier.

“Fisher & Paykel was founded in New Zealand in 1934 with a pioneering spirit and culture of curiosity challenging convention to deliver world first innovation.

For over 80 years, Fisher & Paykel has valued quality and innovation as the backbone of our brand. Fisher & Paykel, as well as a small number of Australasian companies has consistently punched well above it weight and that is something we are very proud of. Launching in Australia 30 years ago, Fisher & Paykel rapidly grew to be the leading Australian brand it is today.

“Our Australian team, today distributes both the Fisher & Paykel and the Haier brand and now have a little over 400 people working for the company in Australia – in 1988 there was just six employees.

“In 1989 we started construction on the new manufacturing facility in Cleveland and production of the first Australian refrigerator started in 1990 following shortly afterwards when our 1991 washing machine was voted product of the year by the industry. We were the first supplier to introduce stainless steel in bottom mount refrigerators in Australia and we won awards, and still do for our innovation and quality of service. Today Fisher & Paykel is a global business with markets that extend from Australia and New Zealand to Canada, USA, Europe, UK, China, Singapore, UAE and Pacific Islands. For us we have solid foundations in place and are focused on global growth to become the number one premium brand in the world.

“Key to our growth is the commitment to continued investment in our products – our brand – our people and culture.

“In recent years our investment in Fisher & Paykel’s development teams – and our focus to create high quality class leading products – has resulted in a suite of new products – that are nothing short of exceptional. Today our product portfolios is the best it has ever been.

“2018 is a significant year of product introduction – we are launching the new column refrigerators and they are in production now – new ovens, large capacity front load washers and matching heat pump dryers and going forward – further R&D investment for ventilation as well as dishwashing and laundry.

“Tonight I would like to especially acknowledge and pay tribute to our loyal business partners and retailers – our partnerships have stood the test of time. Fisher & Paykel would not have succeeded without your cooperation and support. You have been vitally important to our company’s success in the Australian market and for that I thank you.

“And it is appropriate to be celebrating this evening with you – here in our Sydney Experience Centre – in a space that showcases Fisher & Paykel’s class leading product range – design integration possibilities – and curates our global premium brand experience.

“In 2012, the Haier Group acquired 100 per cent of Fisher & Paykel – today the two companies work together to maximise synergies with an open collaboration between the two companies that sees both going from strength to strength – it is fantastic relationship that is working very well for both of us.

“Fisher & Paykel has always invested heavily in research and development – knowing it is the blueprint for our company’s future – and our time – as part of the Haier Group – has been no exception.

“We are lucky to be joined by a large number of long-serving employees. In the early days of the start-up in Australia, determination was probably the most important attribute that we could recruit for. All of those people have been part of the culture and the expansion of our business and I thank you for your contribution and loyalty. To all of our Australian employees, past and present, thank you for your dedication and hard work as we continue on our path to reach our goal.”