The Igloo Story
Igloo began in 1947 as a small metal working shop with two employees. The Company produced metal water coolers that were designed to replace traditional wooden buckets that provided drinking water for construction workers, oilfield workers and longshoremen on the docks.
Through a series of joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, Igloo Manufacturing produced and distributed three brands of metal water coolers, Horton's, Polar King and Igloo. The company's first ice chest, a 22-quart metal unit with plastic liner, was produced in 1960.
Early in 1960, the Company merged with Production Tooling Company and the John T. Everett Company, a Memphis, Tennessee firm, became the sales and marketing arm of the Company. The result was a name change to Texas Tennessee Industries (TTI).
In 1962, the Company went public and began selling its stock on the Over the Counter Market. By 1962, TTI had grown to 73 employees and in that same year they offered the first all-plastic ice chest. The Igloo all-plastic ice chest was offered as an alternative to metal coolers and were initially sold to beer manufacturers. In 1963, Oshman's Sporting Goods in Houston became the first retailer to buy the plastic ice chest and offer it to consumers.
In 1967, the 155-quart ice chest was introduced. The Giant Sea Chest was the second all-plastic ice chest offered and became a bestseller for Gulf Coast-area fisherman. The interior was stain- and odor-resistant and the exterior was rust-proof, even in the roughest saltwater conditions. Following the 155-quart model came the 25-quart ice chest.
The Playmate ice chest was added to the product line in 1971 and as a personal-size ice chest, it quickly became a consumer favorite. In 1972, the innovative push button lid release/lock was added. In response to the popularity of the Playmate, the Little Playmate was introduced in 1977.
The excellent reputation of the Igloo line made the "Igloo" name recognizable to consumers and retailers throughout the sales territory. In 1971, the TTI name was dropped in favor of Igloo Corporation as the company's new name. By the end of 1971, the employee population had grown to 433; and Igloo was sold to the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of New York, Inc.
In October of 1980, Igloo was acquired by Anderson, Clayton & Co. (ACCO). Then in 1986, ACCO was purchased by The Quaker Oats Company. In 1987, Igloo was sold to "Igloo Holdings, Inc.," a newly created company. The company's name changed slightly to Igloo Products Corp. and was owned by company management, members of First Boston, and a Metropolitan Life investment fund.
In 1997, Igloo Products Corp. was acquired by Brunswick Corporation, headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois. Igloo was added to the Brunswick family of high-quality recreational brands under the corporate umbrella.
In October of 2001, Igloo was acquired by Westar Capital LLC, a private investment firm headquartered in California.
Today, Igloo remains the number-1 ice chest manufacturer worldwide; and we are excited about improving and enhancing our existing product line and developing new products to meet the needs of consumers.
