Dacor (kitchen appliances)


Dacor is a California-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics America that designs, manufactures and distributes kitchen appliances, specializing in the ultra-premium product tier, including wall ovens, ranges, cooktops, dishwashers, warming drawers, microwaves, ventilation hoods, refrigerators, wine dispensers, barbecue grills and beverage centers. Founded in 1965 by Stanley M. Joseph, the company had been continuously owned and operated by three generations of the Joseph family until it was sold to Samsung in August 2016.
The company’s headquarters and 325,000 square-foot manufacturing facility are based in City of Industry, California. It distributes its products throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico, selling directly to over 1,300 dealer showrooms. The company operates a factory showroom in Los Angeles.

History

Stanley M. Joseph started his first business in 1933 when he opened a small retail appliance store in Northern California. He began manufacturing kitchen ventilation hoods with his brother Anthony in 1948, selling them under the name Stanthony. Stanthony Corp was incorporated in 1950.
In 1959, Stanley Joseph was issued United States Patent 2,903,549 for a small electric barbecue unit, the first of its kind, designed for countertop use or to be built into a kitchen counter. He was also awarded a design patent for a combination vent hood and warming oven. The details of Stanley Joseph’s early experiences were documented in his book Adventures of a Salesman.
Distinctive Appliances, Incorporated, better known as Dacor, was founded in 1965; Stanley Joseph’s sons, Stanford graduates and Vietnam veterans Michael and Anthony, led the company through its second generation, having learned the business from entry-level positions at very young ages. They ultimately purchased the company from him in 1982.
In 1989, Stanley Joseph was inducted as a charter member into the National Kitchen & Bath Association Hall of Fame. His award notes that he developed the first fully self-contained ventilating hood for residential use, under his company name of Stanthony. Stanley Joseph’s sons, Michael and Anthony Joseph, were also inducted into the NKBA in 2004; their honor states that they have taken the industry one step further by creating new patents for kitchen appliances. To date, the Joseph family is the only family to have three NKBA Hall of Fame inductees.
In September 2011, Stanley Joseph’s grandson, Stephen, took the helm of the company as President. In April 2013, Dacor announced that its Board of Directors elected Charles J. Huebner as the organization's CEO.
In August 2016, the company announced its acquisition by Samsung Electronics America. The sale was closed the following month. According to the company press release, "Dacor will maintain its corporate identity and brand, with no changes to its operations and US-based manufacturing."

Partnerships

In 2010, Dacor began a collaboration with BMW Group DesignworksUSA which led to the introduction of its Distinctive 36” Gas Cooktop, as well as the interface for its Discovery iQ Controller for its top-of-the-line wall ovens.
In June 2014, Le Cordon Bleu, global network of culinary educational establishments, conducted ultra-premium appliance testing. Its Master Chefs tested a variety of high-end cooking appliances and deemed Dacor superior along numerous testing parameters. As a result, Le Cordon Bleu contacted Dacor to forge a strategic partnership. Dacor products now feature a Le Cordon Bleu seal of excellence, and Dacor ovens and ranges will be featured in upcoming Le Cordon Bleu cooking classes, demonstrations and academy kitchens.

Awards

To date, the Joseph family is the only family to have three members inducted into the National Kitchen & Bath Association Hall of Fame:
Dacor, with longtime partner BMW Group DesignworksUSA, has been recognized with a 2013 GOOD DESIGN AWARD, the world’s most prestigious design awards program organized by the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, for the Dacor Discovery iQ Graphical User Interface.
At the 2014 International Consumer Electronic Show, Dacor won a Digital Trends Best of CES 2014 Award Home for its Discovery iQ 48” Dual-Fuel Range.
The company won four 2014 Best of Kitchen & Bath Industry Show awards for its Discovery WineStation, Discovery iQ 48” Dual-Fuel Range, Discovery iQ 30” Wall Oven, and Renaissance 30” Induction Range; winning categories included “Kitchen & Bath Technology – Smart Appliances,” “Appliances – Cooking,” and “Accessories – Kitchen Accessories.” Also, at KBIS, Dacor won a Better Homes & Gardens Top 30 Most Innovative Products for its Discovery WineStation.
In 2014, the Dacor Renaissance 30” Double Wall Oven received the highest rating from CNET.