OMC Fact Sheet
Onward Manufacturing Company Limited (OMC) is a family owned Canadian company in business since 1906. As a leading manufacturer and distributor of quality gas grill products for over 25 years, OMC has built a reputation for quality, durability and cooking performance.
HEADQUARTERS
585 Kumpf Dr.
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
N2V 1K3
1-800-245-5138
FOUNDED
Founded in 1906 by Theodore Adam Witzel
Family owned business, privately held
GAS GRILL PORTFOLIO
Broil King®, Sterling®, Huntington®, Broil-Mate™
CHARCOAL PORTFOLIO
Broil King® Keg, Big Steel Keg charcoal grills
ACCESSORY PORTFOLIO
Broil King®, Barbecue Genius®, and GrillPro®
PRODUCTION FACILITIES
Waterloo, ON, Canada
Huntington, IN, USA
Dickson, TN, USA
DISTRIBUTION FACILITIES
Kitchener, ON, Canada
Huntington, IN, USA
Joplin, MO, USA
Neston, Cheshire, UK
CORPORATE HISTORY
Onward Manufacturing Company Limited (OMC) was founded in 1906 in what is now Waterloo Ontario, Canada. From 1909 through to the late 1970's OMC focused its growth and expansion particularly in the area of home appliance distribution. The Company introduced to Canada, Jenn-Air cooking equipment, Sub-Zero refrigerators, Deep Freeze refrigerators and freezers, and the Panasonic line of electronics.
In 1980, OMC began to manufacture fireplace inserts and charcoal water smokers. In 1984, the Company began manufacturing for Arkla gas grills and in 1986 purchased the assets of the Jacuzzi gas grill division. Jacuzzi designs were the basis for the Broil King® line of gas barbecues. In 1989, Onward purchased the tooling for the Wait Broil Master and Broil-Mate gas grill lines plus the West Bend Anova gas grill line. In 1990, OMC purchased the Shepherd gas barbecue division now sold under the name Sterling™, in Canada and several countries across Europe.
In 1995, T.A. Witzel Sr. passed away and the company is now owned and managed by his 3 sons.
Onward Manufacturing expanded its barbecue accessory program in 2002 with the purchase of the GrillPro assets of Inmar Industries Inc. In 2006, a further investment was made with the acquisition of the CFM parts and accessory business. This included the Grill Life and Grill Care brands.
In 2009, Onward Manufacturing acquired a manufacturing and distribution facility in Huntington, Indiana. A number of models from are currently being manufactured in this facility.
In 2010, Onward Manufacturing purchased the assets of Fiesta Gas Grills and has added the Fiesta and Blue Ember lines to its portfolio of gas grills. Later in the year Onward Manufacturing also added the Big Steel Keg line of charcoal smokers and accessories to its portfolio.
This now positions OMC as a leading global source of high quality and innovative barbecue parts and outdoor cooking accessories.
